Something interesting happened to my friend Sarah last month, who runs a small bookkeeping company from her kitchen table. A new client called her up and said that he found her as AI recommended her. She had no idea AI could do that.
More and more people are seeking recommendations for services from AI tools like ChatGPT. “Who is a recommended bookkeeper in Portland?”, “Which is the best Etsy commission expert for handmade jewelry sellers?”, “Recommend me a real estate virtual assistant”.
When AI answers those questions, it recommends specific businesses. And if you’re not among them, you’re invisible to a growing group of potential customers. That is why learning how to get found by AI matters now.
Why This Matters for Home-Based Businesses
Big companies have marketing teams worrying about this stuff. But honestly? Small businesses and solopreneurs might have an advantage here – if they know how to use it.
Large companies often have messy, inconsistent information scattered across the internet from years of different marketing campaigns. AI gets confused by all the mixed signals.
Small businesses, especially newer ones, can build their AI presence correctly from the start. No legacy confusion. No contradictory messaging. Just clean, consistent information that AI can easily understand and recommend.
The trick is knowing what AI actually looks for.
What AI Needs to Recommend You
I’ve been digging into this for a while, and it basically comes down to four things:
1. Clear Description of What You Do
AI needs to categorize you before it can recommend you. If you describe yourself vaguely – “I help businesses succeed” – AI has no idea when to suggest you.
Get specific. “Virtual bookkeeping for e-commerce businesses under $1M in revenue” is way better than “bookkeeping services.” “Wedding photography for intimate ceremonies under 50 guests” beats “photographer.”
The more specific you are, the more likely AI will match you with the right queries.
2. Consistent Information Everywhere
Here’s where a lot of small businesses accidentally hurt themselves. Inconsistent information is one of the biggest reasons businesses fail to get found by AI. Your website says one thing. Your LinkedIn says something slightly different. Your Google Business Profile has outdated information. Your Yelp listing uses completely different language.
AI notices this. When information conflicts, AI loses confidence. It’s less likely to recommend something it can’t verify.
Take an hour this weekend and check everywhere you appear online. Make sure the core description of your business is consistent. You don’t need identical copy, but the essence should match.
3. Presence Beyond Your Own Website
AI doesn’t just learn from websites. It learns from all kinds of sources: podcasts, forums, review sites, industry directories, social media, and even PDF documents.
For home-based businesses, this is actually good news. You don’t need expensive PR. You need strategic visibility.
Get listed in relevant directories for your industry. Participate in online communities where your customers hang out. Ask happy clients to leave reviews that describe what you actually do. If there’s a local business podcast, pitch yourself as a guest.
Every quality mention teaches AI a little more about who you are and what you offer.
4. Information That’s Easy to Find
This one’s a bit technical but worth mentioning. AI prefers information that’s structured and easy to extract.
If you have a website, make sure your contact information, services, and location (if relevant) are clearly stated in text – not just in images. Consider adding an FAQ section that directly answers questions people might ask AI about businesses like yours.
For example, if you’re a home-based graphic designer, your FAQ might include: “What types of businesses do you work with?” “What’s your typical turnaround time?” “Do you work with clients outside your city?”
These questions mirror what people ask AI. Having clear answers increases your chances of being retrieved and recommended. These small actions help you steadily get found by AI without spending money.
Practical Steps You Can Take This Week
Let me give you a simple action plan:
Monday:
Google yourself. Search your business name and see what comes up. Note any inconsistencies or outdated information.
Tuesday:
Update your LinkedIn profile to match your website. Same core language, same description of who you serve.
Wednesday:
Ask ChatGPT about your business category. “Who are good [your service] providers in [your area]?” See what comes up. This is your baseline.
Thursday:
List three places you could get mentioned that you’re not currently in. Industry directories? Local business associations? Review sites? Community forums?
Friday:
Ask a recent happy client if they’d write a review. Give them guidance on what to mention – the specific service you provided and the result.
That’s it. No big budget required. Just focused effort in the right places.
The Small Business Advantage
Here’s what I keep coming back to: the businesses that will win at AI visibility aren’t necessarily the biggest or the ones with the most marketing dollars.
They’re the ones that are clear about what they do, consistent in how they describe it, and present in the places AI learns from.
Home-based businesses can absolutely compete here. In some ways, you’re better positioned than larger competitors because you can move faster and stay more focused.
The question is whether you’ll start building your AI presence now, while most of your competitors are still ignoring it. Or whether you’ll wait until everyone catches on and the opportunity gets more crowded.
Sarah didn’t do anything fancy. She just happened to have clear, consistent information about her bookkeeping business in the right places. AI noticed. Clients followed.
You can do the same.
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