ChatGPT and Google: Why That Matters for Your Marketing
Still thinking of ChatGPT as just another search engine? Think again.
OpenAI’s CEO has said it loud and clear: ChatGPT isn’t here to replace Google. It’s a different kind of tool, one built for completing tasks, generating ideas, and giving fast, personalised answers.
But here’s the thing small business owners need to know: your customers are already using it.
People Aren’t Just “Googling” Anymore
Gone are the days when search started and ended with Google. More and more people are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT to get answers, find recommendations, compare products, and plan purchases.
Instead of typing “best accountant near me,” someone might ask:
“Can you recommend a trustworthy accountant in Sydney who specialises in small businesses and understands tax planning?”
That’s a more conversational, specific, and context-driven query, and it’s happening inside AI chat tools, not just on search engines.
This shift is huge. It means that the way people discover businesses is evolving fast. And if your content doesn’t match how people are asking these new types of questions, you could be missing out.
SEO Isn’t the Only Game in Town Now
Don’t get us wrong, traditional SEO is still crucial. Optimising your website, claiming your Google Business Profile, and targeting relevant keywords all matter.
But we’re now in a multi-channel, AI-powered world.
AI tools are surfacing content from across the internet, summarising it, and offering suggestions to users in seconds. That means your content could be read, referenced, or summarised, without someone ever clicking through to your website.
If you’re not creating content that’s structured and helpful enough to be picked up by AI, you risk being left out of the conversation.
How to Make Your Content AI-Friendly
So, how can you make sure your business shows up in this new AI-driven world?
Start with these four principles:
1. Clarity – Say it simply. Avoid industry jargon or overly complex language. Remember, AI needs to understand your content before it can recommend it.
2. Helpfulness – Think beyond promotional posts. Create content that answers real questions, solves common problems, or provides unique insights.
3. Structure – Break things up! Use headings, bullet points, FAQs and short paragraphs to make your content easier for AI to scan and summarise.
4. Consistency – Make sure your business name, services, and contact info are aligned across your website, Google Business Profile, and social platforms.
These tweaks don’t just help with AI tools, they improve your overall user experience, too.
Get Ready for AI-Powered Discovery
This isn’t about choosing between Google or ChatGPT. It’s about understanding how your ideal customers are actually finding and engaging with information in 2025.
Discovery today happens across Google, ChatGPT, YouTube, TikTok, social media, and more. Being visible means being useful, relevant, and present wherever your audience is searching, even if that “search” looks more like a chat with a robot.
The businesses that embrace this shift early will stand out. Those who ignore it? Well… they’ll still be wondering why traffic is down and leads have dried up.
Want help future-proofing your content for AI tools and beyond?
At The Search Republic, we help small businesses get found in all the right places, Google, ChatGPT, and everywhere in between.
Let’s talk about how to make your content smarter, not just SEO-friendly.