More people are asking instead of searching. “What’s a good church near me for families?” “Who builds websites for small businesses?” They type it into ChatGPT, or they read the AI answer at the top of Google.
So here is a fair question: when someone asks, can the AI find you?
How these tools find sites
Different tools work in different ways, so there is no single trick. Google says its AI Overviews and AI Mode draw on the same Google Search index as regular results. A page has to be indexed and allowed to show a snippet to appear as a link there. ChatGPT’s search feature uses its own crawler, called OAI-SearchBot. OpenAI says sites that block it will not be shown in ChatGPT search answers.
Nobody can promise that an AI tool will mention you. But clear, helpful pages that search tools can reach give you the best chance, and they help regular Google search too.
Five things that help
1. Say the basics plainly. Your name, what you do, where you are, and who you serve. Put it on your homepage in normal sentences, not only in a logo or a photo. Google says important content should be available as text.
2. Answer real questions. Add a short FAQ to your key pages, written as visible text. Use the words people actually type or say. “What time is church on Sunday?” “Do you offer free estimates?” Keep each answer to two or three sentences.
3. Let search tools in. Check that your site is not blocking search crawlers. Your robots.txt file, your host or a security setting can do this by accident. If you want to show up in ChatGPT search, that means allowing OAI-SearchBot. If you use structured data (schema), keep it matching what is on the page. Google says no special markup is needed for its AI features.
4. Keep your Google Business Profile up to date. Check your hours, phone number, address, category and photos. Google says complete, accurate information makes a business more likely to show up in local results, and it lists an up-to-date Business Profile among the basics for its AI features too.
5. Ask for reviews, and reply to them. Reviews show next to your Business Profile in Google Maps and Search. Ask happy customers or members to leave an honest review, and reply to them. Never offer a discount or a gift in return for a review. Google does not allow it.
Start small
You do not have to do all five this week. Pick one. Rewrite your homepage opening so a stranger knows who you are in two sentences, or check your Business Profile hours. Then check back in a month.
Want help?
If you would like a second set of eyes on your site, we are happy to take a look and tell you what we would fix first.
Phil Graves owns All Saints Media, where he designs websites and graphics that help churches, nonprofits, and businesses connect with the people they serve. He has worked in web and graphic design for more than 20 years. Phil is also the senior pastor of Lake Lynn Baptist Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and teaches pastors practical ways to use AI without losing their voice. He and his wife Kristie have five children. Learn more at philgraves.me.