What it takes to get recommended by ChatGPT

A while ago, I was chatting with a brand owner who was interested in our Google Ads service.

After going through the state of his account, I asked him:

“So how did you find out about us?”

He replied:

“I asked ChatGPT for the best Google Ads agencies in Australia and you guys came up.”

That answer caught me by surprise.

For years, I’ve been used to hearing the same answer… “I saw you on Facebook” or “I came across your post on Twitter.”

But this was different.

It was the first time we’d ever had a lead come through an AI chatbot.

And that was the moment I realized how things were slowly shifting.

People aren’t just asking chatbots for answers anymore. They’re trusting them enough to make buying decisions.

Rather than sifting through articles or reviews…

More people are going straight to chatbots and asking for a product recommendation.

And the truth is, I can only see this trend accelerating.

Usage of AI chatbots has exploded over the past year (even as the hype has cooled off since 2023).

On top of that, there are new models every few months…

Which means the answers and recommendations will only get better over time.

And I can picture a future where “AI ranking” will be as normal a metric as “search ranking.”

That said, I don’t believe this will take away from Google Ads traffic.

It’s not a “this grows, so that dies” situation.

I see them as two complementary channels that are both worth optimizing.

In fact, when you improve one, you often strengthen the other.

For example…

Let’s say you build a solid landing page around topics like “how to improve skin health.”

You’ll not only rank higher on Google but also increase your chances of showing up when someone asks that question inside a chatbot.

From the way I see it…

These AI tools are just creating a new opportunity for brands to reach new buyers.

An opportunity many advertisers and brands haven’t even thought about, let alone optimized for.

This gives a massive advantage to those who adapt early.

But what does “adapt” mean in practice?

Well, here are some that I consider essentials.

1. Create great content and pages that let AI present the products in the right context.

2. Optimize product feeds so AI can easily pull them into its recommendations.

3. Stack up reviews, testimonials, and social proof so AI can trust your brand.

4. Focus on product quality and customer experience so your products get mentioned in review sites, forums, and communities.

And so on. There are more, that’s just to give you an idea.

Of course, the tough news is that even after you decide to optimize for these AI tools … it’s not going to be light work.

AI wants to recommend products that are clearly described, widely mentioned, and positively reviewed.

All of which takes a long time to develop. Which is also why so few brands get mentioned.

However…

If you commit to making this work… and you’re willing to put in the effort it takes…

You will have a MUCH higher chance of being one of the rare brands that win big in the next era of e-commerce.

Jackson

Founder and CEO of Echelonn

How we can help:

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