# Basic Information

Essential details that help AI assistants understand and recommend your business.

## Business Name

Your official business name as it appears to customers.

### Best Practices

* Use your legal or DBA (Doing Business As) name
* Be consistent across all platforms
* Avoid special characters unless part of your brand
* Don't include taglines or descriptions

**Examples**:

* ✅ "Artisan Coffee Roasters"
* ✅ "The Blue Door Cafe"
* ❌ "Best Coffee in Town - Artisan Roasters"
* ❌ "Artisan Coffee (Est. 2010)"

***

## Category

Choose the primary category that best represents your business.

### Available Categories

* **Tourism** - Tours, attractions, travel services
* **Hospitality** - Hotels, lodging, accommodations
* **Restaurants** - Dining, cafes, food services
* **Retail** - Shops, boutiques, stores
* **Healthcare** - Medical, dental, wellness services
* **Home Services** - Repairs, maintenance, contractors
* **Professional Services** - Consulting, legal, financial
* **Wellness** - Fitness, spa, health services

### Why Category Matters

AI assistants use your category to:

* Match you with relevant customer queries
* Compare you with similar businesses
* Provide context-appropriate recommendations
* Calculate industry benchmarks

**Tip**: Choose the category that represents your primary revenue source.

***

## Description

Your description is the most important field for AI discovery. This is what AI assistants read to understand your business.

### Writing an Effective Description

**Include**:

* What you offer (products/services)
* What makes you unique
* Your specialties or focus areas
* Key features customers care about

**Length**: 2-4 sentences (100-300 words)

### Examples

**❌ Poor Description**:

```
We are a coffee shop. We serve coffee and pastries.
```

**✅ Good Description**:

```
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 in our cozy downtown location.
```

**✅ Excellent Description**:

```
Award-winning specialty coffee roastery and cafe featuring
ethically-sourced, single-origin beans from our direct trade
partnerships with farmers in Colombia, Ethiopia, and Guatemala.
We roast in-house twice weekly, offer a full espresso bar with
alternative milk options, and host free public cuppings every
Saturday morning. Our baristas are SCA-certified and passionate
about coffee education.
```

### Keywords to Include

Think about what customers might ask AI:

* Your specialty: "specialty coffee", "craft roasting"
* Your approach: "farm-to-cup", "sustainable", "organic"
* Your offerings: "espresso bar", "pour-over", "cold brew"
* Your audience: "coffee enthusiasts", "casual drinkers"

***

## Tagline (Optional)

A memorable one-liner that captures your brand essence.

### Characteristics of Great Taglines

* **Short**: 3-7 words
* **Memorable**: Easy to remember
* **Unique**: Differentiates you
* **Authentic**: Reflects your brand

### Examples

* "Locally roasted, globally inspired"
* "Coffee with a conscience"
* "Where every cup tells a story"
* "Craft coffee, community vibes"
* "Roasted fresh, served with care"

***

## Tips for AI Optimization

### Be Specific

AI assistants work best with concrete details:

* ❌ "We have great coffee"
* ✅ "We specialize in light-roast Ethiopian Yirgacheffe"

### Use Natural Language

Write how you'd describe your business to a friend:

* ❌ "Premium coffee solutions provider"
* ✅ "We're a neighborhood coffee shop that roasts our own beans"

### Include Context

Help AI understand your positioning:

* Mention your location type: "downtown", "neighborhood", "suburban"
* Note your atmosphere: "cozy", "modern", "rustic"
* Describe your approach: "traditional", "innovative", "experimental"

### Update Regularly

Keep your information current:

* Seasonal offerings
* New services or products
* Awards or recognition
* Expanded hours or locations

***

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. **Too Generic**: "We offer quality service"
2. **Too Salesy**: "Best coffee in the world!"
3. **Too Vague**: "Various coffee drinks available"
4. **Keyword Stuffing**: "Coffee espresso latte cappuccino mocha..."
5. **Outdated Info**: Mentioning discontinued products

***

## Need Help?

If you're unsure about any field:

* Check how similar businesses describe themselves
* Ask customers how they'd describe you
* Review your website's "About" section
* Contact support: <support@aidp.dev>

***

**Next**: [Add your services →](https://amistan.gitbook.io/aidp-docs/for-business-owners/profile-setup/services)