If people can’t find you, they can’t hire you.
Keeping up with SEO used to mean managing your Google listing and making sure your website had the right keywords.
In 2025, that is no longer enough.
Tools like ChatGPT are quickly becoming the first place people go to find services. And they are not using Google to do it. They are using Bing.
If your business is not listed properly there, AI might skip right past you and send potential customers somewhere else.
Wait. ChatGPT Uses Bing?
Yes. ChatGPT is developed by OpenAI, but Microsoft is its largest partner and investor. Because of that relationship, ChatGPT’s live search function runs on Bing’s search engine.
So when someone asks ChatGPT questions like:
- “What are the hours for [your business]?”
- “Where is a good dentist near me?”
- “Is [company] still open?”
ChatGPT is not checking your Google Business Profile. It is checking your Microsoft Business Profile, formerly known as Bing Places.
Why That Matters for Your Business
If your Bing listing is incomplete, outdated, or missing, ChatGPT and other AI tools may deliver the wrong info, show your competitor instead, or leave you out completely.
That is not just a digital problem. It is a real loss of visibility, reputation, and revenue.
At The Belford Group, we help family-owned businesses stay ahead of changes like this. You do not have to watch every shift in search technology. That is our job.
What Are SEO Citations, Really?
SEO citations are online mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number. They often include your website, business hours, services, and categories. These appear in directories like Bing Places, Apple Maps, and Facebook, as well as in blogs, social media posts, and online reviews.
When those citations are correct and consistent, search engines like Bing view your business as credible and relevant. When they are wrong or inconsistent, your visibility suffers.
You Don’t Have to Keep Up With All of This
Most family business owners are not spending their time thinking about AI-powered search. That is exactly why we are.
We track how platforms like Bing, Google, Apple, and ChatGPT gather and display local business data. Then we help our clients make sure their information is accurate, complete, and discoverable across all of them.
If you are not sure how your business shows up online, or you are worried that AI might be steering customers elsewhere, let us help you fix it.
Let’s make sure people find you when they need you.
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