Why You Want Your Business to Appear in AI And How to Make it Happen
You have spent time and money on getting your business to show up on search engines like Google and Bing. But now, your customers are not starting their search on Google. They are asking questions to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or whatever AI they prefer to use. This is the new starting point for search, and if your business is not mentioned, then you might as well not exist to that customer.
Why You Want Your Business to Appear in AI
1. AI Traffic Is Growing Fast
According to an article by McKinsey & Company, up to 50 percent of consumers are already using AI-based search when making purchase decisions. More than that, 44 percent of those who use AI-powered searches actually prefer AI to traditional search engines. Soon it will not be enough to show up on Google alone.
2. It Is Not Paid Placement…Yet
Getting placed within an AI conversation cannot be paid for. At least, at the time of writing this article. That has caused consumers to be more trusting of the businesses that AI suggests. When ChatGPT mentions your business, it reads like a suggestion from a trusted and knowledgeable friend, and not an ad placement. Early research suggests this is contributing to higher conversion rates on AI compared to traditional search.
3. AI doesn’t give ten options
If you ask an AI like Claude to give you suggestions on where to get lunch, it will likely give you three options, not 10 like a traditional Google search. This means when your business appears, it has a lot less competition in the searchers’ mind. Also, if your business doesn’t appear, then you aren’t competing at all.
It is clear that the future of search is getting your business to show in AI searches. So then, what can you do to get your business showing in Gemini and ChatGPT?
How to Get Your Business Recommended by AI
1. Do The Basics
The foundation of AI search is still traditional search engines. AI pulls information from many data sources, but Google and Bing are still where a lot of data is being pulled from. This means getting traditional SEO right is the place to start. If you haven’t done the work to get your website, Google Business Profile, and directory listings
2. Build Your Brand
The more places AI can confirm information about your business, the more likely they are to recommend you. This is because they look for your brand across Reddit, Yelp, Google reviews, etc. to confirm that your business is a good choice to show to searchers. If you have not expanded your brand outside of your website, now is the time to do so. You can think of this just like yard signs and vehicle decals. It increases your visibility and spreads word of mouth for your brand, but specifically for AI.
3. Answer Real Questions
Most AI responses are to question-based searches. Things like “how can I get my business shown by AI?” Or “what should I look for in a good marketing agency?” Creating content on your website that answers real questions that your customers and potential clients are already asking. This may look like adding detailed FAQ pages, blog posts, or service pages to your website.
When it comes to AI, the best things you can do are perfect the basics of SEO and make sure your site content is valuable and trustworthy. There is no shortcut for increasing your AI visibility, but putting in the effort now will allow you to stay ahead of the competition. If you want help getting your business to show where your customers are searching, reach out to team at TOTAL Advertising.
Written by
Amari Williams, Senior Search Marketing Specialist