Getting Started
Welcome! This guide will help you get your business discovered by AI assistants like Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.
Why AIDP for Your Business?
The Shift to AI Discovery
Consumers are increasingly using AI assistants to find local businesses:
"Find me a coffee shop with outdoor seating near me"
"Compare Italian restaurants in downtown"
"What's the best local bakery for sourdough?"
If your business isn't optimized for AI discovery, you're invisible to these customers.
What AIDP Gives You
✅ AI Visibility: Appear in Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity results ✅ Upstream Analytics: Track mentions before clicks ✅ Intent Insights: See how customers find you ✅ Exclusive Content: Stand out with insider tips ✅ Data Ownership: You control your information
Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1: Create Your Account (2 minutes)
Visit platform.aidp.dev
Click "Get Started"
Choose "Business Owner"
Enter your email and create a password
Verify your email
Step 2: Basic Information (5 minutes)
Fill in your core business details:
Business Name
Category Choose from:
Tourism
Hospitality
Restaurants
Retail
Healthcare
Home Services
Professional Services
Wellness
Description (Important for AI!) Write a clear, detailed description:
❌ Bad: "We sell coffee"
✅ Good: "Family-owned coffee roastery specializing in single-origin beans sourced directly from farmers in Colombia and Ethiopia. We roast small batches twice weekly and offer espresso drinks, pour-overs, and coffee education classes."
Tagline A memorable one-liner:
Learn more about profile basics →
Step 3: Location & Contact (3 minutes)
Address
Coordinates (auto-filled from address)
Service Area (optional)
Radius: 10 km
Or specific regions: ["Downtown", "Pearl District", "Alberta Arts"]
Contact
Social Media (optional)
Step 4: Services & Pricing (10 minutes)
This is crucial! Structure your offerings clearly:
Example Service 1: Espresso Drinks
Example Service 2: Coffee Tasting
Example Service 3: Private Events
💡 Tip: Add 3-10 services. Be specific about what you offer.
Step 5: Hours & Availability (3 minutes)
Regular Hours
Blackout Dates (holidays, vacations)
Learn more about availability →
Step 6: Media (5 minutes)
Upload high-quality photos:
Logo (required)
Square format (1:1 ratio)
Minimum 500x500px
Clear, professional
Photos (5-10 recommended)
Interior shots
Products/services
Team members
Exterior/storefront
Action shots (customers, work in progress)
Videos (optional)
Behind-the-scenes
Product demonstrations
Customer testimonials
Virtual Tour (optional)
360° tour link
Google Street View
💡 Tip: Good photos increase AI citations by 40%
Step 7: AI-Exclusive Content (10 minutes)
This is your secret weapon! Content only AI users see:
Insider Tips
Local Secrets
Behind the Scenes
Cultural Notes
Sustainability Practices
Exclusive Offers
💡 Why this matters: AI assistants love unique, detailed content. This helps you stand out from competitors.
Learn more about exclusive content →
Step 8: Review & Publish (2 minutes)
Review all sections for accuracy
Check for typos and clarity
Preview how AI will see your profile
Click "Publish"
🎉 Congratulations! Your business is now discoverable by AI assistants.
What Happens Next?
Immediate (Within 24 hours)
✅ Profile indexed by AIDP Platform
✅ MCP server activated
✅ Available to AI platforms
✅ Analytics dashboard active
Short-term (1-2 weeks)
📊 First impressions and citations
🔍 Appearing in AI search results
📈 Intent journey data collecting
💬 Potential customer inquiries
Ongoing
📊 Monitor analytics dashboard
🔄 Update content regularly
📈 Optimize based on insights
💬 Engage with customer inquiries
Understanding Your Analytics
Upstream Metrics
Impressions
How many times AI mentioned your business
Context of mentions
Trend over time
Citations
When AI quoted your business
Placement quality (primary, secondary, tertiary)
Citation context
Comparisons
Side-by-side appearances with competitors
Your position in comparisons
Win rate
Zero-Click Visibility
Seen but not clicked
Brand awareness value
Estimated reach
Intent Journeys
See how customers find you:
Time to Conversion: 3 minutes Touchpoints: 4 Journey Efficiency: High
Learn more about intent journeys →
Best Practices
Content Quality
✅ Do:
Write detailed, specific descriptions
Use natural language (how you'd talk to a customer)
Include unique details and stories
Update content regularly
Be authentic and honest
❌ Don't:
Copy content from your website
Use generic marketing speak
Overpromise or mislead
Include time-sensitive info without updates
Stuff keywords
Photos & Media
✅ Do:
Use high-resolution images
Show your space, products, team
Include action shots
Update seasonally
Ensure good lighting
❌ Don't:
Use stock photos
Include blurry or dark images
Forget to update old photos
Violate copyright
Show outdated information
Pricing
✅ Do:
Be transparent about costs
Offer range when appropriate
Indicate when quote is needed
Include currency
Update regularly
❌ Don't:
Hide pricing information
Use confusing structures
Forget to update prices
Mislead with "starting at" prices
Omit important fees
Availability
✅ Do:
Keep hours current
Mark holidays in advance
Update blackout dates
Indicate seasonal changes
Respond to customer inquiries quickly
❌ Don't:
Let hours go stale
Forget holiday closures
Ignore customer inquiries
Provide outdated information
Miss important updates
Managing Your Business
Daily Tasks
✅ Monitor analytics
✅ Check customer inquiries
✅ Update availability if needed
Weekly Tasks
✅ Update availability
✅ Review analytics trends
✅ Respond to inquiries
Monthly Tasks
✅ Update exclusive content
✅ Add new photos
✅ Review competitive positioning
✅ Optimize based on insights
Quarterly Tasks
✅ Update services/pricing
✅ Refresh all content
✅ Analyze ROI
✅ Review analytics insights
Free Forever - All Features Included
AIDP is completely free with no limitations:
Everything You Get (Free)
✅ Full business profile with AI-exclusive content
✅ Complete analytics suite (upstream metrics, intent journeys)
✅ Unlimited API access
✅ All MCP tools and integrations
✅ Competitive benchmarking
✅ Community support
✅ Multi-location management
No Limitations
✅ No credit card required
✅ No trial period
✅ No feature restrictions
✅ No hidden costs
✅ No usage limits
Getting Help
Documentation
Support
💬 GitHub Discussions: github.com/aidp/platform/discussions
📧 Email: support@aidp.dev
📚 Help Center: help.aidp.dev
🎥 Video Tutorials: youtube.com/aidp
Community
Share tips with other business owners
Learn from success stories
Get feedback on your profile
Stay updated on new features
Next Steps
Questions? Join our GitHub Discussions or email support@aidp.dev
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