01 · How Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT pick which Irish business to name
AI doesn't guess — it quotes the clearest structured source on the web
Large language models (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity) and Google's AI Overviews do not read websites the way a human skims a brochure. When a user asks a question about a service in Ireland, the AI retrieves the top-ranking local pages and looks for extractable facts:
| What the AI Looks For | Brochure Website (Ignored by AI) | AI-Engineered Page (Cited by AI) |
|---|
| Direct Answer Lead | "Welcome to our family-run business with 20 years of passion for excellence..." | "A standard Velux attic conversion in Ireland costs €20,000 to €35,000 incl. 13.5% VAT and takes 3 to 4 weeks on site." |
| Structured Data Tables | Paragraphs of vague sales copy with no numbers | Clean HTML <table> comparing job types, euro prices, drying times, or grant bands |
| Machine-Readable Index | No llms.txt and broken or missing schema | Root /llms.txt summary + validated LocalBusiness, Service, and FAQPage JSON-LD |
| Entity Verification | Different business name on website vs Google Maps | Identical trading name, Eircode/counties, phone number, and customer review proof across Google and the site |
02 · What is `/llms.txt` and why every Irish business site should have one
The new `robots.txt` for AI search assistants
Just as sitemap.xml tells Googlebot where your pages live, /llms.txt is a plain-text Markdown file at the root of your website (for example, yourdomain.ie/llms.txt) designed specifically for AI crawlers (OpenAI's OAI-SearchBot, Anthropic's ClaudeBot, Perplexity, and Google).
In under 100 lines, a well-built /llms.txt gives the AI:
- Your exact business name, Irish county/town coverage, and registration status.
- Your verified price ranges in euros (€) and the Irish regulations or grants that apply.
- A clean, annotated directory of every service page, calculator, and county/town page on your site.
03 · Why ranking #1 on Google Maps still feeds ChatGPT and Gemini
Local AI recommendations pull directly from your Google profile and reviews
When someone asks Gemini on an Android phone or ChatGPT with web search enabled: "Find me a reliable floor screeding contractor or gas boiler installer in Dublin", the AI doesn't invent a business. It queries live search and map indices and summarises the top 3 profiles that have:
- Top-3 Google Maps & Organic placement for that exact service + town.
- Specific service descriptions and review text that confirm the business actually performs that job in that area.
- Clear structured pricing and FAQ schema on the linked website that the AI can quote directly in its answer.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
Are Irish customers really using ChatGPT and AI Overviews to find local services?
Yes — especially for high-consideration jobs (€1,000 to €100,000+) where people research costs, planning permission, SEAI grants, or dental tax relief before they ring anyone. Google AI Overviews now appear automatically at the very top of standard Google.ie searches for thousands of Irish cost and rule queries.
Do I need to pay extra for 'AI SEO'?
No. Any agency trying to sell 'AI SEO' as a separate expensive retainer is repackaging what good technical local SEO should already do. Every website and profile we build includes structured answer blocks, comparison tables, JSON-LD schema, and /llms.txt as standard.
How can I test if ChatGPT or Google AI knows about my business?
Open an incognito window on Google.ie or ChatGPT and ask 'How much does [your main service] cost in [your town/county] and who does it?' — or ask us on WhatsApp for a free visibility check and we will test both Google Maps and AI search for your towns.
Written by Bartek · Founder, RankHigher.ie