Can ChatGPT Be Used in Local SEO? What Businesses Need to Know in 2025

“Can ChatGPT be used in local SEO?”

When they wake up to a burst pipe, there’s now a percentage of homeowners who won’t open Google and scroll through a list of links. Instead, they’ll simply ask a tool like ChatGPT, “Who’s the best plumber near me?” It only takes a few seconds for names and contact info to appear, sometimes showing them on a map, sometimes listing them in a specific order. One of them will get the job. Was it you?

This shift isn’t just theory. A 2025 Elon University survey found that 52% of U.S. adults have already used AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Copilot. That’s over half the country… and it’s growing!

So, no matter if you’re a plumber, a lawyer, or own a local diner, you need to realize that this kind of search is already happening. And it’s radically transforming local SEO.

How to Use ChatGPT for Local SEO and Rank Higher

So, now that you know that consumers are already using ChatGPT for local SEO searches, the question is: How can you get recommended by the AI?

The first thing to understand is that ChatGPT doesn’t make these lists up. In fact, ChatGPT Search pulls from real data across the web, especially from Bing and Bing-powered platforms, to generate results.

Of course, AI tools aren’t perfect. ChatGPT may occasionally give outdated or incomplete info, but as these tools improve, they’re becoming an everyday part of how people search. If you want to appear in there, you have to make sure your business is showing up in the places ChatGPT looks at.

What Helps a Business Rank in ChatGPT?

At first, all we had were theories. Luckily, researchers like Joe Youngblood found, after reviewing hundreds of ChatGPT searches, that certain factors consistently help businesses appear in these AI-generated recommendations. 

Below are the main ones, explained in plain language:

1. Consensus Across the Web

ChatGPT favors businesses that show up consistently in trusted sources. That means you’re mentioned positively on websites, local lists, and/or review platforms like Google, Yelp and Better Business Bureau.

Let’s say your restaurant was featured in a “Top 10 Diners in Phoenix” article, or you’re the most-reviewed roofer on Angi. That counts as consensus. It signals to the AI that your business is known and trusted in your area.

2. Bing Places Listing

Because ChatGPT is owned by the same parent company as Bing (Microsoft), it leans heavily on Bing data. If you don’t already have a verified and complete Bing Places listing, you’re at a disadvantage.

What’s Bing Places? It’s just like a Google Business Profile, but for Bing. It’s free, takes minutes to set up, and helps make your business more visible not just in Bing, but in ChatGPT too.

3. Ranking in Bing Search Results

When someone asks ChatGPT for a local recommendation, it often runs a Bing search behind the scenes (something like “best personal injury lawyer in Dallas”). If your website or a directory listing that includes you ranks high in those Bing results, your chances of being recommended go way up.

So optimizing your site for Bing isn’t optional anymore. It’s part of the new local search playbook.

4. Complete Listings

Empty profiles—or profiles without reviews, photos, business hours, or a proper description—can drag you down. ChatGPT often filters these out because they appear less trustworthy.

Your business listings on Google, Yelp, BBB, Bing Places and even your own website need to be filled out and consistent across the board. Otherwise, you risk being invisible in AI-powered searches.

5. Testimonials on Your Website

ChatGPT sometimes pulls details directly from your website, especially if your site ranks for key terms. If you’ve got customer testimonials or reviews on your homepage or service pages, that can help validate your reputation in the AI’s eyes.

Think of your website as more than a brochure; for AI, it’s essentially a reputation signal.

6. Fresh Reviews on Google

Interestingly, ChatGPT seems to notice whether your Google reviews are recent. If you haven’t gotten a review in six months, ChatGPT may skip your business in favor of a competitor who’s getting steady feedback.

Even though ChatGPT isn’t directly powered by Google, those reviews still impact your visibility across the web. Make it a habit to ask happy customers to leave reviews regularly.

Why You’re Not Showing Up in ChatGPT Local SEO

Just like traditional search engines, ChatGPT looks for trust signals. If you’re not ranking, here’s what might be working against you in local SEO AI searches:

• A website that’s offline or loads too slowly.
• Poor reviews across major platforms.
• Having zero online presence or reviews.
• Duplicate business setups (like multiple businesses using the same phone number or address).
• No recent media or news mentions.

The good news? These are all things you can improve with the right strategy and support.

How Olly Olly Helps You Rank in ChatGPT (and Everywhere Else)

You don’t need to figure this out on your own. At Olly Olly, we’ve been helping local businesses understand how ChatGPT can help you with local SEO since AI-powered search hit the scene. It’s not about guesswork… we’re using real data to help businesses get noticed where people are actually searching!

Here’s what we do:

• Claim and optimize your Bing Places listing (most businesses ignore this—we don’t).
• Update your website so it’s fast, modern, and packed with trust signals like testimonials.
• Build strong, complete listings on directories ChatGPT trusts.
• Generate fresh reviews to improve your reputation.
• Create content that earns your business “consensus” mentions across the web.

Of course, there is never a “one and done” job. Ranking in ChatGPT is part of a broader strategy to make sure your business is visible anywhere people are searching—Google, Bing, ChatGPT, Apple Maps and beyond.

The Takeaway: AI Is the New Front Door… Make Sure You’re Standing in It!

Ranking in ChatGPT isn’t magic… It’s local SEO for AI and it’s completely doable. If your business isn’t showing up, someone else’s is. But you can do something about it:

• Set up and complete your Bing Places listing.
• Keep reviews flowing on Google and other platforms.
• Make sure your website has testimonials and runs fast.
• Get mentioned on trusted directories and local lists.

Let us handle your AI search presence.

We’ll put your business on the AI search map and in front of ready-to-buy customers. Reach out today to get started.

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