Know what the advice rests on.
Research checked October 7, 2026. Platform rules evolve; use the linked primary documents when implementing controls or making a consequential change.
Platform facts
Access controls, stated eligibility and reporting features are grounded in the provider documentation linked below.
Implementation practice
Checklists, page structures, draft copy and the 90-day sequence are original practical recommendations. Effort estimates are planning aids.
Selection weights
Providers do not publish one shared scoring system for recommending businesses. Being readable and useful gives your pages a chance to be considered; it does not guarantee a recommendation.
Clear business facts. Useful pages. Results you can check.
Start by explaining what your business does, who it serves and where it operates. Make that information consistent across your website and listings. Add real examples and independent evidence, then make sure people and search tools can reach it.
Use the checklists to make changes and the journal to record what actually happens. Platform instructions below support technical decisions. Our examples and work plans help you apply those instructions to your own business.
Primary references
15 sourcesGoogle • Generative AI optimization
Search fundamentals, original content, eligibility and unsupported AI shortcuts.
developers.google.comGoogle • Local ranking
Relevance, distance and prominence; accurate business information.
support.google.comGoogle • Business Profile guidelines
Eligibility, real-world names, categories, addresses and description rules.
support.google.comOpenAI • Crawler reference
OAI-SearchBot, GPTBot and ChatGPT-User have different purposes.
developers.openai.comOpenAI • Publisher FAQ
Search discovery and referral measurement.
help.openai.comAnthropic • Web crawlers
Claude-SearchBot, Claude-User and ClaudeBot controls.
support.claude.comGoogle • Google-Extended
Gemini training and grounding controls; separate from Search ranking.
developers.google.comGoogle • Search generative AI control
Search Console inclusion setting and property inheritance.
support.google.comGoogle • Generative AI performance report
AI Search impressions by page, country, date and device.
support.google.comGoogle • Organization structured data
Organization identification and applicable properties.
developers.google.comGoogle • Helpful content
Original value, authorship, experience and reliability.
developers.google.comGoogle • Search spam policies
Doorways, link spam, scaled content abuse and misleading practices.
developers.google.comGoogle • Localized page versions
Language and regional alternatives with hreflang.
developers.google.comWix • Page settings
Page access, menu visibility and SEO controls are separate settings.
support.wix.comWix • Structured data
JSON-LD setup and matching visible page content.
support.wix.comHow these tools work: the guide, drafts, progress checks and journal work locally. There is no live ranking audit, account connection or automated recommendation measurement. Example businesses and copy are fictional until replaced with verified facts.