How Do I Get Found in ChatGPT?

The other day, a MedTech client of mine asked me a question that I know is on a lot of people’s minds:
“How do I get found in ChatGPT?”

It’s a fair question. Buyers aren’t just Googling anymore. They’re asking ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity for answers. If your startup isn’t showing up as a search response, you’re invisible to half your audience.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn’t dead. But it’s not enough on its own.

A new layer has emerged: Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). This is about structuring your content so AI engines can find it, trust it, and cite it when buyers ask questions.

Let’s break down what AEO means, why it matters, and five steps you can take right now to make sure your brand shows up in AI search results.

What AEO Actually Means for Startups

Think of AEO as SEO’s younger, faster cousin. SEO got you clicks. AEO gets you citations in AI answers. And citations equal trust.

When someone types a question into ChatGPT, like “What’s the best way to monitor residual paralysis in surgery?”, the model is scanning the web, finding credible content, and pulling the clearest answer into its response. If your startup’s content is structured correctly, you could be the one it cites.

For startups, that means:

Visibility where buyers actually search. Half of decision-makers are already using AI search tools.
Shorter buyer journeys. If you’re cited as the answer, you’re skipping steps of awareness and moving straight into trust.
Authority positioning. AI doesn’t pull fluff. It pulls credible, structured, and authoritative content.

If you’re not preparing your content for AI engines, you’re leaving visibility on the table.

5 Steps to Get Found in ChatGPT and AI Search

1. Structure for AI-Friendly Answers

AI loves clarity. Make your content easy to grab:

Write in Q&A format so questions match exactly what buyers ask.
Use bullet points and numbered lists.
Keep answers short and direct.
Add schema markup (FAQ, HowTo, Articles). This is how AI understands your page.

For example: Articles (for blog posts and news), FAQ Page (for questions and answers), Products (for e-commerce), Events (for upcoming events), Person (for individual profiles), and Local Business (for companies and organizations). Search engines use this structured data to understand page content and display rich results, enhancing user experience and increasing clicks.

For more insights on this matter, check out this Schema.org on how to add schema markup to your Website.

2. Optimize for Bing

Most AI tools, including ChatGPT when it pulls live data, lean on Bing’s index and not just Google.
Yes, that’s right – Bing!

Submit your site to Bing Webmaster Tools.
Use IndexNow for instant indexing when you update a page.
Keep metadata, URLs, and schema keyword-rich so there’s zero confusion.

3. Target Real, Conversational Questions

Skip vanity keywords. Focus on what people actually ask:

Use “People Also Ask” on Google.
Check Reddit, Quora, or even LinkedIn posts.
Capture real client or prospect questions (like “How do I get found in ChatGPT?”).

Phrase your headers exactly like the question, then answer it clearly.

4. Signal Credibility and Authority

AI cites trusted sources. To build trust:

Add citations to reliable studies and sources.
Build backlinks from reputable sites.
Show E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust.

5. Be Everywhere (Omnichannel Authority)

AI cross-checks your presence across platforms. Be consistent on:

LinkedIn posts and newsletters
YouTube videos
Press releases
Podcasts
Blogs

When your brand voice shows up everywhere, AI sees you as the authority.

At Tribe Agency, our tagline is Make Your Brand a Verb™ – simply put, get your brand moving. If you need help, ask about our Marketing On-Demand Flat Rate Monthly Marketing Packages today.

Download our complimentary guide: The 7-Part Plug-and-Play Marketing Plan

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Why You Can’t Ignore This

SEO might still get you clicks. But AEO gets you cited. And citations are the new currency of trust in the AI-driven buyer journey.

If your brand isn’t part of the answer in ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity, it’s invisible to the very people you’re trying to reach.

The shift is already happening. The only question is: will your startup show up in the answers your buyers are getting?

Final Takeaway

Getting found in AI search doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Start with small steps: clean up your content structure, set up Bing Webmaster Tools, and target the real questions your buyers are asking.

But if this feels like a lot to take on while you’re running a startup, you don’t have to do it alone.

Reach out to the experts at Tribe Consulting Agency. We help executives and marketing teams translate complex ideas into clear, fundable, and visible stories built to show up in today’s AI-driven world.

Because if you’re not found in ChatGPT, do you really exist?!