The way people search online is changing fast. Beyond Google, platforms like TikTok, Meta and ChatGPT are becoming go-to places for discovery and search. Brand new and shiny ChatGPT Product Discovery offer service businesses and ecommerce brands the chance to appear directly where customers are searching, delivering visibility, high-intent traffic and growth on a whole different platform – and without ads.

Where people search, businesses must be ready to be found

People are increasingly turning to platforms beyond traditional search engines such as Google, Microsoft Bing, Yahoo! DuckDuckGo and many more – to find what they need.

In their article Is Social Media The New Google? Gen Z Turn To Google 25% Less Than Gen X When Searching, Forbes notes

• There is a decline of 25%, on average, in using Google for search between Generation Z and Generation X
• 24% of people said they primarily use social media to search online
• 33% use their cellphone to access the internet
• Generation Z use TikTok over Google to search for a variety of topics
• While 84% of the population still turn to Search Engines for brand name searches, there was a 30% decline in using Search Engines for this purpose between Baby Boomers (94%) and Generation Z (64%)
• 24% of people said they find new brands on social media daily

Source: Forbes

This shift is driven by the desire for more personalised, authentic and visually engaging content, with TikTok, Meta and ChatGPT platforms offering summarised information or relatable and short-form videos to cater to these preferences.

And so, businesses must adapt their strategies to ensure visibility across these evolving digital landscapes. It’s not hard to understand this evolution: searching online can feel overwhelming. Customers type “roof repairs near me” or “buy statement jewellery online” and are met with a flood of ads, directories and endless options to sort through. While Google remains a powerful tool, it can still take time for people to find exactly what they need. Local services often get buried under national chains. This means niche businesses struggle to compete against SEO-heavy corporate giants. The result?

Customers bounce around overwhelmed, while businesses lose real opportunities to connect with people actively ready to buy or book.

That messy middle is exactly what ChatGPT Product Discovery is designed to fix.

Information overload is not just distracting – it’s the death of good decision-making – David Shenk

Welcome to ChatGPT Product Discovery

ChatGPT has introduced Product Discovery, an AI-powered shopping directory built into the platform itself.

When users ask for a product or service, ChatGPT checks its OAI-SearchBot index. If your website matches, your business may appear in a visual carousel – complete with your logo, image, short description and a clickable link.

This isn’t paid advertising. Placement is organic and relevance-based, powered by how well your site content and structured data describe your offering.

For service-based businesses and ecommerce brands, that means being found directly inside the AI tool millions of people are already using to search.

Benefits and results

Here’s how different types of businesses can benefit

• to capture urgent, high-intent leads, a local Australian roofing company could appear when someone types
  “roof repairs near me”
  “leaking roof Melbourne” or
  “Your local roofing solution”
• To drive enquiries across multiple regions, a national EV charger installer can be featured for searches like
  “EV charger installation for Strata Managers” or
  “EV charger installer Brisbane”
• A brand or service can be featured when users ask for a specific niche services such as
  “specific niche services” or
  “professional specific niche service near me”
• Tradies such as plumbers, electricians, builders, landscapers could surface in results for localised, urgent searches like
  “blocked drain help now” or
  “licensed electrician Sydney”
• For direct shopping traffic, an online ecommerce brand can be displayed if people search for
  “gold statement earrings” or
  “affordable personalised jewellery Australia”

With ChatGPT Product Discovery, your business can

• Get found directly inside ChatGPT without customers needing to search elsewhere
• Reach ready-to-buy audiences who are actively looking for your service or product
• Stand out visually with carousel listings that feature images and logos
• Benefit from free placement (for now) without ads or bidding wars
• Gain an early mover advantage while competition is still low

Checklist: How to Prepare for ChatGPT Product Discovery

Sign up to ChatGPT Product Discovery 👉 here

The future belongs to those who prepare for it today – Malcolm X