Get Recommended by AI: AIO Strategy for the ChatGPT Era

Is your business ready to be recommended by AI?

"What's a good kid-friendly Italian restaurant near here?" or "Show me three highly-rated chiropractic clinics for back pain."

Searches like these, which feel like a conversation with a person, are becoming commonplace. With the advent of generative AI like ChatGPT, Google's AI search (SGE), and Gemini, the way users gather information is changing dramatically. We are shifting from the behavior of "searching with keywords and checking each website one by one" to "asking AI for a direct answer."

This change is a significant wave that business owners and web managers of small and medium-sized enterprises cannot ignore. Relying solely on traditional SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and MEO (Map Engine Optimization) might cause you to miss this new wave. This is because AI selects which businesses to recommend using a slightly different logic than traditional search engines.

In this article, we will explain AIO (AI Optimization), the key to future customer acquisition, in concrete steps that even those without specialized knowledge can immediately implement. Understand the conditions for becoming a "business recommended by AI" and take the first step today.

The Problem: Top Ranking on Google Maps Doesn't Guarantee an AI Recommendation

"We work hard on our MEO, so we always rank high on Google Maps. We should be fine."

Many people might think this way. However, this mindset could be risky. While traditional SEO and MEO were measures to raise rankings in search results, AIO is a strategy to get your business quoted and recommended within AI's conversational answers. Their objectives are fundamentally different.

When AI generates an answer, it references a vast amount of information on the web. However, simply having a large volume of information is not enough. AI places extremely high importance on "how trustworthy the information is" and "how well it matches the user's specific question (intent)."

For example, AI prioritizes information like the following:

• Highly reliable information written by experts.
• Information where store hours, location, and service details are structured and easy for machines to understand.
• Information that has gathered many positive and specific reviews from users.
• Information that proactively answers questions users are likely to have.

If your website or Google Business Profile does not meet these criteria, you might be left out of AI's recommendation list, even if you rank high in Google search results. In the coming era, while building on the foundation of traditional SEO and MEO, a new perspective is essential for being "chosen" by AI—namely, AIO.

Concrete Solutions to Get Recommended by AI

So, what exactly can you do to make it more likely for AI to recommend your business? Here, we explain three important solutions with concrete steps that you can start working on tomorrow.

Solution 1: Prove Your 'Trustworthiness' Online, a Key Factor for AI (E-E-A-T)

In its Search Quality Rater Guidelines, Google advocates for a concept called "E-E-A-T," which stands for "Experience," "Expertise," "Authoritativeness," and "Trustworthiness." It serves as an indicator of high-quality content. This E-E-A-T is also an extremely important criterion for how AI evaluates information.

AI places importance on "who" is disseminating the information. Clearly demonstrate on your website that your business is run by experienced experts in its field.

Tell Your Story: Share Operator and Expert Profiles

Simply listing a company overview is not enough. For example, if you run a chiropractic clinic, create a profile page for the director and include specific information such as:

• Qualifications: e.g., Judo Therapist, Acupuncturist.
• Career History: Where and for how many years did they train, what techniques did they learn, and how many patients have they seen annually (e.g., a track record of treating over 5,000 patients).
• Philosophy and Passion: Why did they choose this profession? What kind of pain do they want to help people with? Their commitment to their practice.
• Headshot: A clean, professional photo that inspires confidence.

This information sends a powerful signal to AI that "the information on this website is supervised by a person with solid experience and expertise." For a restaurant, detailing the chef's background and passion for ingredients is effective. For a construction company, sharing the representative's career as a carpenter and passion for architecture as a story is also a great approach.

Showcase Objective, Third-Party Evaluations

Third-party evaluations are more credible than simply saying, "We are great." This is also crucial for enhancing the "Authoritativeness" and "Trustworthiness" aspects of E-E-A-T.

• Media Coverage: If you've been featured on TV, in magazines, or on web media, be sure to list the date, media name, and a summary of the feature.
• Awards: If you have received awards from industry contests or recognition from public institutions, promote them actively.
• Client Portfolio: For B2B businesses, a track record of working with major corporations or government agencies is a strong testament to your reliability.

Solution 2: Speak a Language AI Can Directly Understand (Structured Data)

When humans look at a webpage, they can naturally understand, "This is the store's name, this is the address, and this is the phone number." However, to an AI (a machine), these are just strings of text. This is where "structured data" becomes important.

Structured data is like a "tag" that accurately tells AI what the information on a webpage is. For example, by adding a tag that says "this is an address" to the string "1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo," the AI can recognize it as an address with 100% accuracy. This extra step can have a significant impact on how your business is displayed in AI search.

Start Here: Implement the LocalBusiness Schema

The most important piece of structured data for a local business is the "LocalBusiness" schema. Using this, you can accurately convey your store name, address, phone number, business hours, website URL, and more to AI.

It might sound difficult, but you don't need expert knowledge. By using Google's "Structured Data Markup Helper," you can automatically generate the necessary code just by following the on-screen instructions.

Implementation is as simple as pasting the generated code (JSON-LD format is recommended) into the `` or `` of your website's HTML. Below is a code example of basic structured data for a restaurant.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Restaurant",
  "name": "Sample Restaurant",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "1-1-1 Marunouchi",
    "addressLocality": "Chiyoda-ku",
    "addressRegion": "Tokyo",
    "postalCode": "100-0005",
    "addressCountry": "JP"
  },
  "telephone": "+81-3-1234-5678",
  "url": "https://www.example.com/",
  "openingHours": "Mo,Tu,We,Th,Fr 11:30-14:30,17:00-22:00",
  "servesCuisine": "Italian"
}
</script>

By embedding this code on your website, AI can accurately database your store's information and more appropriately recommend it for searches like "Italian restaurants in Marunouchi."

Solution 3: Feed AI with the 'Real Voices' of Your Users (Review Strategy)

AI learns from a massive number of reviews posted on Google Business Profile and various portal sites (like Yelp, TripAdvisor, etc.) to analyze "how that business is perceived by users."

What's important is not just a high star rating. AI reads the "content" of the reviews. High-quality reviews that specifically describe "what" was good and "how" it was good are extremely valuable for AIO.

Encourage Reviews with Specific Keywords

For a ramen shop, for instance, a review that says, "The pork bone broth was rich yet had a clean aftertaste, and it paired perfectly with the homemade thin noodles. The char siu was especially tender and exquisite," is far more useful to AI than a simple "It was delicious."

From the more detailed review, AI learns specific features like "pork bone broth," "homemade noodles," and "char siu," enabling it to answer niche questions such as, "Where can I find a ramen shop with delicious char siu?"

When asking customers for a review, don't just say, "Please leave a review." Adding a phrase like, "We'd love to hear your thoughts on your favorite dish or our service," can dramatically increase the specificity of the reviews you receive.

Responding to Reviews is an Opportunity to Appeal to AI

Replying thoughtfully to posted reviews is also very important. The owner's reply is seen not only by users but also by AI. By sincerely expressing gratitude and addressing any points raised in the review, such as improvements you've made, AI will evaluate your business as a "trustworthy establishment that engages sincerely with its users." This is an effective AIO strategy that directly enhances the "Trustworthiness" aspect of E-E-A-T.

Getting Started Today: A 3-Step AIO Action Plan

For those who understand the theory but aren't sure where to start, we've compiled a concrete action plan in three steps. Following this order will allow you to steadily build a foundation for AIO.

Step 1: Audit Your Website and Google Business Profile Information (1 Week)

Let's start by understanding your current situation. Review your website and Google Business Profile to check if they contain all the necessary information to be recommended by AI.

• Inventory of E-E-A-T Information: Is information about the representative or staff's career, qualifications, awards, and media coverage posted on your site? If not, take this opportunity to create a dedicated page.
• Check for Basic Information Consistency: Are the business name, address, and phone number (known as NAP information) completely consistent across your website, Google Business Profile, and other social media or portal sites? Inconsistencies (e.g., "Co., Ltd." vs. "Co. Ltd.," or "1-2-3" vs. "1 Chome-2-3") can confuse AI, so they should be unified.
• Specificity of Service Details: Are the services and products you offer described in detail, including their features, prices, and your unique approach? Check from a customer's perspective to see if you are proactively providing the information they would want to know.

Step 2: Implement Basic Structured Data (2 Weeks)

Next, convert the information you organized in Step 1 into a format that AI can understand. Implement the "LocalBusiness" schema structured data mentioned earlier.

1. Go to Google's "Structured Data Markup Helper."
2. Select "Local Businesses" and enter your website's URL.
3. On the displayed webpage, click on the relevant parts like the store name and address, and tag what information corresponds to which item.
4. Once you've tagged all the necessary items, click the "CREATE HTML" button.
5. Copy the generated JSON-LD code and paste it into the HTML source code of all pages on your website (preferably within the `<head>` tag). If you use a CMS like WordPress, you can easily add it using a dedicated plugin or a theme feature.
6. After implementation, use the "Rich Results Test" tool to confirm that it is being recognized correctly.

Step 3: Systematize Review Quality Improvement and FAQ Content Creation (Ongoing)

The final step is ongoing maintenance. It's not a one-time task; integrating it into your daily operations as a system is the key to success.

• Systematize Review Requests: Create a clear path for customers to leave reviews on Google Business Profile by including QR codes on thank-you cards, POP displays at the register, or in post-purchase thank-you emails. When you do, don't forget to add a line like, "Please tell us about your favorite dish!"
• Create FAQ Content: List frequently asked questions from customers (e.g., "Do you have parking?" "Is a reservation required?" "Do you accept credit cards?") and create a "Frequently Asked Questions" page on your website. This not only resolves user queries but also serves as an important information source for AI when generating conversational answers.

Conclusion: The Era of AI Search Is Already Here

The shift in the search experience driven by AI is no longer a thing of the future. Right now, many users are interacting with AI to find places to go and services to use. Whether or not you can adapt to this new trend will significantly impact the future growth of your business.

The AIO strategies introduced here are by no means difficult. Their essence lies in returning to business fundamentals: "communicating the inherent value and expertise of your business clearly and honestly to both users and AI."

The assets you have built through SEO and MEO, such as your website and Google Business Profile, will not go to waste. By building on that foundation and adding an AIO perspective—strengthening E-E-A-T, implementing structured data, and acquiring high-quality reviews—your business can evolve into one that is "recommended by AI."

Start today with Step 1, the "Information Audit." That small first step will lead to encounters with many new customers in the future.

Learn more about a systematic approach to AIO with the TrendPackage AIO Package.