The rise of ChatGPT and AI assistants has changed how people discover, evaluate, and engage with local businesses. But most small business owners are still stuck in “Google mode.” Here are the top 5 ways you're probably misusing GPTs—and how to start winning AI visibility today.
- ❌ Treating ChatGPT Like Google The mistake: Asking ChatGPT for “traffic,” “SEO rankings,” or “top keywords” like you would on Google.
Fix it: GPTs work better when you think in conversations, not clicks. Ask things like:
“How would my business show up in ChatGPT if someone asked for the best dentist in Austin?”
“Rewrite my About page in a tone that sounds helpful and trustworthy.”
- ❌ Writing for Bots, Not Buyers The mistake: Stuffing bios and service pages with stiff keywords.
Fix it: GPTs prioritize natural, helpful, and authoritative content. Use first-person language, real pain points, and location-specific phrasing. Try:
“We help busy moms in Montclair feel strong again in just 2 sessions a week.”
- ❌ Ignoring Structured Data The mistake: Assuming your business info is “out there” because it's on your website or social profiles.
Fix it: AI agents pull from structured data sources like Google Business, Yelp, Facebook, and review schema. Make sure:
Your NAP (name-address-phone) is consistent
Your profiles have rich, complete descriptions
You generate FAQ, Review, and LocalBusiness schema
- ❌ Not Testing Your Prompts The mistake: Assuming you’re showing up in ChatGPT when you’ve never tested it.
Fix it: Open ChatGPT and ask:
“Who is the best [your industry] in [your city]?”
“Which [business type] has great reviews for [pain point]?”
Then reverse-engineer why others show up. It's usually because they’ve nailed their schema, tone, and bios.
- ❌ Using ChatGPT Passively Instead of Proactively The mistake: Only using GPT for content creation, not strategy.
Fix it: Think of GPT as your visibility coach. Use it to:
Simulate what AI agents say about your brand
Compare your competitors’ bios vs. yours
Identify gaps in your content and schema
📌 Want a free AI visibility audit? Upload your business link or file and let RenAI show you what to fix.