How Do I Get My Website Found by AI Search Engines?
A plain English guide to getting your business mentioned by ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, and other AI search platforms. No jargon, just clear steps.
Getting found by AI search engines comes down to five things: making your site accessible to AI crawlers, clearly stating what your business does, structuring your content as questions and answers, getting mentioned on other websites, and submitting your site to Bing. Most businesses can do the basics for free in an afternoon.
1. Make your site accessible to AI crawlers
AI platforms send automated programs (called crawlers) to read your website. If your site blocks them, those platforms will never know you exist.
The fix is simple. There is a file on your website called robots.txt that controls which crawlers can access your content. You need to make sure it allows GPTBot (ChatGPT), ClaudeBot (Claude), PerplexityBot (Perplexity), and Google-Extended (Gemini and AI Overviews).
If you are not sure whether your site blocks these crawlers, check our robots.txt guide for the exact settings to copy.
2. Tell AI what you actually do
AI search engines work by understanding what your business is about and matching you to questions people ask. If your website homepage says "Welcome to our company" instead of "We are a commercial solicitor in Manchester specialising in property law" then AI has nothing to work with.
Be specific. Your H1 heading (the main title on each page) should clearly state what you do, who you help, and where you are based. Write it the way you would explain your business to someone at a networking event.
3. Structure your content as questions and answers
People use AI search by asking questions. "What is the best accountant in Leeds?" or "How much does a kitchen extension cost?" If your website answers those questions clearly, AI platforms are more likely to cite you.
Add an FAQ section to your key pages. Use the actual questions your customers ask as headings, then answer them in plain language. Keep answers to 2-3 sentences where possible — AI platforms prefer concise, direct answers.
4. Get mentioned on other websites
AI models learn about your business partly from what other websites say about you. If your business is mentioned on industry directories, review sites, trade publications, or news articles, AI platforms treat that as evidence that you are a real and relevant business.
Start with the free ones: Google Business Profile, Bing Places, industry directories, and relevant trade association listings. Every mention helps.
5. Submit your site to Bing
ChatGPT uses Bing's search index to find websites. If your site is not in Bing, ChatGPT cannot find you — regardless of how good your content is.
Go to Bing Webmaster Tools, add your site, and submit your sitemap. It is free and takes about 10 minutes. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our Bing submission guide.
What if I want more detail?
This guide covers the basics. If you want the full technical breakdown, read our complete guide to AI search optimisation. If you want to know where your business currently stands, request a free AI visibility audit.
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Oliver Mackman
AI Search Analyst, SEOCompare
Oliver leads SEOCompare's editorial and comparison research. With over a decade in digital marketing, he oversees agency evaluation, tool testing, and AI search data analysis.
Last reviewed: 7 April 2026
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