TLDR / Key Summary
- OpenAI just launched shopping inside ChatGPT, and it’s changing the game.
- Instead of using keywords like Google or Amazon, ChatGPT recommends products using natural language and real human conversations.
- If your product is being talked about positively on Reddit, TikTok, Instagram, or review sites, ChatGPT will notice.
- To get recommended, you need people talking about you online (not just ads).
- Brands that act fast will dominate early visibility while others play catch-up.
ChatGPT Just Became a Product Recommendation Engine
OpenAI’s latest update lets users shop directly inside ChatGPT. You type something like “What’s a good vitamin for energy that doesn’t mess with sleep?” and instead of just scraping Amazon or Google Shopping results, ChatGPT gives you curated suggestions pulled from real conversations, reviews, and creator content across the internet.
That means the game has officially changed for DTC and consumer product brands.
No more chasing keywords and ad placements alone.
If you want to sell more products online, this is the next frontier.
How Product Recommendations Work Inside ChatGPT
This isn’t Google. It’s not Amazon. ChatGPT doesn’t rank products based on CPC or keyword stuffing. Instead, it uses natural language processing to understand how real people are talking about your product online.
What it pulls from:
- Reddit threads
- TikTok comments and creator content
- Instagram posts and captions
- Product review sites and blogs
- Any high-trust, organic, user-generated content
And then it filters all that through the lens of what matches the user’s prompt best.
For example, if someone types:
“What’s the best running shoe for flat feet that isn’t over $150?”
ChatGPT might recommend a brand like Brooks or Hoka if people are talking positively about those shoes in that exact context across multiple platforms.
Why This Is a Huge Opportunity for Brand
Because most brands aren’t ready for this shift.
They’re still thinking:
“How do we rank on Amazon or Google?”
Instead, the question is now:
“How do we get people talking about our product in places that ChatGPT pulls from?”
This means your brand reputation and social chatter is now your SEO.
How to Get Your Product Recommended in ChatGPT
Here’s what to do right now if you’re a brand with a physical product:
1. Flood the Internet with Real Conversations About Your Product
- Seed conversations on Reddit (the right way).
- Partner with creators who actually use and review the product.
- Comment on niche threads, videos, and forums where your audience hangs out.
- Encourage reviews with depth—don’t just ask for “5 stars,” ask for stories.
2. Double Down on Influencer and Creator Marketing
- Creators are seen as more trustworthy than brands.
- ChatGPT will favor creator content that discusses your product organically.
- Repurpose their videos and use their exact language in your product messaging.
3. Optimize Your Product Descriptions Using Natural Language
- Think like a human, not a search engine.
- Describe your product like you would to a friend: “This bag is perfect for people who hate packing.”
- Include FAQs that mimic how people would search or ask about your product.
4. Track Where People Are Talking About You
- Use tools like Brand24, Reddit search, or even TikTok’s comment filters.
- Look for trends in what people say about your brand—not just metrics.
- This is your new “search engine ranking.” Learn from it and adjust.
5. Be Early. Be Everywhere.
- This is a rare first-mover moment.
- If you can get your product mentioned in the right places before your competitors catch on, you’ll stay ahead even as the algorithm evolves.
What NOT To Do
- Don’t rely on PPC alone. ChatGPT doesn’t care about your ad spend.
- Don’t spam comment sections. You’ll get flagged as inauthentic and lose trust (downgrade).
- Don’t treat this like early Google SEO. Keyword stuffing won’t help.
The Bottom Line
If you want your product to be recommended inside ChatGPT, the strategy is simple: Be the product people are already talking about.
The brands that dominate this new landscape will be the ones who build trust, community, and conversation—not just ads.
Would you search ChatGPT to find your next favorite product?
Because your customers already are.
Want help getting your brand ready for this?
Contact us and let’s make sure your product is showing up where it counts in the next AI recommendation.
