By Diane O’Brien, Chief Marketing Officer at Digital Marketing All
Stop chasing keywords that nobody clicks and start feeding the brain of the internet. If your business doesn't show up when someone asks ChatGPT for a recommendation, you are invisible to the modern buyer. AI search is not coming; it is already here, and it is hungry for specific types of data. You can either be the data it serves or the competitor it ignores.
Key Takeaways
Prioritize Intent: Focus 90% of your effort on "Asking" and "Doing" queries.
Structure is King: Use H2 headers as questions to win the AEO featured snippet.
Be the Source: AI models like Gemini and Perplexity prioritize high-domain authority citations and clear, structured lists.
Local Matters: AI search heavily relies on Map Pack data for localized "Asking" queries.
Audit Early: Use Google Search Console to identify existing comparison and how-to traffic.
How One Plumber Beat the Big Box Brands
Last year, a local plumber in Fredericksburg came to me. He was spending thousands on ads but losing the "AI war." When users asked ChatGPT, "Who is the best emergency plumber near me?" his business never appeared. He was focused on "Expressing" content—blogging about the "feeling" of a clean home.
We pivoted. We treated his website like an accountant treats a ledger. We built "Doing" pages—"How to stop a burst pipe in 3 minutes"—and "Asking" pages—"Compare the top 5 Fredericksburg plumbers by response time." Within 60 days, ChatGPT started citing his "5-step emergency guide" as the primary source for local repair advice. His ROI didn't just crawl up; it leaped. He stopped paying for clicks and started earning citations.
What are the three query types in ChatGPT?
The three query types in ChatGPT are Asking (seeking info or comparisons), Doing (taking specific action), and Expressing (creative or role-play). For business growth, you must master Asking and Doing queries. These drive brand mentions, citations, and direct conversions by providing structured, factual answers that AI models can easily extract.
Mastering the Asking Query: The Battle for the "Best"
Asking queries are the gold mine of AI search. When a user asks, "What is the best CRM for a small accounting firm?" they are in the research phase. ChatGPT doesn't just guess; it scans the web for comparison tables, "best of" lists, and third-party reviews.
To dominate this, you need to create "Best of" guides that include your competitors. It sounds counterintuitive, but AI trusts balance.
"AI models prioritize information that demonstrates E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) through clear citations and structured data." — Search Engine Journal (2025).
Content to create:
Comparison pages (Brand A vs. Brand B).
"Top 10" lists for your specific niche.
Detailed FAQ sections that handle "Why" and "Which" questions.
The Doing Query: Shortening the Path to Purchase
Doing queries are for users ready to act. "Show me how to set up an AI audit" or "Find a price for SEO services in Boston." If your content provides a step-by-step solution, the AI will present your brand as the tool to get the job done.
This is where your ROI lives. By providing pricing tables and "How-to" guides, you move the user from a chat window to your checkout page.
The Shortcut: Dominate AI Search Now
If building this infrastructure feels like a mountain, we have the tools to pull you to the top.
E-E-A-T Engine: We build the authority signals AI search engines crave. Learn more.
Get Found in AI: A dedicated service to ensure your brand is cited in ChatGPT and Gemini responses.
Total Web Dominance: Our flagship strategy to own the search box and the AI chat window simultaneously. See the strategy.
Get Cited by AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok)
Getting cited isn't about luck. It is about "Search Lock Mapping." AI crawlers look for "Digital Breadcrumbs."
To get cited, you must use JSON-LD Schema. This is code that tells the AI exactly what your page is about. If you are a local business, your LocalBusiness Schema must be perfect. If you are selling a product, your Product Schema must include 2026 pricing.
According to recent 2026 data, websites with structured FAQ schema are 40% more likely to be used as a primary source in Gemini's "Deep Dive" answers. Don't just write for humans; write for the machines that help humans decide.
Local SEO & Map Pack Focus
For local businesses, AI search is effectively "Maps Search" with a voice. When a user asks an AI for a "marketing agency in Bedford," the AI pulls from the Google Map Pack and local directories like whatsinmass.com.
If your Google Business Profile isn't optimized with "Asking" query keywords (e.g., "best," "highly rated," "fastest"), you won't make the cut. Local citations are the backbone of AI trust for geographic queries.
Action-Driven Headers for Maximum Reach
Audit Your Data Ledger: Use Search Console to find where you are already winning "how-to" clicks.
Build Asking-Query Hubs: Create one pillar page for every major "vs" query in your industry.
Optimize for Zero-Click: Provide so much value in your structured lists that the AI has no choice but to quote you.
Internal Links
FAQs
What are the three query types in ChatGPT? They are Asking (comparisons/info), Doing (actions/tasks), and Expressing (creative play). Focus on the first two for ROI.
How do I get my business mentioned in ChatGPT? Use structured data, create "Best of" lists, and maintain high E-E-A-T signals on your website.
Is Expressing content useless for SEO? Not useless, but it has low conversion value. Use it for social media engagement rather than search visibility.
Does local SEO affect AI search? Yes. AI models heavily rely on local map data and directories to answer location-based queries.
What is AEO? Answer Engine Optimization is the practice of optimizing content specifically for AI-powered "answer engines" like Perplexity and ChatGPT Search.
You have the roadmap. You know the three query types. The only thing left is to stop being a spectator in the AI revolution and start being the authority. Every day you wait is a day your competitor claims a citation that should have been yours. Use the data, tell the story, and claim your spot at the top of the AI search results.
I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. If you want to be our next success story, have my team do your marketing. Click here to book a call!
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