Over the past year, conversations around ChatGPT have shifted. The initial curiosity has turned into cautious interest and now a ‘must use’ for many. For some business owners, a nervousness still remains, afterall where does ChatGPT get its information from, how accurate is it, and how does it actually work compared to a traditional search engine? Increasingly, one question rises above the rest: how do I get my business listed on ChatGPT?
The honest answer is that it is a little more complicated than most people expect.
ChatGPT does not work like Google. It is not browsing the internet in real time, checking live websites, or pulling information directly from databases unless a specific web search tool is enabled. Instead, it generates responses based on patterns it has learned during its training process. This distinction is important, because misunderstanding it often leads to unrealistic expectations about visibility and accuracy.
According to ChatGPT itself, the information it draws from comes from a combination of different sources used during training, rather than live searches. In simple terms, this can be broken down into three main areas.
1. Licensed Data: This includes content that organisations such as OpenAI have permission to use. These might be curated datasets, reference materials, or licensed databases that help provide structure and factual grounding.
2. Data created by human trainers: This is an often overlooked but crucial part of how tools like ChatGPT learn. Real people write examples, explanations, summaries and sample conversations to teach the model how to respond clearly, safely and helpfully. This is what helps the system understand tone of voice, content, context and how humans naturally communicate, rather than simply repeating raw information.
3. Publicly available information: This includes text that is legally accessible, such as books, articles, websites and public documents. UK-related material such as laws, institutions, history and general guidance can form part of this, but again, this is based on training data rather than live access. ChatGPT does not know what changed yesterday, nor can it verify something in real time unless specifically enabled to search.
This is where confusion often arises, particularly around the idea of being “listed” on ChatGPT. Unlike search engines, there is no form to fill in, no profile to claim, and no direct way to submit your business details for inclusion. ChatGPT does not store a directory of companies. Instead, it generates responses based on the patterns and information it has learned over time.
What this means in practice is that visibility comes indirectly from consistency. Businesses that produce clear, consistent, high-quality content across reputable public platforms are more likely to be referenced accurately in AI-generated responses over time. This is not about gaming the system or chasing shortcuts. It is about strong fundamentals:
1. well-written websites
2. Useful thought leadership
3. Accurate public information
4. Consistent messaging
At The Marketing Associates, we do not see ChatGPT as a solution in its own right. It is a tool, and like any tool, its value depends entirely on how it is used. While it can support certain tasks and prompt useful thinking, it cannot replace clear strategy, well-considered messaging or a genuine understanding of your audience. Strong marketing has always been built on those fundamentals, and that has not changed. Technology may evolve, but it does not remove the need for experience, judgement and thoughtful planning with real-time human understanding.
Rather than asking how to get listed on ChatGPT, the better question is how clearly your business communicates its expertise, values and purpose online. AI is not replacing good marketing, it is rewarding it.
Understanding how tools like ChatGPT work helps remove fear and replaces it with informed confidence. When businesses focus on clarity, accuracy and genuine value, they are far better placed for whatever the future of search and AI continues to bring.
If you would like to make your marketing feel more genuine, more thoughtful and more connected, visit www.themarketingassociates.co.uk.
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At The Marketing Associates, we specialise in strategic freelance marketing support for professional service practices, providing excellent quality advice on your marketing strategy to develop and grow your business on a retained basis.