5 things you can do today to get found on ChatGPT — even without a website

You've probably heard that AI search is changing how people find products. But most of the advice out there is written for developers and marketers — not for someone running a small Etsy shop.

So here's a practical list. Five things you can actually do, in plain English, without any technical knowledge. Some of them will take you ten minutes. All of them will help.

1. Add a FAQ section to your Etsy shop

This is the most powerful thing you can do if you only sell on Etsy.

AI engines are built to answer questions. When someone asks "where can I buy handmade silver earrings?", AI looks for content that directly addresses that kind of question. A FAQ section in your shop does exactly that.

Go to your Etsy shop settings and find the "About" section or your shop announcement. Write out 5-6 questions and answers:

• What kind of jewelry do you make?
• What materials do you use?
• Do you do custom orders?
• Where are you based?
• How long have you been making jewelry?
• What makes your work different?

Keep your answers natural and genuine — write them the way you'd explain your shop to a friend. AI responds well to conversational, clear content.

2. Make sure your shop name and category are crystal clear

AI needs to understand what your shop sells before it can recommend you. If your shop name is abstract or creative (like "MoonThreads" or "Sable & Co."), make sure your product descriptions and shop description make your category completely clear.

Somewhere in your shop — ideally early in your description — include a plain statement like: "MoonThreads is a handmade jewelry shop specializing in sterling silver earrings and nature-inspired rings."

Don't assume AI will figure it out from context. Be explicit.

3. Fill out your Etsy shop profile completely

Etsy gives you a "Story" section, an "About" section, and space for shop members. Many sellers skip these or fill them in minimally. That's a missed opportunity.

AI learns about your shop partly from how complete and detailed your profile is. A thorough, genuine shop story — how you started, what drives you, what you love about making things — gives AI more to work with.

It doesn't need to be long. Three or four paragraphs about who you are and what you make is plenty. Just make sure it's there and it's real.

4. Get mentioned elsewhere on the internet

AI learns about shops not just from Etsy, but from everywhere on the internet. Every mention of your shop on a blog, a forum, a social media post, or a news article is a signal that you exist.

A few ideas:

• Share your shop story in seller communities (Reddit's r/EtsySellers is a great start)
• Reach out to bloggers who write about your category and offer to be featured
• Post consistently on Instagram or Pinterest and include your shop name
• Respond to questions on Quora or Reddit that relate to what you make

You don't need to go viral. Even a handful of genuine mentions across the web helps AI understand that you're a real, established shop — not just a listing.

5. Check your AI visibility score — and fix the easy things first

The four things above will all help. But to know exactly where to focus your time, it helps to see where you're actually losing points.

Semlo checks your shop against the signals AI engines look for — things like whether AI bots can access your content, whether you have structured information about your shop, and whether your shop is being mentioned in the right places.

The check is free and takes about 30 seconds. Most sellers find at least one or two quick fixes they didn't know they were missing — things that take five minutes to address but can meaningfully improve your visibility.

If you have a website, there's even more you can do — but these five steps are a solid start whether you have one or not.

The sellers who win at AI visibility aren't doing anything magical. They're just making it easier for AI to understand and recommend them. That's it.

Start with the FAQ section. It's the highest-impact change you can make today, and it also helps your regular Etsy customers — they'll appreciate having their questions answered right there in your shop.