New Cheers research
What makes AI recommend a local business?
We measured 34,742 answers from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Mode in 100 metros: what the businesses they named had in common, and where the engines split.
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GEO Academy
Learn how local businesses get found and recommended by AI.
Start with the essentials
Three guides. A clear place to begin.
Understand GEO
Start with what generative engine optimization means for a local business.
Read guideLearn where AI gets its answers
See the directories, lists, and websites ChatGPT cited across 9,434 local answers.
Read guideBuild your visibility plan
Put the findings to work across lists, reviews, Yelp, pages, and booking links.
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Original Cheers research
Your website is part of the recommendation.
Business websites were a major source of citations across all four engines in our home-services sample. The mix varied by engine, so your website and your directory profiles both deserve attention.
Gemini80.7%
Perplexity72.3%
Google AI Mode70.3%
ChatGPT48.8%
Cheers Market Baseline · 28 days ending September 2, 2026. 356,019 citations across 32 home-services prompts, 100 metro areas, and four engines. Citation share measures linked sources, not leads or recommendation rate.
What are you working on?
Practical guidance for your next step.
Improve my location pagesSee which page types AI cites, then build one per service and city.Show up in Google AI ModeRatings, reviews, and booking links in 9,435 Google AI Mode answers.Set a review target for each locationReview counts of the businesses AI named, by trade.Fix a lower rating on ChatGPTFind the Yelp card behind the number and fix it within Yelp's rules.Fix incorrect business informationFind the source of an error and correct it.Manage multiple locationsKeep business records consistent across branches.
Explore the library
Guides, research, and practical answers for your business.
131 articles · Page 1 of 11
Google Business Profile10 min read
What If You Ignore a Google Business Profile Suggested Edit?
Google now gives owners 4 days to answer a suggested edit, then may publish it if your website backs it up. What multi-location brands should change.
Research10 min read
Why Does AI Recommend Different Businesses Every Time?
We asked four AI engines the same 32 home-services questions in 100 cities every week. A week later, Google AI Mode repeated only 41% of the businesses.
Playbooks10 min read
How Do Roofing Companies Get Recommended by ChatGPT?
ChatGPT cited a roofer's own site in 17.8% of roofing answers and a directory or ranking list in at least 82%. What 2,176 AI answers show roofers.
Playbooks9 min read
How Do Pest Control Companies Get Recommended by ChatGPT?
National brands were in 60.1% of AI answers on our pest control question but filled 22.1% of the names. How local pest companies win the rest.
Playbooks8 min read
How Do Garage Door Companies Get Recommended by ChatGPT?
ChatGPT cited garage door companies' own sites in 13.3% of answers; Google AI Mode cited them in 90.0% and linked booking pages in 31.3%. What to fix.
Playbooks8 min read
How Do Electricians Get Recommended by ChatGPT?
40.8% of Google AI Mode's electrical answers named an electrician with under 20 reviews. What six questions show about 24/7 proof, permits and licenses.
Put what you learn into practice.
See how your business appears in AI recommendations.