AI search · Australian SMEs
AI search is about a fifth of Google’s — do Aussie SMEs show up in ChatGPT?
04 November 2026
Customers still Google you. They also ask ChatGPT who to call, Perplexity which cafe is open late, and Gemini what a clinic charges for a first visit. That second habit is no longer tiny.
At a press event on 3 November 2026, OpenAI’s consumer product lead Adam Fry said the volume of search queries run through ChatGPT now equals 20 percent of the volume run through Google — where OpenAI counts a “search” as a user query that triggers a web search, not a simple definition or how-to. That figure is OpenAI’s own claim, reported by The Verge; Fry did not specify how OpenAI sourced Google’s search volume for the comparison. It is not independent third-party data — but it is a useful signal that AI answers are a real discovery channel, not a novelty.
For an Australian small business owner, the practical question is simpler: when someone asks an AI about your category and suburb, does your business show up — and are the facts right?
What “a fifth of Google” means on a Tuesday in Melbourne
Google is still the backbone of local maps, “near me”, and most paid search budgets. OpenAI’s 20% figure does not mean you should abandon SEO or your Google Business Profile. It means a growing slice of research happens inside chat interfaces — often as full sentences (“Who does Shopify migration in Prahran?”) instead of keywords.
Those answers are built from sources the model can trust: your website, your GBP, directories, news, and other reputable mentions. If your site is thin, your hours are wrong on one listing, or your FAQ never states what you actually do, you are easier to skip — or easier to misdescribe.
We have written the longer playbook in Agentic search for local business. This article is the short version for owners who want to know what to fix first.
Do Aussie small businesses show up in ChatGPT today?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no — and accuracy varies. Models favour businesses with:
- Clear service and location pages (what you do, where you work, how to book)
- Consistent name, address and phone (NAP) across the web
- An up-to-date Google Business Profile with accurate categories and reviews
- FAQ-style content that answers real questions in plain English
- Mentions on other reputable sites (industry bodies, partners, local media — earned, not bought spam)
There is no public “rank #1 in ChatGPT” switch. There is a lot you can do so the next answer is more likely to name you correctly — or at least not invent hours you never keep.
Answer-style content: questions as headings, direct answers
Write the way your receptionist talks on the phone. Use the customer’s question as the heading, then two or three sentences that answer it without fluff.
Examples that work for cafes, clinics, trades and retailers:
- Do you offer same-day click-and-collect? — Yes, orders before 2pm…
- Which suburbs do you service? — We cover Prahran, South Yarra, St Kilda VIC and…
- How do I book a first appointment? — Book online at… or call…
That structure helps humans, search snippets, and AI citations. A vague “we deliver excellence” paragraph helps none of them.
Service pages, location pages, and internal links
One page per core service (or product line) and sensible location coverage if you serve multiple areas. Link between them: your AI business systems page should not contradict your contact footer; your Prahran-facing content should match what you say on Prahran and St Kilda location pages.
iWizz is based in St Kilda VIC; we work with clients across Melbourne and Australia-wide. Your pages should state your own service area the same way everywhere — suburb names, not a mismatched postcode on page three.
Schema markup: LocalBusiness, FAQ, Service
Structured data labels facts that are already visible on the page — it does not replace good copy. Prioritise:
- LocalBusiness (or a more specific type) with hours, phone, area served, and
sameAslinks - FAQPage that matches your visible FAQ section
- Service (or Product/Offer for shops) on pages that describe what you sell and how to enquire
See Schema markup that search engines understand for the wider picture. Invented markup that disagrees with the HTML is worse than none.
Reviews and Google Business Profile
Reviews should be real; replies should be human. Keep your Google Business Profile categories, hours, photos and Q&A current — many AI and map answers lean on that data. The local SEO fundamentals in How local businesses get found on Google still apply; AI search sits on top of the same facts.
Consistent NAP and mentions elsewhere
Check that your trading name, phone number and hours match on your website footer, GBP, Apple Business Connect (if you use it), and any directories you still care about. One wrong suburb spelling or an old mobile number is still a fast way to vanish from local answers — Google or AI.
Earned mentions on reputable sites (supplier pages, industry listings, local press) give models more corroboration. Low-quality directory spam does not.
ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity — same basics, different interfaces
You do not need three separate websites. You need one set of facts, published clearly, with schema and FAQs that match. Test by asking each tool the questions your customers ask; note errors; fix the source page or listing — not the chat window.
FAQ: AI search visibility for Australian small business
Does ChatGPT replace Google for local business?
Not yet. Google is still the main habit for maps and “near me”. ChatGPT and other assistants are a growing second path for question-style research. Keep investing in Google Business Profile and classic local SEO while you tighten the facts AI tools can quote.
How do I know if my business appears in ChatGPT answers?
Ask the same questions your customers ask — in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity — and check who is named and whether hours, phone and services are correct. For a structured pass, use iWizz’s free AI citation scan or a free website review if you want speed, SEO and conversion scored together.
What should I fix first?
Align NAP everywhere, refresh GBP, add a short FAQ with matching schema, and make sure each core service has its own clear page with one primary call to action (call, book, buy, quote).
Do I need to pay for ChatGPT ads to be found?
No. Paid placements inside ChatGPT are a separate topic (When the ad opens a conversation). This article is about organic visibility: being citeable when someone asks a question without clicking an ad.
Free SEO and AI-search visibility audit from iWizz
If you want a practical read on how your site and listings look to AI tools — not a slide deck about “the future of search” — start with our free AI citation scan. It highlights gaps you can fix on your site, schema and public facts. Prefer a broader pass on speed and conversion too? Try the free website review and we will prioritise what matters.
iWizz helps Australian SMEs with websites, local SEO, schema, Google Business Profile, reviews, and custom systems when you outgrow spreadsheets. Studio in St Kilda VIC; clients across hospitality, retail, clinics, trades and professional services.