How Google Gemini picks local businesses
Updated October 15, 2026
Google doesn't publish how Gemini chooses which businesses to name. It does document that Gemini can ground answers in Google Search and in Google Maps data, so your Google Business Profile, reviews and website all feed it. In our stored answers, Gemini named at least one business in 94% of local questions, about three per answer.
What does Google say about how Gemini answers?
Google documents a feature in its Gemini API called grounding with Google Search: the model runs searches and answers from the results, with links to its sources. It also documents grounding with Google Maps for questions about places. The Gemini app can draw on Google services such as Search and Maps too.
What Google doesn't publish is the ranking: which business gets named first, or why one is left out. Anyone who claims to know that exactly is guessing.
What do our stored Gemini answers show?
As of 15 October 2026 we hold 1,584 Gemini answers to local buyer questions across 34 city runs. Gemini named at least one business in 93.9% of them, and about 3.2 businesses per answer on average.
We test Gemini 2.5 Flash through the API, without search switched on, so these answers come from what the model learned. The Gemini app can search as it answers, which may name more recent businesses.
What can a local business change for Gemini?
Anything Google holds about you is the obvious place to start, since Gemini is tied most closely to Google's own data.
- Claim and complete your Google Business Profile: categories, service areas, hours, photos.
- Keep reviews coming, and reply to them.
- Make your site's pages answer the questions people ask, with your town in them.
- Check that robots.txt doesn't block Google-Extended if you want your content used by Gemini.
Check your business for free
Enter your website. We ask ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity the questions your customers ask and email you who they recommend.
Common questions
Does Gemini use Google reviews?
Google hasn't said exactly how reviews feed Gemini's choices. It does document Maps grounding, and Maps data includes reviews, so a well-reviewed profile is one of the things Gemini can see.
Is Gemini the same as Google AI Overviews?
They're related but separate. AI Overviews appear inside Google Search results. Gemini is Google's assistant app and model. Their answers can differ.
Does blocking Google-Extended hurt my Google ranking?
Google says Google-Extended controls whether content is used for Gemini, and that it doesn't affect Search ranking. It does mean Gemini can use less of your site.
Does Gemini recommend businesses outside the US?
Yes. Ask about a city anywhere and it answers about that city. We've stored Gemini answers for London and for Northwich, a small UK town, and it named local businesses for both.