How Your Business Can Show Up in ChatGPT 

What happened when I built a simple website to show up in AI search

What started as a simple five-page website became a lead source in AI search. Here's how it happened, and what business owners can learn about showing up in ChatGPT.

It Started With a Five-Page Website About Custom Bottled Water

I had never built a website and wasn't planning on building one. But after I joined my local networking group in Belton, TX as a custom bottled water company, I signed up as a breakfast sponsor to talk to them about custom bottled water. I thought having a website people could go to was a good idea.

I went on Gemini AI and had it walk me through building a 5 page Google Site. Those are free. I didn't have time or a budget to hire anyone to build one. I modeled my supplier's site because he was a long-term client of mine and he said I could use some of his photos. It didn't take long to understand that custom bottled water is something people look for online if they are interested in it.

Fourteen Years of Watching Search Change in Real Time

I spent 14 years selling internet marketing services to small business owners. I was on Google searches with them looking at what was going on with their business and their competitors online.

I watched how Google changed search results and how things were displayed. When AI started getting incorporated into the algorithm, it got really interesting. I watched entire categories change who could rank organically when big players showed up on the scene.

Starting With Rich Snippets

AI overviews with rich snippets caught my attention right away, mainly because they had a light blue highlight on an important long tail keyword or question. Showing up in that gave a business a high level of credibility from Google even more than a regular first page ranking.

People liked to say that SEO was dead, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Getting your site content indexed on Google is really important. What gets indexed online feeds AI platforms and social media. Everything is connected.

What I Built Next

Being a big SEO Google fan, I set out to get found on Google and AI. I built my Google Business page and designed my content to give Google everything it looks for in a small business. If you look at my blog page, you'll see my Custom Bottled Water section is solid.

My supplier asked me at one point why I was getting the same leads they were. I told him that I did sell SEO for 14 years so I did learn a few things. And using AI helped me put into practice what I knew worked.

When ChatGPT Started Sending Me Leads

Usually with SEO, it takes 3-6 months to start showing up for things. In my second month, I started getting some leads. Then I added Sea Moss Organics when I became a wholesale distributor for a client/friend. I used the same content approach for that.

Now my leads for custom bottled water, sea moss products, and mushroom coffee pretty much all come from ChatGPT. I get solicitations from suppliers so I know I'm being found. I also got a government lead that came in. I get leads just about every day of the week. I use the same approach for my clients to help their businesses show up in AI search.

What This Means for Your Business

If you aren't thinking about AI search for your business, you're missing out. AI leads are great leads to get because the person contacting you took a recommendation from AI to call or send an email. AI vets businesses for certain criteria that signal you're trustworthy and good to do business with.

Customers are asking AI tools for recommendations. When AI finds a business that matches their requirements, it's gold. If your pricing works and you can fulfill the timing of when they need something, you'll usually get the sale.

Final Thought

You don't need a big budget or a complicated website to show up in AI search. I started with a free five-page Google Site that I still add content to. What made the difference was giving Google and AI tools clear, helpful information about what I offer and who I help. The businesses that explain themselves well online are the ones AI recommends.

So you want to get your business in AI searches? Feel free to reach out.