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Free check

Problem · new or renamed businesses

My business is new. Why don’t AI assistants mention it yet?

If you opened this year, or rebranded, it is normal for AI assistants to say little or nothing about you at first. They can only describe what they can find, and a new business has not had time to be written about much. The good news: the first few months are the easiest time to set things up properly.

By Word of Chat · Published 27 October 2026

Illustration · fictional business

Why new businesses are often missing

Some answers come from what an AI model learned during training, and that information has a cut-off date. If you opened after it, the model simply has not heard of you. Other answers come from a live web search, which can find you sooner, but only if there is clear information to find.

A renamed business has a different problem: the old name may still be all over the web, so an assistant may mention the old name, or both, or neither.

What to set up in your first 90 days

  • A complete Google Business Profile on day one: the right main category, every service, the areas you cover, hours, photos of your real premises or work.
  • A simple website, even one page, that says in plain text what you do, where, and how to contact you. Add a page per main service as soon as you can.
  • The same name, area and phone number on every profile you create: Facebook, Instagram, any trade or local directory you join.
  • A habit of asking every customer for an honest review that mentions the job and the town, from your very first job.
  • Local mentions that are real: a listing with your trade association, your local business group, a supplier’s stockist page, a local news story if you have a genuine one.

If you changed your name

Update your Google profile name (it must match the name you trade under), your website, and every listing you control. Where it helps customers, say "formerly [old name]" on your website and in your profile description, so people and assistants can connect the two.

The honest limits

There is no switch that adds a new business to an AI model, and nobody can tell you when one will start naming you. Getting the basics right early gives you the best chance, and checking monthly shows you when things change.

Want to know where you stand?

Our free check asks ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini the kind of questions your customers ask and emails you, in plain English, whether you were named and who was named instead. Four tiny steps; your details come last.

Step 1 of 4: Your trade

What’s your trade?

One tap. We use it to write the questions your customers would ask.

If you want more, every service has a fixed price.

Questions

How long until AI assistants know about my new business?

Nobody can give a reliable timescale. Assistants that search the web may find you sooner than ones that rely on training data. Set things up properly and check every month.

Should I pay for lots of directory listings to speed things up?

No. A handful of accurate, relevant listings beats dozens of low-quality ones. Paying for a listing does not buy a place in an AI answer.

Is the free check useful for a brand-new business?

Yes. It shows you a starting point: what ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini say today when asked about businesses like yours, and who they name. Run it again later to see what has changed.