Seen. Trusted. Chosen.
What AI visibility is, and how to check yours
A free method you can run in half an hour.
Last updated October 2026.
Introduction
AI visibility is how often AI tools name your business when people ask questions you'd want to be the answer to.
There's no single score. Tools sell one, but the number depends on which questions they ask. The most useful version is the one you run yourself, with your customers' questions.
01 - What counts
What counts.
01Being named
Your business appears in the answer.02Being cited
The answer links to your site or a page about you.03Being described correctly
The right services, suburbs, hours and prices.
02 - How to check yours
How to check yours.
01Write ten questions
The ones customers actually ask. Mix "best [service] in [town]", "how much does [service] cost in [town]" and problem questions like "who fixes a leaking shower in Ballina".02Ask each tool
ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google's AI Mode or AI Overview. Use a private window where you can.03Record the answers
For each question: were you named, who was named instead, and which sites were cited.04Ask about yourself by name
Check what each tool says about your business, and fix anything wrong at the source: your site, your Google profile, your directory listings.05Repeat monthly
Same questions each time.
Answers change from one run to the next, so look at the pattern over a few months rather than a single result.
03 - What moves it
What moves it.
Clear service and location pages, steady reviews, the same business details everywhere, and mentions on the sites the answers already cite. The detail is in How to rank in Google AI Overviews.
04 - Paid tracking tools
Paid tracking tools.
Tools like Ahrefs Brand Radar and Semrush track AI answers at scale. They suit bigger brands with many products. For most small businesses, a spreadsheet and ten good questions tells you more.
05 - FAQ
AI visibility questions.
Is there an AI visibility score?
Several tools sell one, but each uses its own questions. Your own questions matter more.
How often should I check?
Monthly. Weekly checks mostly show noise.
Why does ChatGPT say something wrong about my business?
It's drawing on old or inconsistent information somewhere online. Find it and fix it at the source.
Can anyone guarantee I'll show up?
No. Anyone who does is guessing.
07 - Contact
Want to be found first?
Tell me about your business and I'll tell you what's worth doing. If I can't help, I'll say so.
Prefer email? kate@foundfirst.com.au
Or call 0432 573 646