To find out whether an AI cites your business, ask it the questions your customers ask it and note whether your name appears. Six questions and ten minutes are enough for a first overview, with no paid tool.
OpenAI announced on 29 September 2026 that ChatGPT has reached 1.2 billion weekly users. Some of your customers are therefore already looking for you there, before they even open Google.
Here are the method, the 6 questions, and how to read what the AIs tell you.
weekly ChatGPT users (OpenAI, 29 Sept. 2026)
to complete the full test, for free
The method in 4 settings
For the test to be reliable, you need the same set-up every time.
- 3 AIs — ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity: they do not cite the same sources.
- A clean session — a private browsing window or an account with no history, so the AI does not personalise its answer.
- 2 to 3 attempts per question — generative answers vary from one attempt to the next.
- A notes table — AI, question, cited yes/no, sources cited, competitors cited.
The 6 questions to ask
Adapt the brackets to your trade and your town.
- 1. Definition — "What is [your service] and how do I choose one?"
- 2. Local recommendation — "Who is the best [your trade] in [your town]?"
- 3. Comparison — "[Your business] or [competitor]: which should I choose?"
- 4. Price — "How much does [your service] cost in Belgium?"
- 5. Problem to solve — "How do I [your typical customer's problem]?"
- 6. Your name — "What do we know about [your business]?"
Question 2 is the most decisive commercially: it is the one that most resembles a request for a quote.
How to read the results
| What you observe | What it means | Priority action |
|---|---|---|
| Cited and well described | The AI knows you and trusts you | Maintain and strengthen the proof |
| Cited but poorly described | Outdated or inconsistent information on the web | Align your listing, website and directories |
| Never cited, competitors cited | Your competitors are better structured or mentioned more | Direct answers, schema, third-party mentions |
| Nobody is cited | Open field: little clear content on the topic | Publish the reference answer |
Also look at the sources cited: these are the pages the AI considers reliable on your topic, and therefore the ones to match or surpass.
And if you are not cited?
It is not a verdict, it is a starting point: most SMEs are not cited today.
- Answer at the top of the page — 1 to 3 direct sentences before any elaboration.
- Add sourced data — dated figures with a link to the source.
- Add schema.org — Article, FAQPage, LocalBusiness.
- Multiply reliable mentions — reviews, directories, press, partners.
- Repeat the test every month — to measure progress, not an isolated result. See also the real timelines by engine.
Your questions about the test
How do I find out whether my business is cited by ChatGPT?
Ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity the 6 questions your customers would ask about your trade and your town, then note whether your name appears, in what terms, and which sources are cited. 10 minutes is enough for a first overview.
How many questions should you test?
Six well-chosen questions give a reliable picture: one definition question, one comparison, one local, one on price, one about a problem to solve and one about your brand name.
Are the results the same every time?
No. Generative AIs vary from one answer to the next. Repeat each question 2 to 3 times, and redo the test every month to follow the trend rather than an isolated result.
What should I do if my business is never cited?
Work on the basics first: direct answers at the top of the page, lists, sourced figures, schema.org, customer reviews and mentions on reliable third-party sites. It is the same logic as SEO, pushed towards clarity and proof.
Does this test replace a GEO audit?
No, it gives a free first overview. A full audit also measures the sources cited instead of you, your competitors and the pages to restructure first.
Take the test, then act on the result.
We carry out a complete diagnosis of your visibility in AI — sources cited, competitors, pages to restructure — and hand you an action plan.