Short Answer
You can learn which service details and supporting evidence appear alongside a competitor’s recommendation. Read the cited pages against the customer’s question, then compare them with your own information. This can reveal genuine gaps worth fixing, such as unclear availability, service areas or proof of experience.
Explanations
Save the exact question, answer, date and cited links. Open each page and check which detail supports the recommendation: a service offered, an area covered, a price or a documented result. Include directories and review sites in this check.
Google explains that its AI search features retrieve relevant pages and link to supporting information. Compare the answer’s wording with what each linked page actually says. A link may support only part of the answer. Google’s guidance.
Then check whether your website clearly states an equivalent, truthful detail. If you genuinely offer Sunday appointments but never mention them, make that information easy to find. Microsoft recommends clear structure and evidence to support accurate AI references. Microsoft’s guidance. Repeat the comparison across a few realistic customer questions to identify recurring gaps before choosing what to improve.
Example
As an illustration, a mobile bicycle repairer checks an AI answer to “Who repairs bikes at home in Harborne on Sundays?” The answer recommends a competitor and links to a page confirming Sunday callouts in that area. The repairer also offers this service, but their website only says “flexible appointments across Birmingham.” They add their actual Sunday hours, covered neighbourhoods and booking conditions to the service page, giving customers and AI search more specific information to assess.
Takeaway
Use cited pages to identify useful facts your own business has left unclear. Publish accurate details and evidence in your own words. Clearer information may help AI systems assess your suitability, while recommendations can still vary between questions and occasions.
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