How to help AI search find your business
Being mentioned in an AI answer and being usable by an AI agent are different outcomes. A business can be easy to describe but difficult to book. It can also have a working booking form that search systems cannot discover. Improve both parts of the journey.
Start with the customer’s decision
List the questions a real customer asks before choosing you: do you offer this service, do you serve my area, what does it cost, and how do I get started? Answer those questions with verified details on a relevant public page.
For example, a plumber’s emergency-service page is more useful when it explains the actual coverage area, availability, call-out process and contact route. A generic paragraph that says ‘we are the best’ gives a customer little to compare.
Build on the search fundamentals
Google’s AI search guidance continues to emphasize helpful content and the existing search fundamentals. Keep public pages crawlable, provide descriptive titles, connect them with internal links and make essential content readable.
Maintain a consistent Google Business Profile where applicable. Use the same accurate business identity on your website and established public listings. Earn relevant coverage through real expertise, work and partnerships rather than fabricated endorsements.
Separate discovery from agent usability
A search crawler gathers content for discovery. A browser agent may inspect the rendered page and try to act on a customer’s request. One can succeed while the other fails.
Give decision pages a clear next step. For a restaurant, the menu, location and ordering route should agree. For a service provider, explain how a quote is requested and what information the customer needs. Test the actual path rather than only counting its links.
Avoid selling yourself a shortcut
There is no file or schema that guarantees AI placement. Google says llms.txt and special AI markup are not required for its Search features. An optional Markdown reference can help services that consume it, but it is not a substitute for SEO.
Do not add hidden promotional instructions intended to manipulate an assistant, fabricate reviews, or publish hundreds of thin keyword pages. Build something a customer can verify and use.
Use the free scan to choose your first fixes
Foundwell tests 15 weighted requirements and four optional agent discovery interfaces. The report separates verified gaps from checks it could not verify. Use the evidence to prioritize improvements, then inspect your important service and booking pages manually.
The optional $149 Fix Kit adds implementation templates and an agent handoff. Your developer or coding agent still needs your real business facts and access to your site. No readiness tool can promise a recommendation or a specific volume of leads.