More of your customers now ask an AI assistant who to call. BrightLocal's 2026 survey found that 45% of US consumers use AI tools for local business recommendations. Gemini is built into Android phones, Chrome and Google's apps, so for many people it is the assistant that is already there.
How does Gemini choose which businesses to recommend?
Gemini grounds its answers in Google Search and uses public information from Google Maps, so it recommends the businesses Google can describe with the most confidence.
Google describes grounding in Gemini Apps as providing content from the Google Search index to the model at prompt time. For a local question, that means Gemini reads what Google already knows about you: your Business Profile, your website and what other sites and reviewers say.
There is no separate "Gemini SEO". The businesses that do well in Gemini are the ones that are already clear, consistent and well reviewed on Google.
Why does Google Maps matter so much for Gemini?
Google says Gemini uses public information from Google Maps, including ratings, hours, addresses, websites and reviews, so your Business Profile is Gemini's main fact sheet about you.
That is stated in Google's own Gemini help page. In practice:
- Pick the right primary category and add the secondary categories that match the work you want.
- List every service by name, the way customers say it, with a short description.
- Keep hours, phone, address and service area exact, including holiday hours.
- Add real photos every week: finished jobs, your team, your vehicles, your storefront.
- Link to the right page, not just your homepage, when you have a page for the service.
If your profile says one thing and your website says another, Gemini has a reason to name someone else.
Can my robots.txt keep me out of Gemini?
Yes. Google says the Google-Extended token controls both training and grounding in Gemini Apps, so blocking it can keep your pages out of Gemini answers even though Google Search is unaffected.
Some sites block Google-Extended to keep their content out of AI training without realizing it also affects Gemini answers. Google's crawler documentation spells out both uses. If you want customers to find you through Gemini, leave Google-Extended allowed and make sure Googlebot can crawl every service page.
Not sure what your robots.txt says? Our AI Crawler Checker reads it against 18 AI bots in seconds.
What should my website say for Gemini to use it?
Each service page should answer the customer's question in its first two sentences, name the towns you serve, and state facts like price ranges, hours and response times plainly.
Google says there are no extra requirements for its AI features beyond being indexed and eligible for a snippet. So the work is the same as good local SEO, done with answers in mind:
- One page per service you want more of, with a clear H1 like "Water heater repair in Plano".
- An answer-first opening, then the details: what it costs, how long it takes, what is included.
- A short FAQ on each page with the questions customers really ask.
- LocalBusiness and FAQ schema that match what the page says.
What kind of reviews help in Gemini?
Recent Google reviews that mention the specific service and the town help most, because Gemini reads review content, not just the star rating.
A review that says "replaced our water heater in Frisco the same day" tells Gemini what you do and where you do it. Ask every happy customer, make it easy with a direct review link, and reply to every review. Never pay for reviews or filter who you ask; it breaks Google's rules and the FTC's.
What is Ask Maps, and why does it matter?
Ask Maps is Gemini inside Google Maps, launched in the US in March 2026, and it answers questions about places using Maps data on hundreds of millions of places and reviews.
Google says Ask Maps draws on over 300 million places and reviews from more than 500 million contributors. It is one more way Gemini meets your customer at the moment they choose, and it runs on the same Business Profile and reviews.
How do I check whether Gemini recommends me?
Ask Gemini five to ten questions your customers ask, write down who it names and which sources it shows, and repeat every few weeks.
Use questions like "best [service] in [town]" and "who should I call for [problem] near [neighborhood]". Gemini shows a Sources button on many answers; the sources it lists are your to-do list. If a local roundup or a directory keeps appearing, get on it.
For the full playbook across every engine, read how to get recommended by ChatGPT and how to show up in Google AI Overviews. If you would rather hand it off, our answer engine optimization service tracks your answers on six AI engines every week.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gemini use my Google Business Profile?
Yes, in practice. Google says Gemini uses public information from Google Maps, including ratings, hours, addresses, websites and reviews, and that information comes from your Business Profile and your customers. Keeping the profile complete and accurate is the single most important step for Gemini.
Is Gemini the same as Google AI Overviews?
No. Gemini is Google's assistant app, while AI Overviews and AI Mode are features inside Google Search. They draw on the same Google Search index and Maps data, but they can give different answers and cite different links. Work that helps one usually helps the others.
Should I block Google-Extended?
Only if you accept the trade-off. Google says Google-Extended controls both training and grounding in Gemini Apps, so blocking it can keep your pages from being used in Gemini answers, while Google Search and AI Overviews are not affected. Most local businesses that want customers should leave it allowed.
Are there ads in Gemini?
Not as of late 2025, when Google's ads leadership said there were no ads in the Gemini app and no current plans to add them. Google Search's AI Mode is a different product and has begun testing sponsored formats.
How long does it take to show up in Gemini?
Fixes to your Business Profile and site are picked up as Google recrawls them, often within weeks. Reviews and mentions on other sites build over months. Check the same questions every few weeks and judge the trend, not one answer.
Can anyone guarantee a spot in Gemini answers?
No. Only Google controls what Gemini says, and answers vary by question, location and time. What you can control is the evidence Gemini reads: your profile, your site, your reviews and what other sites say about you.
Sources: Google, Gemini Apps and Google Maps · Google, Common crawlers (Google-Extended) · Google, AI features and your website · Google, Gemini sources and citations · Google, Ask Maps (Mar 2026) · Search Engine Land, no ads in the Gemini app · BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2026