When buyers ask an AI who to buy from, will it name you?

As buyers in Southeast Asia increasingly turn to AI assistants for recommendations on where to make purchases, the way small businesses are found and recommended is changing. Instead of browsing through pages of links, buyers now receive a shortlist of three names along with reasons for each suggestion. This shift in the purchasing process has significant implications for small businesses.

When a buyer asks an AI assistant for a recommendation, such as a wedding photographer in Jakarta, the assistant typically reads from various sources like the business's website, review sites, directories, and articles written about the industry. If the information is consistent and clear across these sources, the assistant is more likely to confidently name the business. However, if the information is thin, outdated, or contradictory, the assistant may choose a different business to feature.

One key factor in being selected by the AI is the presence and quality of information on various platforms. For small businesses in Southeast Asia, which often operate through social media channels like Facebook and Instagram along with a marketplace shop and potentially a website, the assistant primarily reads information from these sources. Clear, concise information presented in a consistent manner across all platforms is crucial for the AI to accurately recommend the business.

To improve visibility and being named by AI assistants, businesses should focus on updating their Google Business Profile with accurate information such as what they sell, their hours, and real photos. The first lines of their website should also clearly convey what they do, for whom, and where they are located. Additionally, ensuring consistent information across social media, marketplace shops, and directories is essential.

Being listed on review sites and round-up articles that appear in AI assistant answers can also boost a business's chances of being recommended. Responding to the information the assistant reads and correcting any outdated or incorrect details is important. Finally, asking the AI assistant the same questions multiple times can provide insight into how often they mention a particular business, allowing businesses to gauge their effectiveness in being found and recommended.