Think about how people find information these days. More and more, they’re turning to smart tools like ChatGPT for quick answers. As a small business owner, you want to make sure your website pops up when these tools are looking! It might sound complicated, but the good news is, it boils down to a few key things you can focus on. At BlakSheep Creative, we help small businesses like yours navigate the shifting digital landscape.
The Inside Scoop: How ChatGPT Finds Stuff Online
ChatGPT isn’t surfing the web in real-time like we do. Instead, it’s like a super-smart student who’s learned a lot from reading and organizing information. Here’s the simple version of where it gets its knowledge:
- It uses Bing, just like a regular search engine: When you search on Bing, it finds websites. ChatGPT can tap into this same system. So, if your website is easy for Bing to find, it’s more likely ChatGPT can “see” it too.
- It has its own “brain” full of information: ChatGPT has been trained on tons of text from all over the internet. Think of it as a massive library it can pull from.
- It pays attention to trusted sources: Just like we trust certain news sites or experts, ChatGPT also gives weight to information from well-known websites and online discussions.
Simple Steps to Help Your Website Get Noticed by ChatGPT
You don’t need a PhD in AI to make your website more visible. Here are some straightforward things you can do, and these are the principles we follow at BlakSheep Creative.
Make Sure Bing Can Find You Easily
Think of Bing as the map that guides ChatGPT to your website.
- Tell Bing about your website: It’s like saying “Hey Bing, we’re here!” You can do this through a simple tool called Bing Webmaster Tools.
- Help Bing understand what your website is about: Use clear headings and descriptions on your pages. Imagine you’re labeling everything in your store so a new customer knows exactly what you sell. This helps Bing (and ChatGPT) understand your content.
- Focus on the basics: Make sure your website loads quickly, is easy to navigate, and has clear, helpful information. This is good for your customers and for search engines—something we always emphasize.
Create Great Content That Answers Questions
Think about what your customers are asking. Your website should be the go-to place for those answers. This is a cornerstone of our content marketing services in Louisiana.
- Answer specific questions: Instead of just talking about your products, create content that directly answers questions your customers might have. For example, if you sell coffee, you could have a blog post titled “What’s the best way to brew coffee at home?”
- Use plain language: Talk like you’re talking to a friend. Avoid complicated industry jargon that might confuse people (and AI). This is how we aim to communicate in all our content.
- Have an FAQ page: This is a goldmine for answering common questions directly. It’s easy for both customers and AI to understand.
Get People Talking About Your Business Online
Think of it like word-of-mouth, but online. This helps build the authority that AI looks for.
- Get featured on other websites: If other reputable websites in your industry mention your business, it’s like a vote of confidence.
- Join online conversations: Participate in relevant online groups or forums where your customers hang out. Share your expertise and get your business name out there.
- Encourage happy customers to leave reviews: Positive reviews on sites like Yelp or Google Business Profile build trust and show that people value what you offer.
Keep an Eye on What People Are Saying
It’s good to know what the online buzz is about your business. We often advise clients to monitor this regularly.
- There are simple tools you can use to see where your business is being mentioned online.
- If you see positive feedback, great! If there’s something negative, you have a chance to address it.
“For small businesses, getting seen online is all about being helpful and making it easy for search engines like Bing to understand what you do. By focusing on clear content and a solid online presence, you’re setting yourself up for success in reaching more customers, even through new technologies like ChatGPT,” explains Clint L. Sanchez, Small Business SEO Expert at BlakSheep Creative.
“We were a little unsure about how new AI tools would affect our online visibility, but focusing on making our website clear and helpful has really made a difference. We’re reaching more people, and it feels like we’re showing up in more places online,” says Kyle Adams, Owner of Performance Patios and Gutters.
Need help creating content that speaks directly to your customers and performs well with AI-powered search? See how our content marketing services in Louisiana can get your message in front of the right audience.
Wrapping Up: Getting Your Small Business Seen in the Age of AI
The online world is always changing, and new tools like ChatGPT are becoming part of how people find information. But the core principles for small businesses remain the same: be clear, be helpful, and make it easy for people (and search engines) to understand what you offer. By focusing on these simple steps, you can position your business for success in today’s digital landscape and beyond. And we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Want to make sure your small business doesn’t get lost in the shuffle? Schedule your free website visibility consultation with our team today.
Still Wondering How to Stand Out in an AI-Driven Search World?
We get it—navigating SEO, ChatGPT, and search engine visibility can feel overwhelming. But you’re not alone. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we hear from small business owners looking to boost their online presence in a world where AI is changing the game.
How does ChatGPT decide what websites to reference?
ChatGPT pulls information primarily from Bing search results and its internal training data. It favors clear, trustworthy, and well-structured websites that are easy for Bing to crawl. That means strong SEO, clean content, and high authority signals (like backlinks and reviews) make your site more “visible” to ChatGPT-style tools.
Is optimizing for Bing different from optimizing for Google?
They’re similar in many ways, but Bing places more emphasis on factors like exact-match keywords, social signals, and meta descriptions. Submitting your site to Bing Webmaster Tools is a must if you want to increase visibility through Bing-powered AI platforms like ChatGPT.
Can content really help me get noticed by AI tools?
Absolutely. Well-structured, question-based content written in plain, conversational language helps both your customers and AI understand your offerings. Think FAQs, how-to posts, and direct answers to customer queries. That’s the kind of content ChatGPT loves to reference.
Why is anchor text so important for SEO and AI visibility?
Anchor text tells both users and search engines what a linked page is about. Using clear, keyword-rich anchor text (instead of generic phrases like “click here”) improves your site’s SEO and helps AI models associate the link with a relevant topic or service—boosting your authority in that area.
Do I need technical skills to improve my site’s visibility to ChatGPT?
Nope! Most visibility improvements involve content creation, site structure, and reputation-building. While technical SEO helps, a small business owner can start making a big impact by focusing on helpful content, user experience, and claiming key listings like Google Business Profile and Bing Places.
