Let’s be real: getting to the top of Google is already hard.
Now we’ve added ChatGPT, Perplexity, Bing AI, and other AI search platforms to the mix. It’s a new era.
We used to just chase search engine rankings. Today, if you’re not showing up in ChatGPT responses, you’re missing out on the next wave of visibility.
That’s where SEO for ChatGPT (and everything it touches) comes in.
This case study breaks down how we helped a niche Canadian home decor brand not only win the top spot in Google, but also get cited by ChatGPT, appear in AI search, and build a digital presence that’s ready for where search is going.
The Challenge
Our client, Silk Plant Decor and More, runs a beautiful 15,000 sq ft showroom filled with artificial trees, plants, and decor. Offline? They had foot traffic. Loyal customers. Gorgeous displays.
Online? Barely a pulse.
They were ranking in Google, but only for a handful of keywords, and nearly all the traffic was going to their homepage. Dozens of other pages were live, but hardly showing up in search results.
Their site was slow, outdated, and missing the signals that both traditional search engines like Google and newer AI-driven platforms like ChatGPT rely on. When customers asked ChatGPT where to buy artificial plants nearby, their name didn’t appear.
They didn’t just need more keywords, they needed a full SEO transformation to unlock the potential of their existing pages and tap into the next era of discovery: AI search.
Understanding the Shift in Search Behaviour
We knew this wasn’t just about speeding up a Shopify site or throwing in some backlinks.
Search has changed. Today, users don’t just Google it. They ask ChatGPT, or they talk to Bing Copilot, or they use Perplexity AI. Search is becoming conversational, AI-powered, and context-rich.
We had to optimise not just for how users type—but how they speak and how AI interprets intent.
That meant shifting from just traditional SEO to a blend of:
- ChatGPT SEO
- Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO)
- AI SEO
- And yes, good ol’ Google best practices
The Strategy
Our approach focused on one big goal: Make the client visible across all major platforms like Google, Bing, and ChatGPT, and turn that visibility into conversions.
1. Shopify Site Revamp
We started with a full rebuild of their Shopify site. Why? Because speed, structure, and navigation matter more than ever.
Not only do search engines like Google reward clean architecture and load times, but so do AI platforms when choosing which sites to cite.
We improved:
- Page load speed
- Mobile responsiveness
- Core Web Vitals
- Navigation clarity
- URL structure
These updates helped the site perform better with traditional SEO tools like Google Search Console and made it easier for ChatGPT to understand and summarise the content accurately.
2. Structured Data for AI Understanding
To make sure ChatGPT and other AI tools could “read” the site properly, we added structured data across:
- Product pages
- FAQs
- Reviews
- Location and opening hours
- Image alt tags with descriptive text
Why? Because generative AI platforms rely on context. They don’t just scan headlines, they try to understand and generate helpful answers.
So if someone asks, “Where can I buy realistic fake plants in Canada?”, you want to be the brand ChatGPT pulls into the response.
Structured data made that possible.
3. Geo-Targeted Keyword Strategy
We dove deep into geo SEO, targeting both national and local queries.
Using tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, and even ChatGPT prompts, we mapped out the keywords users were actually searching and asking about in conversational form.
Our keyword strategy balanced:
- Traditional search terms: “artificial plants Toronto”
- Conversational prompts: “where to buy fake plants near me”
- Generative queries: “best stores for indoor plants in Canada according to ChatGPT”
This helped the site rank better in both traditional search results and AI-powered responses.
4. Content Overhaul for SEO + ChatGPT
Next, we rewrote the entire site’s content to work for both humans and bots.
We optimised for:
- Search intent (what the user is really looking for)
- Meta descriptions (crafted to appear in AI search snippets)
- Conversational tone (so content could easily be pulled into ChatGPT responses)
- Keyword optimisation without stuffing
We even used ChatGPT to help brainstorm SEO content, answer likely prompts, and simulate what a user might ask.
Yes, we used ChatGPT to create content that works in ChatGPT. That’s the beauty of using ChatGPT for SEO when done right, it’s an incredibly useful SEO tool.
5. Collection Page Expansion
We added and optimised high-intent, high-conversion category pages:
- Artificial Trees
- Realistic Succulents
- Office Plants
- Outdoor Planters
- Faux Flowers
These were built around search queries people were likely to enter in both search engines and AI tools.
We optimised:
- H1s, H2s, and metadata
- Internal linking
- FAQ sections
- Schema markup
This helped search engines like Google and Bing understand the content, but also helped ChatGPT and other generative platforms offer these pages as trustworthy results.
6. CRO + Conversion Journey Mapping
Once the traffic came in, we had to optimise the conversion path.
That meant improving:
- Call-to-actions (CTAs)
- Product filtering and sorting
- Checkout flow
- Page design hierarchy
We also implemented AI-based remarketing tools to retarget users coming in from both organic search and AI discovery channels.
The Results
You want proof? Here’s what happened.
Ranking in ChatGPT & Google
A few months after the launch, we got this message from the client:
That’s not just SEO working. That’s ChatGPT SEO success.
This business started appearing in:
- ChatGPT responses
- Bing AI search results
- Google rich snippets
- Perplexity summaries
Yes, they were cited by ChatGPT, and that’s a massive credibility boost.
Visibility in ChatGPT
Visibility in AI Overview
Visibility in AI Mode
Dominating Search Rankings
Across over 200 target keywords, the brand hit:
- #1 for “artificial plants Canada”
- Top 3 for “indoor silk plants Toronto”
- Featured snippet for “best place to buy fake plants in Canada”
- Top spot in ChatGPT for relevant shopping prompts
Source: Ahrefs
They didn’t just rank in ChatGPT. They started owning generative AI search visibility.
Growth in Visibility Through Expanded Query Rankings
After we launched the revamped, AI-optimised website in March 2025, the shift wasn’t just in traffic volume, it was in how many more queries they started ranking for.
Previously, most of their SEO performance relied on a small cluster of keywords tied to the homepage. But with our generative engine optimisation (GEO) approach, the site began ranking for dozens of new, high-intent search queries across both Google and AI search platforms like ChatGPT.
Actual month-to-month performance from Google Search Console (via Google Data Studio).
The graph says it all:
- From ~5K queries/month before the revamp
- To over 12K+ queries/month within 3 months
That spike represents a wider net of visibility, driven by content that’s optimised not just for Google, but for ChatGPT search, Bing AI, and other AI tools like ChatGPT.
This wasn’t just traditional SEO, it was ChatGPT SEO, powered by smarter content, better structure, and an understanding of how to optimize for both users and AI systems.
By helping search engines understand more of the site’s content and structure, we unlocked traffic that had been hiding in plain sight.
You’ve got the pages. Now let’s make them visible, everywhere.
Key Takeaways
1. Use ChatGPT to help with SEO tasks
From brainstorming content to understanding search intent, ChatGPT can help you create better SEO strategies. You just need the right prompts.
2. SEO for ChatGPT is not optional anymore
It’s part of modern search. If you want to grow, you need to optimise your content for both search engines and AI systems.
3. Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) is the future
SEO isn’t dead, it’s evolving. Generative SEO is how we help clients show up in AI-generated responses, summaries, and recommendations.
4. AI Tools like ChatGPT are changing how people search
Instead of typing a keyword, users now ask full questions.
If your content doesn’t answer them well, ChatGPT won’t cite you.
5. SEO is still SEO but smarter
Yes, we still care about meta descriptions, backlinks, and page speed. But we also care about AI search performance, visibility in ChatGPT search, and how content is summarised by LLMs.
Ready to Rank in ChatGPT and Beyond?
If you’ve been wondering whether AI SEO is real or just hype, this is your proof.
We helped a local brand become a top result in ChatGPT, boost Google rankings, and grow their business through generative engine optimisation.
Want us to do the same for you?
Let’s talk. Your next customer isn’t just searching, they’re asking ChatGPT.