Is Google AI Citing Your Business? Here's How to Check

Your Google traffic dropped last quarter. You're not alone—and AI might be why.

What's Actually Happening to Your Traffic

Google launched something called AI Overviews (they used to call it SGE) in 2024. When someone searches for "best plumber near me" or "dental implants cost," Google now shows an AI-written summary at the top of the page instead of just listing websites.

Here's the problem: that AI summary pulls information from websites, but it doesn't always link to them. Google cites some sources and ignores others. If your business isn't cited, searchers read the answer and never click to your site.

This is why you're seeing fewer clicks even though you still rank #1 or #2 organically.

How to Check If Google AI Is Citing You

You don't need special software for this—just your phone or computer and 10 minutes.

Step 1: Go to Google.com (not Google Maps). Search for the keywords your customers actually use. For a plumber, that's things like "emergency plumber near [your city]" or "burst pipe repair [your area]."

Step 2: Look at the top of the results. You'll see an AI Overview box (it's labeled "AI Overview" and has a light gray background). Scroll through it and look for citations—these show up as blue links within the summary or as numbered sources below it.

Step 3: Check if your website is mentioned by name or if your URL appears as a cited source. If you see your business name or domain linked in that box, you're being cited. If you don't see it, you're being cited but buried, or you're not cited at all.

Pro tip: Do this for 5-10 keywords that matter to your business. You might be cited for some searches but not others.

Why You Might Not Be Getting Cited

Google's AI doesn't just pick sources randomly. It looks for a few specific things on your website:

• Clear, direct answers. If someone searches "how much does a root canal cost," does your website actually answer that number? Or just say "call for pricing"? AI needs facts, not sales calls.
• Structured data markup. This is code on your website that tells Google what kind of business you are, your hours, your address, and your phone number. It's not invisible—it's just HTML tags. A lot of local business websites don't have it set up correctly.
• Authority and freshness. Has your content been updated in the last year? Does Google trust your website as a source? Old, outdated pages get cited less often.
• Actually being in Google's index. This sounds obvious, but some websites aren't fully indexed. If Google can't crawl your pages, AI can't cite them.

What to Do Right Now

Audit your content. Go to your most important service pages (the ones customers search for). Ask yourself: would someone find a real answer here, or would they need to call to find out? If it's the latter, rewrite it. Add prices, timelines, specific details. This matters for both humans and AI.

Fix your business listing. Make sure your Google Business Profile is complete, accurate, and up to date. Your address, phone number, hours, and service areas all need to match everywhere they appear online (your website, Google, Yelp, Facebook, etc.).

Get structured data right. If you're on WordPress, use a plugin like Yoast SEO or Semrush to add schema markup automatically. If you're not sure what this means, your web developer can set it up in about an hour. It's worth doing.

Update your old pages. Find your top 10 most-visited pages. Refresh the content. Add new details. Change the publication date. Google favors fresh content in AI Overviews.

The Bigger Picture: This Is AEO, Not SEO

You've probably heard of SEO—optimizing your website to rank on Google. AEO (AI Engine Optimization) is similar, but different. It's not just about showing up in search results anymore. It's about being cited as a source by Google's AI.

The stakes are higher now. You can rank #1 and still get zero traffic if the AI Overview answers the question without citing you. This is why what you do next matters.

Run your free AEO audit at citeddigital.co/audit. We'll show you exactly which keywords you're being cited for, which ones you're missing, and what's holding you back. It takes 2 minutes, and you'll get a real report back within 24 hours.

Your business built its reputation by being helpful and trustworthy. The good news? That's exactly what Google's AI is looking for. You just need to make sure it can find you.

Frequently asked questions about checking AI citation status

How do I check ChatGPT for my business name?

Open ChatGPT and ask a buying-intent question in your category (e.g., "best HVAC contractor in Charlotte"). Look at which sources ChatGPT cites. If your domain isn't there, you have a citation problem.

Does Google AI Overviews work the same way as ChatGPT?

Similar but distinct. AI Overviews lean heavier on Google's existing ranking signals. ChatGPT and Perplexity maintain their own citation graphs that don't directly mirror Google rankings.

What if I can't find my brand cited anywhere?

Run a free AEO audit on your site. It will show your overall AEO score, the categories you're failing, and the specific fixes that move citation rates fastest.

Can I track my AI citation status over time?

Yes — the $297/month Watch & Update retainer monitors your citation status across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI monthly, flagging changes as AI engines update their behavior.

How long until I show up in AI answers after I fix things?

Schema fixes get indexed by AI within 2-4 weeks. Content gap fixes take 4-12 weeks. E-E-A-T improvements compound over months.

Questions? Contact Connor