ChatGPT prompt: AI search for local services
A tested prompt for ChatGPT, why it surfaces the right recommendations and how to turn the answer into a tracking row.
This is a ChatGPT prompt for AI search for local services, with the reading guide that makes it useful. Run it logged out, in the same region, twice. The answer is a data point; the citations are the finding.
Ask the prompt exactly as written, then record three things: whether your brand appears, which URLs are cited, and what claim is made about you. Do not edit the wording between runs; comparability is the whole point.
The prompt
Build a shortlist of AI search for local services with prices and trade-offs.Why it works
The prompt forces a recommendation rather than a definition. ChatGPT has to choose sources, rank them and commit to an answer. That is the same decision your buyer sees, which makes it a better measurement than a generic “what is” query.
How to read the answer
| Signal | What it means | Action |
|---|---|---|
| You are absent | Not retrieved | Check crawl access and the page |
| You are mentioned, not cited | Known but not trusted | Add proof and a source |
| A competitor is cited | They own the source | Find the gap and close it |
| The claim is wrong | Stale or confused entity | Fix the page and sameAs |
| You are cited first | Strong source | Protect and refresh it |
What to record
- The exact prompt, engine, date, region and logged-out state.
- The cited URLs, in order.
- The claim made about your brand, verbatim.
- Whether a competitor appears and where.
Variations to test
- “Build a shortlist of AI search for local services with prices and trade-offs.” with a company-size qualifier.
- “Build a shortlist of AI search for local services with prices and trade-offs.” with a geography qualifier.
- “Build a shortlist of AI search for local services with prices and trade-offs.” as a comparison request.
Frequently asked questions
Why run it twice?
Does logged-in state matter?
How often should I re-run it?
Methodology and sources
- Citekit product and pricing data, 9 November 2026.
- Vendor pricing pages and product documentation, checked November 2026. Verify current pricing with each vendor before purchase.
- Public documentation for schema.org, llms.txt and the AI engines named on this page.
How Citekit compares
Citekit is measured against Profound, Scrunch AI, Otterly.AI and nine other tools in the category. The table is the short version; every comparison has a full, sourced page.
| Tool | Entry price | Engines | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profound | from $499/mo | 4 | Enterprise teams with a dedicated analyst |
| Scrunch AI | from $250/mo | 5 | Mid-market content teams |
| Otterly.AI | from $29/mo | 4 | Small teams testing AI visibility |
Full comparisons: Profound · Scrunch AI · Otterly.AI · all 12 competitors
Citekit Research. ““Build a shortlist of AI search for local services with prices and trade-offs.” — ChatGPT prompt for AI search for local services.” Citekit, updated 28 August 2026. https://citekit.apps.antelligen.com/prompts/ai-search-for-local-services-chatgpt-1373