Why does ChatGPT give different answers each time?

Answers change with the date, your location, whether you're logged in, your chat history and the model. Write down your settings and look at the trend, not one result.

Can I just search "near me"?

Use your town name instead. "Near me" depends on where the person checking is sitting.

What if Google shows no AI answer?

Write "No AI Overview" and don't count it as a miss.

Can anyone guarantee AI will name my business?

No. We can't control what AI tools show, and no one can honestly promise that. We don't. Clear facts that match everywhere give you better odds.

How to check if AI tools name your business

Pick 3 questions your customers really ask, with your town name in them. Ask each one in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google, in a fresh chat or a private window. Write down which businesses get named, in what order, and what sources the AI points to. That's 9 checks. Count how many name you. Do it again each month, because the answers change.

Why two people get different answers

AI answers aren't fixed. They change with the date, where you are, whether you're logged in, your chat history and which model you're using. So two people can ask the same question and get different names back. That's why you write down your settings before you start.

Step 1: Pick 3 questions

Pick questions a real customer would type before calling someone:

One "who's best" or "who should I hire" question, with your town name.
One question about your main service.
One question about cost or how to choose.

Use your town name, not "near me." "Near me" depends on where the person checking happens to be.

For example, a home builder in Fredericksburg, VA might ask:

1"Who are the best custom home builders in Fredericksburg, VA?"
2"Who does home additions in Stafford County, VA?"
3"How do I choose a general contractor in Fredericksburg, VA, and who do people recommend?"

Step 2: Write down your settings

Before you ask anything, note:

The date and time
The tool and mode (for example, ChatGPT with search on, or Google AI Mode)
Logged in or out
Private or incognito window, yes or no
The city you're in, and whether a VPN is on
A fresh chat with no history. Start a new one for each question.

Step 3: Run 9 checks

Ask each question in each tool:

ChatGPT: start a new chat and paste the question exactly.
Perplexity: start a new thread and paste the question exactly.
Google: search the question in a private window. Note whether an AI Overview shows. If AI Mode is available, try it there too and note that.

Each time, copy the businesses named, in order. Note whether you're named, and the sources or links the AI cites. Take a screenshot.

Step 4: Score it

Write it down as "Named in __ of __." Only count checks where an AI answer showed up.

Then note the competitor that got named the most, and the sources the AI leaned on. These are often review sites, directories, local news and other businesses' sites.

Copy this table to keep track:

#	Question	Tool / mode	Logged in?	Businesses named (in order)	Are you named? (Y/N, position)	Sources cited	Screenshot
1		ChatGPT
1		Perplexity
1		Google AI Overview / AI Mode
2		ChatGPT
2		Perplexity
2		Google AI Overview / AI Mode
3		ChatGPT
3		Perplexity
3		Google AI Overview / AI Mode

If Google shows no AI answer, write "No AI Overview." Don't count it as a miss.

If you're not named

There are a few things that help. Each one is explained on our AI search page.

Answer pages: plain questions and answers your customers really ask, on your site.
Schema markup: code people don't see that tells AI tools what you do and where.
The same name, address and phone everywhere: when your details don't match from place to place, AI tools and customers can't tell which ones are right.
Specifics and proof: your reviews, project details and real facts, front and center.
Letting AI tools read your site: making sure the main AI crawlers are allowed in, plus an llms.txt file with a short summary of your business.

To be straight with you: we can't control what ChatGPT, Perplexity or Google show, and no one can promise an AI tool will name you. This work is about better odds. See how AI search works →

Want us to run it?

On the Grow plan, you get a monthly check of who AI tools name for your top questions, including whether you were named.

Get my free site review

Your free site review includes an AI-mention check: we ask 3 AI tools your top local questions and show you who they named.

Questions

Why does ChatGPT give different answers each time?: Answers change with the date, your location, whether you're logged in, your chat history and the model. Write down your settings and look at the trend, not one result.
Can I just search "near me"?: Use your town name instead. "Near me" depends on where the person checking is sitting.
What if Google shows no AI answer?: Write "No AI Overview" and don't count it as a miss.
Can anyone guarantee AI will name my business?: No. We can't control what AI tools show, and no one can honestly promise that. We don't. Clear facts that match everywhere give you better odds.
How often should I check?: Once a month is enough to see a trend. On the Grow plan, you get a monthly check of who AI tools name for your top questions, including whether you were named.