Google Is Losing. Here's How to Make Sure AI Recommends Your Business Instead.

Haeatara

— 2 min read

Three things you must do before Monday: AEO your website, check your AI hiring tools for legal risk, and pick one AI tool under $50/month.

AEO Deep Dive: How to Get AI to Recommend Your Business

"SEO" is becoming a legacy term. In 2026, the real question is: Does ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity recommend you?

How AI answer engines decide what to cite:

  • They prefer content that answers questions directly and completely
  • Structured, factual copy wins over keyword-stuffed pages
  • Schema markup helps AI understand your business category and location
  • Mentions in reputable sources signal authority

Five AEO moves any SMB can make this week:

  1. Rewrite your About page as a direct answer. Instead of "We've been serving Toronto since 2010," write: "We are a plumbing company in Toronto specialising in emergency repairs." AI picks direct statements.
  2. Add an FAQ section to every service page. Format as real questions with complete answers. AI loves FAQ-style content.
  3. Claim and complete your Google Business Profile. Now an AEO signal, not just local SEO. Fill every field. Add photos weekly.
  4. Get mentioned in niche content. Guest posts, Reddit answers, and local directories count as trusted citations.
  5. Add schema markup. LocalBusiness, FAQPage, and Service schema. Free tool: Google's Structured Data Markup Helper.

Time: 4–6 hours total. Cost: $0–$30.

AI Hiring Discrimination: What You Must Know Now

Illinois (HB 3773): Employers cannot use AI tools with a discriminatory effect during hiring — even if unintentional. Must notify applicants when AI is used.

Texas: Prohibits AI-driven hiring discrimination for all employers — including businesses with fewer than 15 employees.

NYC: Local Law 144 requires independent bias audits for any AI hiring tool.

Three things to do now: (1) List every AI tool involved in any hiring decision. (2) Check if those tools have published bias audit results for your state. (3) Add a disclosure to job applications: "We use AI-assisted screening. Applicants may request human review."

AI Tools Under $50/Month

  • Claude Pro — $20/mo — Writing, analysis, customer replies
  • Zapier Starter — $20/mo — Automating tasks without code
  • Canva Pro — $15/mo — Graphics, social content
  • Notion AI — $10/mo — Docs, SOPs, meeting summaries

Best combo: Claude Pro + Zapier Starter ($40/mo total)

One Action This Week

Build your AI Ops Playbook: one Google Doc with approved tools, data rules, AI hiring policy, content review process, and an incident log. Claude can draft it for you in 10 minutes.

Sources: K&L Gates (AI Employment Landscape 2026), Exxar Digital, Digital Applied.

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