HOW TO SHOW UP IN AI SEARCHES IN SURREY AND SUSSEX

AI-powered search is changing how businesses get discovered online.

Instead of Googling something and clicking a link, people are using AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude or Google’s AI Overviews to search for solutions.

So how will your business get featured in an AI-generated answer?

This is how.

Be clear and consistent

AI tools need to know exactly what your business does and what makes you different from your competitors. If your messaging is vague, inconsistent or full of jargon, AI will find it difficult to understand you.

Two things you can do right now are: 1) rewrite the first paragraph on your homepage so it states exactly what your business does and who it serves.

Then 2) make sure your business details are consistent on all platforms. If your LinkedIn says one thing and your YouTube videos say something else, AI will get confused and won’t recommend you.

Create useful content

Your content needs to answer the type of questions your customers ask. “Who can find and fix the leak at my house in Horsham?” “Are fitted wardrobes suitable for a period cottage in Reigate?”

A good tip is to use a typical question as a heading. For example, “Is it worth investing in fitted storage?” Write in a natural, conversational style that reflects the way a customer asks a question. Then summarise an answer to the question at the top of your page before going into detail.

AI tools love specific, useful, detailed content that gets quickly to the point, and is easy to understand and quote.

Use a structured format, with clear headings and concise paragraphs, so your information is easy for AI to scan and reference. Use bullet points, numbered lists, and tables too, as chunks of information are more likely to be cited by AI.

Prove you are trustworthy

AI models prioritise experience, expertise and trustworthiness – and look for evidence. You can demonstrate this with case studies, bios, original examples, insights, photos, verifiable credentials and personal experiences that that AI can’t generate. Make sure any content you create states the author too – a real human expert, not ‘admin’.

AI also selects answers from reputable, authoritative sources. So, focus on getting mentioned on authoritative sites.

You can use AI to create content and get it cited, provided it includes original insights and expert opinions that haven’t been published elsewhere. AI ignores generic, low-effort AI-generated content and prioritises high-quality, authoritative information.