How to get your business found in ChatGPT
What I discovered when my studio didn't show up — and the exact steps to fix it.
Where this all started
I typed "Pilates studio near me" into ChatGPT one afternoon — just out of curiosity, probably when I was supposed to be doing invoices. My studio didn't come up. Three competitors did.
I've been running my studio for 8 years. And ChatGPT had never heard of me.
That moment sent me down a rabbit hole that eventually led to this website, this journal, and the whole project I'm now calling Core & Code — using AI to try to reduce my admin from 20 hours a week to 2. But before any of that, I had to understand why I was invisible. And the answer surprised me.
Fair warning: fixing this actually added to my workload before it saved any. I'm going to be honest about that. But it's a one-time fix, and once it's done, it compounds over time.
How ChatGPT actually finds local businesses
This is the part nobody tells you. ChatGPT doesn't find you through Instagram. It doesn't care about your follower count, your reels, or how often you post. When someone asks ChatGPT "where's a good Pilates studio near me?" — it pulls that information from the web. And the web, for local businesses, means Google.
Specifically, ChatGPT draws heavily from:
Your Google Business Profile
This is the single most important thing. It's the listing that appears when someone Googles your business name — the panel on the right with your address, hours, photos, and reviews. ChatGPT treats this as a primary source of truth for local businesses.
The consistency of your information across the web
If your address on Google says one thing and your website says another, that inconsistency is a red flag. ChatGPT and Google both look for signals that your business is real, active, and trustworthy. Consistent information across all platforms is one of those signals.
How active your profile is
A profile that hasn't been touched in years looks like a business that might not exist anymore. Recent photos, recent posts, recent reviews — these all signal to Google (and therefore ChatGPT) that you're open, active, and worth recommending.
Reviews — and how you respond to them
The number of reviews matters. The recency of reviews matters. And whether you respond to them matters. Google sees replies as a sign of an engaged, active business. ChatGPT picks up on this too.
My Google Business profile hadn't been properly updated since I moved location in June 2025. Before that, I genuinely hadn't thought about it. I assumed it was just a listing you set up once and left alone. It's not.
How to optimise your Google Business Profile — step by step
These are the exact steps I took. Go to business.google.com to manage your profile.
Step 01
Check your business name includes your keywords
Your business name on Google Business should include the words people actually search for. If your studio is called 'The Reformer Experience', consider whether adding a descriptor helps — for example 'The Reformer Experience — Reformer Pilates, Almancil, Algarve'. The location and the type of Pilates you offer are the keywords that matter. People search 'Reformer Pilates Algarve' not just 'Pilates'. Make sure those words appear in your name or at minimum in your description.
Step 02
Make sure your address is correct — and consistent everywhere
Check that your address on Google Business exactly matches what's on your website, your Facebook page, any directory listings, and anywhere else your business appears online. Even small differences (Street vs St, missing postcode) create inconsistency that hurts your ranking. If you've moved recently, this is especially important to audit.
Step 03
Update your opening hours
Are your hours accurate? Do they reflect seasonal changes? If you run different hours in summer and winter, update them. An out-of-date hours listing is one of the most common issues — and it's an immediate trust signal. If someone shows up when Google says you're open and you're not, that's a problem.
Step 04
Write a proper description with your keywords in it
Your Google Business description is one of the places ChatGPT and Google look for signals about what you do and where. Write 2–3 sentences that include: the type of Pilates you offer (Reformer, mat, clinical), your location (town, region), and who it's for. Don't stuff keywords awkwardly — write naturally, but make sure the words are there. Something like: 'Reformer Pilates studio in Almancil, Algarve. Small group and private sessions for all levels. 8 years of experience helping people move better.'
Step 05
Upload current photos
Replace any old or low-quality photos with current ones. Include: the studio space, the equipment, ideally a photo of you teaching. Google uses photo recency as an activity signal. Aim for at least 5–10 good photos. Update them every few months if you can.
Step 06
Start asking clients for reviews — and reply to every one
Ask your long-term clients first. When you ask, suggest they mention the type of class and the location in their review — 'Reformer Pilates in Almancil' in a review is indexed by Google and helps you appear in those searches. Reply to every review, positive and negative. A simple 'Thank you so much, it's always a pleasure to see you in the studio' is enough. Replying tells Google your business is active and engaged.
Step 07
Start posting on Google Business — weekly
This is the one most studio owners have never heard of. You can post updates directly on your Google Business profile — a mini feed that lives on Google itself. Each post is another reference point for Google to index. ChatGPT uses Google to find local businesses, so the more active your presence on Google, the more likely you are to be recommended. Post once a week: a class update, a tip, a seasonal offer, anything. It doesn't need to be long. I've set up a weekly reminder in Manus to draft a post for me every Monday — more on that in a future chapter.
The honest bit: this added to my workload before it saved any
I want to be straight with you. I started this whole project because I wanted to reduce my admin. And the first thing I discovered added to it. Updating the profile, sorting the photos, asking for reviews, setting up a weekly posting habit — that's all time. It's not huge, but it's real.
What helped was automating the weekly Google post. I set up a scheduled task in Manus — every Monday it drafts a Google Business post for me and sends me a message to say it's ready to copy and paste. That's not fully automatic yet (I still have to post it manually) but it removes the thinking. The draft is just there. I'll cover how I set that up in a later chapter.
The reason it's worth doing despite the initial effort: it compounds. Every review, every post, every week of activity makes your profile stronger. You do the work once to get it in good shape, then you maintain it with small weekly actions. And the result — being found by people who've never heard of you — keeps paying off.
The prompt I used
Paste this into ChatGPT to get your personalised action plan
Replace [studio name] and [town/city] with your own details. ChatGPT will ask you 5 questions about your studio, then give you a personalised list of exactly what to fix first.
— Victoria
Coming next
Chapter 2: I built a website by talking into my phone →How I found Manus, what I've been building, and why I'm doing all of this in public.