The Search Revolution: Why Your Business Can't Ignore AI-Powered Discovery (ex: Ranking on ChatGPT)
The new way of searching is a blend of Traditional Search (ex: Google/Bing) and AI Search (ex: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok).
Are you showing up?
Read on to learn more :)
Remember when Yellow Pages was the definitive way customers found businesses?
Fast-forward to today, and we're experiencing another MASSIVE shift in how people discover and research brands and services that they will (eventually) invest their hard earned money into.
I have to be honest… this revolution is happening at lightning speed. Even as little as 12 months ago, I wasn’t even tracking the attribution of clients ‘finding me on ChatGPT’. However, today, an estimated 10-20% of my new clients find me through AI search and I would expect this number will only continue to grow.
Let’s dig into:
why this shift is happening
the various search ecosystems that every business needs to pay attention to (& create content on)
a checklist for ensuring all of your bases are covered when it comes to ranking on AI engines
Want to hear a crazy statistic?
For the first time in over 2 decades, Google's dominant 90%+ search market share is facing real competition.
The challenger?
AI-powered search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude. And the numbers are staggering.
The New Search Landscape
ChatGPT alone processes over 1 billion searches daily - a milestone that took Google nearly a decade to reach. What's driving this dramatic shift? The answer lies in how we naturally want to search for information.
Traditional search engines use ‘keyword-matching’ systems.
For example, you type "coffee shop Toronto," and Google returns pages of results ranked by algorithmic relevance.
You then spend time clicking through links, comparing options, and piecing together information.
The problem?
Google doesn’t know your preferences, the coffee shops you’ve already visited and loved, the fact that you need a shop with wifi and that’s wheelchair accessible…
AI search engines work like knowledgeable assistants. You can ask, "What's the best coffee shop in downtown Toronto for working remotely with good WiFi and quiet atmosphere?" and receive a synthesized response with specific recommendations and reasoning. That’s a MASSIVE benefit to the searcher!
The Customer Journey Has Evolved & Here’s What It Looks Like.
Many of the people I survey are still alternating between using Traditional Search Engines and AI Engines. Sometimes even back and forth for the exact same search topic!
Consider Sarah, a working mother planning a family vacation. Her search behavior illustrates the new reality:
January: She asks ChatGPT for summer vacation ideas suitable for a 7-year-old and 12-year-old, with specific interests in outdoor activities and educational experiences.
March: She refines her search to compare specific resorts, asking AI to evaluate factors like accessibility features, pricing, and proximity to attractions.
April: She cross-references AI recommendations with Google searches, social media research, and direct website visits before booking.
This multi-platform journey is becoming the norm. Customers start with AI for broad research and specific recommendations, then validate through traditional channels (ex: Instagram, Google Reviews) before making decisions.
So how do you ensure that your brand is optimized for AI Search Engine Discovery?
If ChatGPT doesn’t have a lot of digital touch points to pull from (ex: your brand has no online presence), your likelihood of ranking on AI engines is small.
ChatGPT needs to pull from sources like Reddit, Google Reviews, your Website, Social Media Channels, PR & Media Articles, your profile on directories, etc.
If these things don’t exist, you won’t rank on ChatGPT.
TL;DR…
If you are consistently adding value, if you enhance your website and blog + social media everyday, if you are pitching media (small or big!) for attention - your ‘home on the internet’ gets bigger and bigger, and you become more trustworthy to ChatGPT.
Here’s where I would begin if I were trying to ensure that ‘all of my business bases’ were covered and I had a chance of ranking…
Traditional Search (Google, Yahoo, Bing) - Still crucial for direct navigation and local searches. Make sure you have a strategic SEO strategy and optimize locally if possible. I have an entire course that teaches you how to do this.
Social Media Search (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn) - Establish a strategy and consistent content marketing plan on as many platforms as you can handle.
AI Search (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude) - The new frontier for recommendations and comparative research. All of your efforts will support this strategy.
Shopping Platforms (Amazon, Etsy, industry marketplaces) - Where purchase decisions often happen
Alternative Platforms (YouTube, podcasts, niche forums) - Where deeper expertise and community validation live. Make sure you’re sharing at least 1 type of long form content each week (ex: a weekly blog, a podcast & podcast show notes/transcript, Substack, YouTube videos, etc.)
The businesses thriving in this new landscape don't pick one ecosystem - they create consistent value across all five.
The Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Framework
Traditional SEO focused on ranking for specific keywords on search engine results pages. The new discipline of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) focuses on being recommended by AI systems that synthesize information from multiple sources.
Here's how GEO differs from SEO:
SEO Approach: Target "Toronto wedding photographer" and optimize for that exact phrase.
GEO Approach: Create comprehensive content answering questions like "What should I look for in a wedding photographer?" and "How do I choose between documentary and traditional wedding photography styles?"
AI engines prefer businesses that demonstrate expertise through helpful, detailed content rather than keyword-stuffed pages optimized for search robots.
The Authority Algorithm
AI systems evaluate business credibility using what marketing experts call the "authority algorithm" - a combination of factors that mirror how humans assess trustworthiness:
Consistency: Do all your online touchpoints tell the same story?
Recency: Is your information fresh and regularly updated? External
Validation: Are other credible sources mentioning and recommending you?
Depth: Do you provide comprehensive, helpful information?
Context: Do you understand and address the specific situations your customers face?
Unlike traditional SEO where you could optimize individual pages in isolation, AI engines evaluate your entire digital ecosystem holistically.
The Opportunity Window
Unlike mature digital marketing channels where competition is fierce and costs are high (ex: Meta Ads), AI search is still emerging.
Early adopters who build strong foundations now will enjoy big advantages as adoption accelerates. And they will be prepared for when ChatGPT launches paid ads (which has been teased to be coming in 2026 according to OpenAI)
The businesses that will win aren't necessarily those with the biggest marketing budgets - they're the ones providing genuine value and building comprehensive digital authority.
Implementation Strategy for Modern Businesses
Start with an honest assessment of your current digital presence. Search for your business in ChatGPT or Perplexity.
Literally type in… “What do you know about my brand, Kelsey Reidl Consulting Inc”
Then ask…
Are you happy with what appears? Is the information accurate and compelling?
Next, focus on the content gaps. What questions do customers ask that aren't clearly answered on your website? What aspects of your expertise aren't documented anywhere online?
Then expand your footprint strategically. This doesn't mean being active on every platform - it means being consistently valuable wherever your customers might look for information about your industry.
Looking Forward
The shift toward AI-powered discovery isn't slowing down. As these tools become more sophisticated and widely adopted, businesses face a choice: evolve with the changing landscape or risk becoming invisible to an entire generation of customers who expect intelligent, personalized recommendations.
The companies preparing for this future are investing in comprehensive content strategies, systematic reputation management, and consistent value creation across multiple digital touchpoints. They're not just optimizing for today's search engines - they're building the digital authority that will serve them regardless of how discovery technology evolves.
The search revolution is here. The question isn't whether it will impact your business - it's whether you'll be ready to capitalize on it.
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🚨 Before You Go!
I’m here to build and help you implement a step-by-step, customized marketing plan that takes your business from slow to stable, earning you a generous yearly income without ever having to set foot in the office again.
If I’ve learned anything in my 14+ years of marketing and business-building experience, it’s this: there are two types of solutions - core solutions to core problems and trending solutions to trending problems.
Trying to fix a core problem (such as bad SEO and your business not showing up in a Google search) with a trending solution (posting memes of Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl) won’t work.
When we work together, we first identify the challenge on our hands and then come up with the right type of solution.
Whether you’re dealing with a challenge around setting up your business, finding clients, or just want to know what to post on social media to start seeing fresh faces in your audience - I can help.
Apply for a free discovery call today →
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