How Founders Can Get Their Brand Noticed by AI Tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity

Table of contents

Why AI Tools Recommend Certain Brands—and How New Businesses Can Take Advantage

Steps for Founders to Increase Brand Visibility in AI Responses

Understanding the Limits of AI in Local Search

Additional Tips for Boosting Brand AI Presence

Real-World Example: Building Brand Recognition through Online Mentions

Final Thoughts for Founders and Entrepreneurs

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With AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini on the rise, founders and entrepreneurs have a new frontier for brand visibility. People now use AI not only for quick answers but also for recommendations, industry insights, and discovering new businesses—making it a powerful tool for brand presence.

However, unlike traditional search engines, AI search visibility doesn’t rely on keywords, backlinks, or local SEO. This guide provides a step-by-step approach for founders and entrepreneurs to improve their brand’s visibility within AI tools and ensure their brand gets recognized in AI-generated responses.

Why AI Tools Recommend Certain Brands—and How New Businesses Can Take Advantage

AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity generate responses based on patterns in their training data, rather than relying on traditional SEO factors like backlinks or high domain authority. This shift opens up an exciting opportunity for new and emerging businesses: if your brand is consistently mentioned alongside relevant topics, AI tools are more likely to “recognize” and recommend it—even if your business isn’t a household name yet.

For founders and entrepreneurs, this levels the playing field. You don’t need to be a famous brand or have a huge following to show up in AI responses. Instead, focus on building brand presence through strategic mentions across high-authority sources. By associating your brand with specific topics and keywords in reputable contexts, you can start to shape your brand’s presence in the AI “conversation” and increase your chances of being recommended.

Steps for Founders to Increase Brand Visibility in AI Responses

Here are detailed strategies for founders to boost AI visibility and brand recognition:

1. Identify and Use Relevant Keywords

• Define Your Brand’s Core Keywords: Founders should identify the primary keywords and topics that best represent their brand, product, or service. For instance, a SaaS startup founder could use “cloud solutions” or “business automation” as core keywords to connect with the right audience.

• Keep Language Consistent Across Platforms: Repetition is essential. Ensure your website, LinkedIn profile, and social media consistently reflect these keywords. Consistent language helps build associations between your brand and relevant topics in AI tools.

• Optimize Foundational Profiles: Update your LinkedIn, Google My Business, and company website with these keywords. Position your brand with clear descriptions and strategic keywords to strengthen AI search visibility.

2. Get Featured on High-Authority Websites

• Publish Content on Trusted Platforms: AI tools prioritize information from high-authority sources, so founders should aim to publish on respected industry sites. Look for opportunities to contribute articles, participate in interviews, or be featured in industry blogs.

• Collaborate with Industry Leaders: Working with well-regarded influencers or thought leaders can build brand credibility. Mentions from reputable sources signal reliability to AI tools, boosting your chances of being included in responses.

• Invest in PR Outreach: Secure placements in “Top” or “Best Of” lists, roundups, and expert interviews. For example, an entrepreneur of a sustainable brand might target inclusion in “Top Green Startups” lists to boost AI brand visibility in eco-friendly searches.

3. Leverage Social Media for Real-Time Brand Exposure

• Engage with Industry Trends: Social media is an excellent platform for founders to connect with trending topics relevant to their industry. This active engagement increases the likelihood of being included in future AI model data.

• Strategic Hashtag Use: Using hashtags that align with your industry and brand strengthens your social visibility. Choose hashtags that are both popular and relevant to your target audience to extend your reach.

• Maintain a Steady Content Stream: Regular posts on industry updates, trends, or company milestones reinforce your brand’s relevance and help solidify AI associations.

4. Build Content and PR Outreach for AI Presence

• Write Guest Articles: Guest posting on reputable sites helps showcase your expertise and establish a stronger online presence. AI tools pull from well-known sources, so a mention on popular platforms can increase your brand’s AI visibility.

• Target Industry “Top” Lists: Founders of niche businesses or consulting agencies should aim to be included in lists like “Top Marketing Consultants” or “Best Eco-Friendly Brands.” These are often used in AI training data, helping build credibility and visibility in AI-generated responses.

• Publish Thought Leadership Content: Regular thought leadership content, like industry insights or trend analysis, reinforces your brand’s relevance. Articles published on high-authority sites strengthen your brand’s presence within the AI ecosystem.

Understanding the Limits of AI in Local Search

While AI tools offer significant brand visibility opportunities, they are less effective for local search. Local SEO—keeping your Google My Business profile updated and maintaining location-based keywords—is still essential if your business depends on local customers. AI models currently don’t have real-time or location-specific data, so founders should aim to balance AI visibility with strong local SEO.

Additional Tips for Boosting Brand AI Presence

To strengthen your AI brand visibility further, consider these advanced strategies:

1. Publish High-Quality Content Consistently

• Blog Regularly on Your Website: Consistent, keyword-rich content strengthens your brand’s connection with relevant topics.

• Repurpose Content for Social Media: Sharing articles or blog posts across LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram extends your brand’s reach, creating multiple touchpoints in the AI data ecosystem.

2. Focus on High-Authority Platforms

• Engage on Trusted Websites: Contribute articles or comments to reputable forums or blogs in your industry.

• Track Mentions with Alerts: Use alerts for your brand’s keywords to monitor mentions and engage in relevant conversations, expanding your brand’s footprint.

3. Build an Online Reputation

• Encourage Customer Reviews: Positive reviews improve your credibility and create data points for AI to recognize your brand.

• Be Transparent: Clear, accurate information about your brand, products, and services ensures accurate representation in AI-generated responses.

Real-World Example: Building Brand Recognition through Online Mentions

For my agency, our client base initially grew through referrals. But by focusing on high-quality mentions across reputable sites, engaging in industry discussions, and sharing thought leadership content, we saw a significant boost in our brand’s AI visibility. This broadened our reach, and clients started discovering us through AI recommendations as well.

Final Thoughts for Founders and Entrepreneurs

Boosting your brand’s AI visibility requires strategic positioning and a strong digital presence. Focus on building credibility across trusted platforms, keep your brand messaging consistent, and stay active in relevant conversations. At the same time, strengthen local SEO if your business relies on it.

In short, aim for a dual approach: establish brand presence in AI by appearing on high-authority sites, and maintain visibility in local searches. This combined strategy ensures your brand is set up for success in both AI-driven and location-based searches.