Your basics aren't in place
That means a claimed Google Business Profile if you serve customers locally or Google Merchant Center if you sell products online, a website that clearly says what you sell and who it's for and a few real reviews.
Do instead: get those done. They help with Google and AI at the same time. Most of them are free.
You need results in weeks
Changing what AI says usually takes months. If you need sales this month, AI visibility won't get you there fast enough.
Do instead: put that money into something with a shorter path to a sale, then come back to AI visibility once things are steadier.
Nobody's asking AI about what you sell
Some categories just aren't there yet. If your buyers never ask AI for recommendations, there's nothing to show up in.
Do instead: check a few times over the next few months. We explain how in our answer on checking what AI says about your business.
You want a guarantee
Nobody controls what AI says. Anyone who promises you a spot in ChatGPT is guessing. Paying for that promise usually ends in disappointment.
Do instead: look for help that shows you the real answers and tells you plainly what it can't control.
You're about to rebuild your website
A lot of AI visibility work happens on your own pages. If those pages are about to change, much of that work would need redoing.
Do instead: finish the rebuild first or build what AI needs into the new site from the start.
Signs it's time to start
- Customers mention finding you or a competitor through ChatGPT
- Competitors come up when you ask AI your buyers' questions and you don't
- Your buyers compare options carefully before they buy
- Your basics are done and your website is staying put
If that sounds like you, our answer on whether an AI visibility agency is worth it is a good next read.
Key takeaways
- Get your basics in place first. They help with Google and AI at the same time
- AI visibility is a months thing, not a weeks thing
- If nobody asks AI about what you sell, wait and check again
- Nobody can guarantee a spot in AI answers
Related questions
Will waiting put me behind?
A little, in categories where AI is already recommending businesses. But spending before your basics are ready usually costs more than waiting a few months.
Would you tell me if I'm not ready?
Yes. If the honest answer is that you don't need us yet, we'll say so in your free audit, along with what we'd do first instead.
Founder of Be AI Visible. Writes The AI Visibility Report on Substack.