Last month, our team at 401 Digital tried something we’d recommend to every business owner reading this. We opened ChatGPT and typed, “Who’s the best daycare in Rockville?” Then we tried the same thing for construction firms in Prince George’s County and marketing agencies in Howard County. Some businesses came up by name with glowing descriptions. Others we know personally, businesses with great reputations and years of loyal customers, didn’t show up at all. That’s the part that should keep you up at night. Your customers aren’t just Googling anymore. They’re asking AI for a recommendation and going with the first answer they get. If AI doesn’t know you exist, a growing number of people will never get the chance to find out how good you are.

Here’s the good news, you don’t need to chase some shiny new tactic to fix this. AI pulls its answers from what’s already out there about you, so the fundamentals matter more than ever. Start with your Google Business Profile and make sure every detail is complete and current. Then look at your website and ask yourself if it clearly answers the questions your customers actually ask, in plain language, not buzzwords. Finally, get people talking about you in other places, like reviews, local chamber listings, and community sites, because AI trusts what others say about you more than what you say about yourself. So go ahead, ask ChatGPT about your business tonight. Whatever comes back, you’ll know exactly where you stand, and that’s the first step to making sure the next answer includes you.