Imagine boosting your online sales by 40% simply because AI assistants recommend your products in their answers. It’s not a fantasy—2025’s consumers are increasingly asking ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s SGE for shopping advice instead of searching the old-fashioned way. In fact, nearly 60% of Americans now use generative AI tools for online shopping research. This shift has given rise to a new playbook: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) – the art of optimizing your brand’s content so that AI-driven search results feature your products. If your brand isn’t getting mentioned by AI when shoppers ask for “the best” or “recommended” products, you’re missing out on those purchases.
The great news is that you can proactively optimize for AI search visibility just as you would for SEO. This how-to guide breaks down 5 practical strategies for GEO in 2025. Follow these steps to ensure your e-commerce products appear in AI-driven shopping results, from ChatGPT’s product recommendations to Google’s AI snapshots. We’ll cover how AI “sees” products differently, how to optimize titles and metadata for AI, how to keep data consistent across channels (to earn AI’s trust), leveraging new AI shopping feeds like OpenAI’s ACP, and how to monitor & improve your GEO presence over time. Along the way, we’ll show how Semantico can help with each step – from listing generation to schema automation, all the way to real-time monitoring. Let’s dive into your GEO strategy 2025 and start getting your brand mentioned in AI answers!
1. Understand How AI “Sees” Your Products (Structured Data Matters)
AI models don’t crawl and rank webpages exactly like Google does. Instead, they draw on two main data sources: training data and live retrieval. When a shopper asks an AI assistant for a recommendation, the AI either recalls information from its trained knowledge or fetches data from search results in real time. What does this mean for you? It means an AI like ChatGPT won’t necessarily read your whole webpage on the fly; it will rely on high-level signals, facts, and structured data it has about your product. In effect, AI “sees” your product as a collection of data points and context, not just a webpage.
One key way AI identifies products is through schema markup and structured metadata on your site. AI-powered shopping features (from ChatGPT to Google’s SGE) heavily rely on structured product data to find and display items. For example, ChatGPT’s new shopping interface shows rich product listings (image, price, description) pulled directly from structured sources like feeds and Schema.org data. Google’s AI snapshots similarly summarize products using facts drawn from schema and trusted databases. In short, if your product information isn’t in a format AI understands, your brand becomes invisible in these channels. Consistent, machine-readable data (like proper titles, descriptions, prices, availability in structured form) is the foundation for AI search optimization.
ChatGPT’s shopping mode displays products with images, prices, and details drawn from live structured data. In a conversational query (e.g. “cute accessories on Etsy under $50”), the AI presents actual products (with titles like “Baby-Pink Bow Beaded Keychain – $18.00”) based on a product feed and schema markup. If your catalog isn’t fed into these systems with the right data, it won’t show up in results like this.
Action Step: Ensure every product page on your site includes comprehensive schema markup (Product structured data) for key attributes – name, images, price, availability, brand, description, reviews, etc. This markup is how AI “sees” your product details at a glance. Also, provide clean data to any relevant product databases or feeds (more on feeds in Step 4) so that AI agents have accurate info to pull. If your product catalog is disorganized or missing info, AI simply won’t surface your products.
Tip: Semantico can automate this foundation by generating complete, structured product listings from just a SKU or EAN. It pulls in titles, specs, images and formats them with proper schema – making your catalog AI-ready without manual effort.
2. Optimize Titles, Descriptions & Pages for AI Visibility
Think of product titles and descriptions as your first impression on an AI. Unlike traditional SEO where you might stuff keywords, AI search works on intent and context, not just exact keywords. Your product content needs to clearly answer the kind of questions an AI might get. For example, a user might ask Perplexity “What’s a good waterproof hiking jacket for under $200?” – an AI will look for product listings (or third-party content) that mention waterproof, maybe hiking, a price range, and trusted specs. If your product title is just “Model X Jacket – Blue,” that’s not descriptive enough. Include key attributes in titles (e.g. “BrandX Waterproof Hiking Jacket – Lightweight, Breathable – $180”) so both users and AI know exactly what it is. Ensure your meta description and on-page description reinforce these details and usage context (e.g. “Ideal for rainy trekking, features Gore-Tex, under 2 pounds”). The goal is to speak the AI’s language by covering the natural-language phrases shoppers use.
Page structure also matters. AI algorithms often pull concise chunks of information (like bullet points or Q&A pairs) to directly answer queries. So structure your product pages with clear sections and bullet points highlighting features and FAQs. For instance, include an FAQ like “Q: Is this jacket suitable for winter hiking? A: Yes, it’s insulated for cold weather…” Such content could be directly used in an AI’s answer snippet. Use headings and semantic HTML to label sections (specifications, size guide, etc.) which makes it easier for AI to parse. And of course, continue following core SEO practices: fast loading pages, mobile-friendly design, and relevant keywords in copy (because strong traditional SEO correlates with better AI visibility).
To optimize for AI overview citations (like Google’s SGE which cites sources in its answers), make sure your content is authoritative and up-to-date. Keep product info updated (if a spec or price changed, reflect it!). Outdated content gets ignored by AI in favor of fresher info. Demonstrate E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust) by including user reviews, testimonials, or expert endorsements on your product pages if possible – AI tends to favor sources that appear trustworthy and expert.
Action Step: Review your top product pages and refine their text: Are the titles descriptive enough? Do the first 1-2 sentences of your description summarize the product’s main benefits and specs (so an AI can grab a quick summary)? Add a brief “why this product is great” snippet that an AI might quote. Implement a FAQ section addressing common questions (this not only helps customers but also feeds Q&A content to AI models). Use structured data for reviews and ratings if you have them, as these can enhance how AI rates the completeness of your page.
Tip: Semantico’s platform has SEO optimization built-in – it automatically crafts keyword-rich titles and descriptions and even inserts the correct schema markup for products, so your pages come out of the box optimized for both search engines and AI. You can also automate your FAQ creation for each product in "custom sections" of our product. By letting AI handle the heavy lifting of metadata optimization, you ensure ChatGPT shopping visibility without manual tweaking.
3. Maintain Cross-Channel Consistency to Earn AI Trust
AI models are like diligent researchers – they cross-check information across the web. If your product’s details are inconsistent or fragmented across different channels, the AI might “get confused” or deem the info less reliable. Cross-channel consistency means your product name, specs, and other attributes should match everywhere: on your website, on retailer sites, marketplaces (Amazon, Etsy), Google Shopping listings, and so on. Consistency builds credibility. When an AI sees the same product data on multiple trusted sites, it gains confidence that the information (and the product) is legit. Conversely, if your pricing is $199 on your site but a feed shows $189, or if the color is called “Midnight Blue” in one place and “Navy” in another, the AI might hesitate to recommend it (or may favor a competitor with more consistent data).
Remember that AI search algorithms aggregate data from many sources. In practice, an assistant might pull your product title from your site, an image from a shopping feed, and specs from a reseller’s page. If all those align, your item is clearly understood. If they conflict, your AI search optimization suffers. Moreover, AI often trusts what others say about you more than what you say yourself. So ensure that third-party mentions of your products (like reviews, articles, or press releases) use the correct names and facts too.
What about multi-language or international consistency? In 2025, people use AI agents globally. If you sell in multiple countries, aim for consistent product data across languages, e.g. the same core specs and attributes, properly translated. If an AI sees dramatically different info on your French site vs. your English site, it might treat them as different products. Maintain your branding and tone as well; AI can pick up on descriptions that “feel” off-brand or contradictory.
Action Step: Conduct a product data audit across channels. Pick a few popular products and compare their title, description, specs, and images on your site, Google (search result or Merchant Center), Amazon (or other marketplaces), etc. Unify any discrepancies (update listings to match the most accurate version). Going forward, use tools or a Product Information Management system to syndicate updates to all channels whenever you change something.
Tip: Semantico shines here – it performs attribute normalization and categorization across your entire catalog. That means it standardizes names, units, and attributes so that every channel gets the same structured data. It even keeps translations consistent across markets. By feeding your cleaned, consistent data to every platform (website, Shopify, Amazon, etc.), you earn AI’s trust that your product info is reliable and thus boost your chances of being recommended.
4. Leverage AI Shopping Feeds (OpenAI ACP and Beyond)
A huge development in AI commerce is the emergence of structured product feeds for AI assistants. OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) is a prime example: it allows merchants to provide a real-time product feed directly into ChatGPT’s shopping brain. Instead of waiting for web crawlers, you can push your latest catalog data to the AI. If your e-commerce brand wants to get mentioned by ChatGPT when users shop via AI, setting up these feeds is key.
What is an AI shopping feed? It’s essentially a file (XML, CSV, JSON, etc.) containing all your product info – titles, descriptions, prices, images, stock – in a structured format that the AI can index. OpenAI’s product feed spec, for example, lists required fields and accepts frequent updates (up to every 15 minutes) to keep data fresh. By enrolling as a merchant and providing this feed, you ensure ChatGPT always has the up-to-date details on your products, which means it can confidently recommend or even allow instant purchases of them. In OpenAI’s own words, “OpenAI relies on merchant-provided feeds — this ensures accurate pricing, availability, and other key details… The feed powers product matching, indexing, and ranking in ChatGPT.”. In short, if you want to be in the AI’s catalog, give the AI your catalog!
Aside from OpenAI, keep an eye on Google’s ecosystem. Google’s SGE currently pulls product info from Google’s own index and Merchant Center. Make sure you have a Google Merchant Center feed (for Google Shopping) and that it’s updated, as this likely feeds into SGE’s commercial answers. Bing and others may adopt similar feed or API-driven models – for instance, Bing Chat could integrate with Bing Merchant or IndexNow for real-time data. Perplexity doesn’t have a merchant feed yet, but it indexes the web, so a well-optimized site (with schema as above) covers you there.
Action Step: If you’re eligible, apply for OpenAI’s merchant program (ChatGPT Instant Checkout) and prepare a product feed. It typically involves generating a TSV/CSV or JSON file with all required fields (product ID, title, description, price, URL, image link, stock status, etc.). Many e-commerce platforms can export such feeds (or use a plugin). Ensure the feed is updated at least daily (or more for inventory changes) – OpenAI supports updates every 15 minutes. Also maintain your Google Shopping feed with accurate data, and use Schema.org on your site as a safety net.
Tip: Semantico can assist by generating rich product data ready for feed ingestion. From EAN/SKU to full listings, it compiles all the attributes and can export to standard formats for Shopify, WooCommerce, and others, meaning you can easily create a feed from the optimized data. By plugging your Semantico-enriched catalog into OpenAI’s ACP, you dramatically increase your ChatGPT shopping visibility.
5. Monitor and Continuously Improve Your GEO Presence
GEO is new, so think of it like early-days SEO – you need to track your presence and keep adjusting. Start by monitoring where and how your brand appears in AI results. For instance, try asking ChatGPT (in browsing mode) or Bing Chat or Perplexity some relevant shopping queries: “best {your category} under $X”, “top {category} brands”, “{competitor name} vs {your brand}”. See if your brand or products get mentioned. If not, identify who is getting mentioned and why.
One powerful tactic is to find and fix “citation gaps.” A citation gap is when AI cites sources that mention your competitors but not you. For instance, if a Vogue article on “Top 10 Sustainable Sneaker Brands” features Allbirds and Veja but leaves out your brand, ChatGPT is unlikely to mention you when someone asks, “What are the best eco-friendly sneakers?”. Fixing that gap might mean reaching out to the author to get your product included (maybe you provide new data or a case study so they update their piece). By earning a spot on pages that AI already trusts and cites, you multiply your visibility across all the queries that cite that source.
Also, engage in the user-generated content (UGC) channels that AI references. As of 2025, AI models often pull info from Reddit threads, Quora answers, Pinterest and other forums where real users discuss products. If there’s a Reddit thread on “Looking for affordable skincare brands” and your brand isn’t mentioned, consider (genuinely) joining the conversation. Share useful info or answer questions without just spamming an ad. According to research, AI citations of Reddit and other UGC surged over 450% in a few months, meaning these community discussions can heavily influence AI recommendations. Being present (and helpful) in them increases the chance the AI will cite that discussion with your brand included in future answers.
Finally, keep your content fresh. Regularly update your site’s blog posts or buying guides with current information, so that AI sees your content as up-to-date and relevant. If your product pages haven’t changed in two years, consider adding recent testimonials or a note about “Updated for 2025” if applicable – this signals freshness. Monitor analytics and any available tools for AI search (some SEO platforms now offer “AI visibility” reports). They can show if, for example, Google SGE is picking up your site for certain queries or if ChatGPT mentions you when fed certain prompts. Use these insights to refine your GEO strategy: maybe you need to create a piece of content on your site about “How to choose the best {product}” because AI keeps citing others on that topic.
Action Step: Set up a routine to audit your AI visibility. Once a month, simulate a handful of customer questions on AI platforms and note where you stand. Also Google your brand name plus keywords like “ChatGPT recommendation” or browse forums for mentions of your brand to see community sentiment. If you find a gap (like a blog list you’re not in, or a key topic you haven’t covered), make a plan to address it—whether by content creation, outreach, or product improvements.
Tip: Semantico can assist by ensuring you have a centralized, clean catalog that’s easy to update across all channels, so any improvements you make (new images, better descriptions, added FAQs) propagate everywhere quickly. In addition, we offer an AI Visibility Audit service – a comprehensive check of how often and where your products appear in AI-driven results, along with tailored recommendations to boost your brand mentions in AI. This kind of audit can highlight quick wins and longer-term fixes for your GEO approach.
The rise of AI-driven shopping is transforming how customers discover products. Instead of scrolling search results, they’re hearing AI assistants name-drop brands as top picks. Making sure your brand is one of them is now a mission-critical part of e-commerce success. By understanding how AI sees products and implementing these GEO strategies – from structured data and optimized content to consistent omni-channel data and AI-specific feeds, you position your brand to be in the AI recommendation spotlight. The payoff is not just theoretical; it’s very real in terms of traffic and revenue. When your products consistently get brand mentions in AI answers and AI product recommendations, you become the go-to choice for countless shoppers who rely on those suggestions, driving more clicks and conversions your way.
However, GEO is an ongoing effort. Just as SEO isn’t “set and forget,” you’ll need to iterate, monitor, and adapt as AI platforms evolve. The good news is you don’t have to do it alone. Semantico is here to help you execute this playbook at scale. From instant product listing generation and schema markup automation to maintaining channel consistency and providing real-time monitoring of your catalog’s performance, Semantico functions as your GEO co-pilot. We built our AI-powered platform to make e-commerce catalogs not only search-engine friendly but AI-friendly, so that your products are visible and compelling on any AI or search platform.
Ready to get your brand on the AI radar? Now is the time to invest in Generative Engine Optimization and secure your spot in the next wave of shopping discovery. Try Semantico for free or request a Free AI Visibility Audit today to see how we can help your e-commerce brand get mentioned (and recommended) by the world’s top AI assistants. Let’s turn those AI mentions into measurable sales growth!
