How to Get Your Irish Business Found in AI Search (ChatGPT, Perplexity & Google AI)
By Diaz Xavier, Founder, Sevenoways
Quick answer: More people now ask ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google's AI "who's the best [service] in [town]" instead of scrolling search results. To get recommended by these AI assistants, your business needs to be clearly described online, well-reviewed, present in the directories and sources AI trusts, and publishing content that directly answers questions. It's called AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) or GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) — and for many Irish businesses it's the fastest-growing source of new customers.
Why this matters now
Search is splitting in two. Alongside the classic list of blue links, people increasingly get a single AI answer — and if that answer recommends three businesses, being one of the three is worth more than ranking #1 the old way. The businesses getting cited today are building an advantage that compounds as AI search grows.
How AI decides who to recommend
AI models don't "rank" pages the way Google's list does. They synthesise an answer from sources they trust. To be part of that answer, you need to be:
- Clearly described — your website should state plainly what you do, where, and for whom. AI reads structured data (schema.org) and clear text far better than clever marketing copy.
- Well-reviewed — review signals heavily influence "best of" recommendations. This is another reason reviews matter so much.
- Present in trusted sources — directories (Clutch, Trustpilot, industry bodies), local press, and your Google Business Profile are exactly what AI models draw on.
- Answering real questions — content written as direct, quotable answers (like the "Quick answer" at the top of this guide) is the format AI cites most.
Practical steps for an Irish business
- Add structured data to your website so AI can read your details reliably (LocalBusiness, services, FAQs). A well-built modern site includes this by default.
- Publish question-and-answer content — every "how much does X cost in Ireland" or "best Y in [town]" you answer honestly is a chance to be quoted.
- Get your facts consistent everywhere — name, location, services identical across your site, Google profile and directories, so AI isn't confused about who you are.
- Build genuine reviews and mentions — the off-site trust signals AI leans on.
What doesn't work
- Keyword-stuffing or thin AI-generated pages — models increasingly discount low-quality content
- Trying to "trick" the AI — the same fundamentals that earn genuine trust are what get you cited
- Ignoring it and hoping — competitors who invest now will be the default recommendation later
The honest bottom line
AEO and GEO aren't a separate discipline you bolt on — they're what good, honest SEO and content look like in the AI era: be clear, be trusted, answer questions. Do that, and you get found both in Google's results and in the AI answers your customers increasingly rely on. Want to know how your business currently shows up in AI search? Book a free call and we'll take a look together.