OpenAI has recently introduced a shopping feature in ChatGPT, enabling users to receive personalized product recommendations directly through the chatbot. When a user query implies shopping intent, such as “gifts for someone who loves cooking” or “best noise-cancelling headphones under $200,” ChatGPT may surface relevant products.
For Merchants: Enhancing Product Visibility in ChatGPT
To ensure your products are discoverable in ChatGPT’s shopping feature, consider the following steps:
- Allow OAI-SearchBot Access: Ensure your website permits OpenAI’s web crawler, OAI-SearchBot, by not blocking it in your
robots.txtfile. This crawler indexes your site’s content for ChatGPT’s search features but is not used for training AI models. - Track Referral Traffic: ChatGPT includes the UTM parameter
utm_source=chatgpt.comin referral URLs, allowing you to monitor inbound traffic from ChatGPT through analytics platforms like Google Analytics. - Prepare for Product Feed Submissions: OpenAI is exploring ways for merchants to provide product feeds directly to ChatGPT. You can express interest by completing the form on OpenAI’s website, and they will notify you when submissions open.
Understanding ChatGPT’s Shopping Recommendations
ChatGPT’s product suggestions are generated independently and are not advertisements. The AI analyzes product information from across the web, including pricing, descriptions, and customer reviews, to provide recommendations. These results are organic and not influenced by paid placements.
The shopping feature is available to all ChatGPT users, including those on Free, Plus, and Pro tiers, and even those not logged in. Users can explore curated product suggestions based on their preferences and reviews from sources like Reddit and editorial sites. To complete a purchase, users are redirected to the seller’s website.
By following these guidelines, merchants can enhance their product visibility within ChatGPT’s shopping feature, potentially reaching a broader audience through this innovative platform.