How to Do GEO for E-commerce Brands: The Complete Playbook
TL;DR
Your SEO might be winning on Google, but you're invisible in ChatGPT. AI models don't rank like search engines—they recommend based on clarity, not authority. E-commerce brands are losing to smaller competitors because they're still optimizing marketing copy for keywords instead of writing factual, structured content that AI can parse. The fix: strip the fluff, focus on comparison queries, and build a knowledge graph across the web so AI knows you exist.
You're Invisible Where It Counts
Your SEO is strong. Rankings are up. Traffic looks healthy.
But when prospects ask ChatGPT "best [your category] for [use case]," you don't exist.
A store owner on Reddit shared this story:
"My family runs an e-commerce store that's always done well through SEO. But this year, sales suddenly started plummeting. I asked my buddy: when was the last time you actually Googled something? His response: 'I just ask GPT everything now.'"
People aren't Googling product names anymore. They're asking AI full questions—and buying whatever gets recommended.
If you're not optimizing for AI visibility, you're invisible.
Why Traditional SEO Is Failing
For years, you've written for two audiences: humans and Google. That meant long descriptions, keyword variations, and rich marketing copy.
The problem: AI doesn't rank content like Google does. It doesn't care about domain age or backlinks.
It cares about one thing: Can I extract a clear, factual answer from this page?
If your product page is cluttered with marketing fluff and vague positioning, the AI skips it—even if you rank #1 on Google.
Example:
- Brand A (Invisible to AI): "Experience revolutionary cushioning technology engineered for peak performance. Our premium running shoes deliver unmatched comfort and style for the modern athlete."
- Brand B (Cited by AI): "Running shoes. EVA foam midsole. 10mm heel-to-toe drop. Weight: 9.2oz (size 9). Neutral pronation. $120."
The AI cited Brand B. Why? Because it could parse the facts in 2 seconds.
Enterprise brands with 10 years of authority are losing to 2-year-old startups because the startups have cleaner, more structured data.
6 Strategies That Actually Move AI Mentions
1. Strip the Marketing Fluff (Write "Boring" Content)
What it means: Remove all adjectives. Rewrite product descriptions to be factual and dense.
Why it works: AI models are trained on Wikipedia and technical documentation. They prefer neutral, factual content over sales copy.
Before: "Discover the ultimate running experience with our revolutionary cushioning technology."
After: "Running shoes. EVA foam midsole. 10mm heel-to-toe drop. Weight: 9.2oz. Recommended for neutral pronation."
Action: Audit your top 10 product pages. Remove 50% of the adjectives. Replace vague claims with specs.
2. Build Your Brand as a Known Entity
What it means: Make sure your brand exists as a recognized "thing" across the web, not just a keyword.
Think of it this way: Google ranks pages. AI recommends brands it knows about.
The Test: Ask ChatGPT: "What is [Your Brand]?"
If it says "I don't have information about that brand," you're invisible.
How to Fix It: Make sure your brand name, category, and key facts are identical across:
- Your website
- Review sites (G2, Trustpilot)
- Social media bios
- Reddit mentions
- Directory listings
Action: Google your brand. Check the first 10 results. Fix any inconsistencies.
3. Answer Specific Questions Directly
What it means: Create short, structured answers to real customer questions.
AI skips vague "About Us" pages. It wants specific answers that fit cleanly into a response.
What to Create:
| Question Type | Example | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | "Does [product] work with [X]?" | 40-60 word answer + 2 examples |
| Availability | "Is [product] available in [region]?" | Yes/No + shipping details |
| Comparison | "What's the difference between [A] and [B]?" | 3-point comparison |
| Use Case | "Is [product] worth it for [scenario]?" | Direct answer + customer data |
Example (Good Answer Block):
Q: Does the Portland Candle Co. soy candle work in humid climates?
A: Yes. Soy wax has a lower melting point (120-145°F) than paraffin, so it performs well in humidity without sweating. Customers in Florida and Louisiana report consistent burn quality.
Action: Pull your last 30 customer support emails. Turn the 10 most-asked questions into answer blocks on your product pages.
4. Focus on Comparison Content (Not Educational Posts)
What it means: Stop writing "how-to" guides. Focus 100% on helping buyers choose between options.
AI can answer "What are candles?" from its training data. It needs your content for "Which candles should I buy?"
Stop Creating:
- "What are candles?"
- "How to burn a candle safely"
- "History of candle-making"
Start Creating:
- "Soy vs paraffin candles for sensitive skin"
- "Best candles under $20 with 40+ hour burn time"
- "[Your Brand] vs [Competitor]: Which lasts longer?"
One marketer reported: "We completely cut out 'how-to' articles and started focusing on competitor comparisons and buyer guides. We're seeing traction."
Action: Delete 50% of your blog. Replace with comparison and alternative pages.
5. Ask AI Why It Didn't Recommend You
What it means: Stop guessing what's missing. Ask the AI directly.
The Exact Prompt: "I am [Your Brand]. We sell [product]. Why didn't you recommend me when I asked for [query]?"
What You'll Discover:
- Missing pricing
- Unclear shipping policies
- Competitors mentioned more on third-party sites
- Incorrect facts about your product
One user shared: "Ask ChatGPT about your company. Then ask why you weren't mentioned for A, B, and C. It usually tells you exactly what's missing."
Action: Run this test for your top 10 product queries. Fix every gap within one week.
6. Get Mentioned on Third-Party Sites
What it means: AI pulls recommendations from review sites, Reddit, and comparison blogs more than your own website.
One marketing founder explained: "When a company ranks top 5 in Google but doesn't exist in ChatGPT, it's because the pages AI relies on don't mention them."
Where to Get Mentioned:
- Reddit (product-specific communities)
- Review sites (G2, Trustpilot, Wirecutter)
- Comparison posts ("Best X for Y" roundups)
- Industry directories
You're not chasing backlinks for SEO. You're creating citation sources for AI to reference.
Action:
- Find 10 "Best [category]" posts that rank on Google
- Reach out to authors—offer product samples for review inclusion
- Engage in 5 Reddit threads per week (add value, mention your product when relevant)
Two Critical Filters
Filter #1: Owned vs. Winnable Queries
Not all queries are worth targeting.
Owned Queries (Ignore):
- "Best running shoes" → Nike, Adidas own this
- "Best candles" → Yankee Candle owns this
Winnable Queries (Attack):
- "Best running shoes for flat feet under $100 that ship to Canada"
- "Best soy candles for small apartments with pets"
The Test: Ask ChatGPT your target query. If 3+ giant brands dominate, it's owned. If you see smaller brands or Reddit cited, it's winnable.
Action: Mark your top 20 prompts as "owned" or "winnable." Delete the owned ones. Focus on winnable.
Filter #2: Educational vs. Purchase-Ready
Not all visibility is equal.
| Content Type | User Intent | Business Value |
|---|---|---|
| Educational | Learning the basics | Brand awareness (low) |
| Comparison | Choosing between options | Consideration (medium) |
| Purchase-Ready | Ready to buy, specific needs | Conversion (high) |
A mention in "What are email tools?" is worth 1/20th of a mention in "Best email tool under $50/month for startups."
Action: Weight your tracking toward purchase-ready queries. Track conversions, not just mentions.
The 4-Week Plan
Week 1: Audit
- [ ] Test if ChatGPT knows your brand ("What is [Brand]?")
- [ ] Run the "Why didn't you recommend me?" prompt for 10 queries
- [ ] Categorize prompts: "Owned" vs "Winnable"
Week 2-3: Content
- [ ] Rewrite top 10 product pages (factual, no fluff)
- [ ] Add 10 FAQ answer blocks per category page
- [ ] Create 3 comparison pages
Week 4: Distribution
- [ ] Record 5 YouTube videos (phone quality is fine)
- [ ] Outreach to 10 "Best [category]" posts
- [ ] Engage in 5 Reddit threads per week
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1: Celebrating the wrong metrics
90% visibility on educational queries = zero revenue. Focus on purchase-ready mentions.
Mistake #2: Refusing to "sound boring"
"But our brand voice is fun!" AI doesn't care. Keep marketing copy for ads. Product pages = facts only.
Mistake #3: Waiting for perfect implementation
Don't spend 6 months on technical setup. Ship comparison content this month. Optimize later.
Track What Actually Matters
Most "AI Visibility" tools are passive dashboards. They show you a pretty chart of your visibility dropping, but they don't tell you how to fix it.
Beonai is different. It is an Action Engine.
Most brands stop at strategy. Beonai handles both the tracking and the execution, so you're not guessing whether your AI visibility is improving or how competitors are winning mentions you're losing.
1. Measure the Impact (The CFO's Favorite Part)
- Multi-LLM Visibility: Track your Visibility Score across ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity in real-time.
- Share of Voice (SOV): Know exactly how often AI recommends you vs. your competitors.
- Sentiment Analysis: Fix reputation issues before they spread by tracking positive vs. negative brand descriptors.
- Competitor Metrics: See which competitors dominate which prompts—and why.
- Citations Analysis: Identify exactly which third-party sources are driving your AI mentions.
2. Execute the Strategy (The Marketer's Favorite Part)
- Actionable Opportunities: Receive specific, weekly tasks to improve your citation velocity. No guessing.
- Content-Gen Workflows: Use our AI-assisted tools to build the exact "Data Magnet" blogs and reports that LLMs love to cite.
- Conversation Tracking: Identify and engage in the Reddit threads and forums where your brand is being discussed right now.
You are moving your money to the future. Make sure you have the tools to win there.
FAQs
Do I need to hire an agency?
Not yet. 80% of this is execution—write factual content, create comparisons, get mentioned. Start in-house for 3 months.
How long until I see results?
For winnable queries: 2-4 weeks. For owned queries: 6+ months (if ever). One brand reported: *"After 4 weeks, we went from not showing up to getting mentioned consistently."
Should I stop doing traditional SEO?
No. Good SEO ranks you in Google/Bing, which feeds into ChatGPT searches. One expert noted: *"ChatGPT and Perplexity do real-time searches on Google or Bing."* Do both.
What if I can't afford video production?
Use your phone. 3-minute unpolished reviews with clear facts outrank zero videos.
How do I know which queries are winnable?
Ask ChatGPT the query. If 3+ giant brands dominate, it's owned. If you see smaller brands or Reddit cited, it's winnable.