Before you start
Open a new chat in ChatGPT (and optionally repeat later in another assistant you already use). Have a notepad ready. For each prompt, write: the exact text you pasted, the date and time in IST, whether your business name appeared, whether your own website was linked or cited, and the first three businesses named. Do not argue with the model mid-test; finish all ten prompts first.
This guide does not replace a technical check of your site. For robots.txt, indexing and Business Profile basics, use our separate 5-minute self-check.
Why crawler and indexing access still matter
OpenAI’s crawler documentation says sites opted out of OAI-SearchBot “will not be shown in ChatGPT search answers”, though they can still appear as navigational links (OpenAI: Overview of OpenAI crawlers). Google says there are “no additional requirements to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode” beyond normal eligibility to be indexed and shown with a snippet (Google Search Central: AI features and your website). Google’s Business Profile help says businesses with complete and accurate information are more likely to show up in local search results (Google Business Profile Help: Tips to improve your local ranking). None of that predicts what any single chat will say.
The 10 prompts (paste as a customer would)
Replace the bracketed parts with your real city, neighbourhood, service and business type. Keep the wording ordinary — the way a customer types, not a marketing slogan.
Best [business type] near [neighbourhood], [city][Business type] open on Sunday in [city][Business type] in [city] that offers [specific service] — what should I know before booking?Recommend a [business type] in [area] for [use case], with address and how to bookWhich [business type] near [landmark in city] takes appointments this week?[Business type] prices or fees in [city] — typical range and what is usually includedCompare a few [business type] options in [neighbourhood], [city]What can you tell me about [Your Exact Business Name] in [city]?Official website for [Your Exact Business Name] [city]How do I book [business type] in [neighbourhood] for [date or “this weekend”]?
These prompts are ours. They are not published by OpenAI or Google as an official test. Run them as written, then adjust only the bracketed facts.
How to score your notes (no pass mark)
- Named: count how many of the ten answers include your exact business name.
- Cited: count how many include a link or clear citation to your own website (not only a maps pin or a directory).
- Facts: for answers that name you, tick whether hours, address, services or booking match what your site actually says.
- Repeatability: wait a day, open a new chat, re-run prompts 1, 4 and 8. Note what changed. A single run is not a trend.
There is no pass score. A zero today does not prove you are “blocked”; a ten does not prove you will stay visible. Use the notes to decide what facts to put in plain text on your own site next.
What to put on your site after the test
Whatever the chat said, you control your own pages. In readable text (not only images, PDFs or Instagram):
- What you do, in which city or neighbourhoods, and how to book or enquire on a phone.
- Hours, including closed days, written the same way as on your Google Business Profile.
- Services and, where you choose to publish them, prices or how to get a quote.
- Structured data that matches the visible page, using the most specific LocalBusiness sub-type that fits (Google Search Central: Local business structured data), and only marking up what readers can see (Google structured data guidelines).
Want a measured check of the machine-readable side? Request the free mini-audit (₹0): we email you 5 findings about your own website. We don’t guarantee placement, calls avoided, or mentions in any assistant.
Your 15-minute self-check
- Opened a new chat and ran all 10 prompts with your city and service filled in.
- Wrote date/time (IST), named?, cited?, and top 3 businesses for each prompt.
- Re-ran prompts 1, 4 and 8 on a later day in a new chat.
- Confirmed robots.txt does not block OAI-SearchBot if you want ChatGPT search answers.
- Services, hours, address and booking route are in text on your site and match your Business Profile.
Our free “Can ChatGPT read your website?” check runs the machine-readable checks on this list.
Want someone to check it for you?
Free mini-audit (₹0): 5 measured findings by email within 2 working days (schema, llms.txt, AI-bot access, title and contact details). No obligation.
Get the free mini-audit See all pricing
Full AI Visibility + Website Audit report: ₹1,499. Pay ₹1,499 securely
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Questions
ChatGPT did not name my business. Am I failing?
No. One answer is a snapshot. The test shows what appeared today. It cannot predict future answers, and OpenAI does not publish a recommendation score for local businesses.
Can you make ChatGPT recommend us?
No one can promise that. We audit what search engines and AI assistants can read on your website and give you a prioritised fix list.
Is this the same as your 5-minute self-check?
No. The 5-minute self-check covers technical basics (crawler access, indexing, facts in text). This page is a prompt-and-record exercise. Use both if you want.
Is the mini-audit really free?
Yes. The free mini-audit is ₹0 and nothing is charged when you submit the form. Paid reports are separate and optional.
Sources
- OpenAI: Overview of OpenAI crawlers (fetched 1 Nov 2026)
- Google Search Central: AI features and your website (fetched 1 Nov 2026)
- Google Business Profile Help: Tips to improve your local ranking (fetched 1 Nov 2026)
- Google Search Central: Local business structured data (fetched 1 Nov 2026)
- Google Search Central: General structured data guidelines (fetched 1 Nov 2026)
Rules and documentation change. This guide is general information, not legal advice. We don’t guarantee rankings, traffic or mentions by any AI assistant.