Ads in ChatGPT: what advertising in ChatGPT already means for your business
More and more people ask their first question in a chatbot. And now there are ads in that chat window too. Here's what was measured, what it's worth, and where I'd rather you spent your time.
Ads in AI search results are here
American researchers looked at commercial searches in ChatGPT. Those are questions from people who want to buy something, book something or get something arranged. Around 25 to 30 percent of those questions came back with an ad in view. Google AI Mode sits at a comparable level, Emerce reports.
This is exploratory research. I wouldn't build a whole strategy on it. What it does show: AI search is turning into an advertising channel. The same shift search engines went through earlier is now coming to the chat.
Customers search through AI, even when you can't see it
Someone looking for a roofer now types the question into a chatbot as easily as into Google. They get one answer back with a few names in it. No list of ten blue links to scroll through themselves.
That changes your position. You used to fight for spot seven on the first page. Now you fight to be named in that one answer. And the space next to that answer turns out to be for sale.
Your visitor stats only tell you half of this. A chatbot doesn't always pass traffic along with a recognisable source. So just ask new customers how they found you. It takes ten seconds and it tells you more than any dashboard.
I wouldn't buy ad space yet
Advertising in ChatGPT is still at the very beginning. There are no published rates and no decent way to measure your result. Anyone stepping in now is mostly paying tuition on someone else's behalf.
On top of that, a paid spot disappears the moment you stop paying. An AI that recommends you on its own keeps doing it as long as your site is clear. That second thing stays yours.
What I'd do tomorrow
Make sure an AI can retell your story without guessing. That's one quiet morning of work:
- Put your prices on your site. An amount, a starting price or an honest range. A model that finds no price will name the competitor who does list one.
- Write down the questions customers ask you on the phone, with your answer underneath in plain words. Exactly the way you'd say it.
- Be specific about who you help and where. "Installation company for homes in North Brabant" works better than "specialist in sustainable living concepts".
- Give every service its own page. One page with everything on it is hard for a person, and just as hard for a model.
Do this and you lose nothing if advertising in AI does grow big later. You'll simply be in better shape than someone who only bought an ad. If you get stuck or want me to take a look, mail info@mia-automation.com.
Frequently asked questions
Can I advertise in ChatGPT right now?
For ordinary business owners there's no open ad system yet like the one you know from Google. Nobody knows what it will cost. Keep an eye on it and put your time into your own site for now.
How do I know if customers find me through AI?
Ask them. Add one line to your contact form or ask on the phone: how did you end up with us? Chatbots often pass traffic along without a recognisable source, so your own question is the most reliable measurement you have.
Do I need to write my website differently for AI?
You're not writing for a machine, you're writing more clearly for people. Concrete prices, real answers to real questions, and a clear picture of who you help. A model picks that up because it's literally there on the page.
