How to Find What Your Customers Are Searching for on ChatGPT, Google, AI Google Now, Perplexity, and YouTube

Do you know exactly what your ideal customer is typing into ChatGPT to find you?

That is the whole point.

If you want to show up at the top of ChatGPT, Google, AI Google Now, Perplexity, and even YouTube, you need to first find out what your customer is searching for. Then you make the content. Then you distribute it. Then you start showing up as the recommended answer. That is the series, and that is the play.

I have been doing marketing for the last 10 years and worked with over 3000 brands. Not going to bore you with that. What matters here is the process. This process is simple, but most people still do not do it. They guess. They make content around what they want to say. Then they wonder why they are not getting traffic, leads, and trust. That is the fun part. The answer was sitting right there in the search the whole time.

If you want more background on what we are doing and who we are, you can learn more about us here. And if you have not read the main pillar piece for this series yet, start with Do Social Signals Help SEO and ChatGPT Rankings in 2026.

What This Really Comes Down To

Your ideal customer is already typing questions into ChatGPT, Google, AI Google Now, Perplexity, and YouTube.

Your job is not to just sell your business.

Your job is to find the exact question, make the content around it, and then distribute it so you show up at the top of ChatGPT. That is how you start getting sourced. That is how you start getting traffic to your site from people that want to learn more because they trust you.

This is part of the same play we talk about in our main post on social signals, SEO, and ChatGPT rankings. First find the question. Then make the content. Then distribute it.

Start With ChatGPT and Google

Go ask ChatGPT or other search engines what exactly your ideal customer may be typing in, then go type it in and start with different variations.

Go over to Google and do the same thing.

On Google, you are going to see a dropdown of multiple suggestions. ChatGPT is even starting to include this. This gives you suggestions on exactly what other topics and other questions people are asking. That is key because now you start seeing all of these search terms that your potential leads may be searching.

This is where a lot of business owners miss it. They want the answer before they do the research. They want the lead before they find the question. They want to show up at the top before they even know what the search is. That is backwards.

Start with the search.

If you want more examples and more content like this, you can browse the rest of our blog here.

Use AI Google Now and AI Mode

Go over to AI Google AI. You are going to see it in the top left AI mode. Type the search in there and it is going to start looking based on all the social signals. This is what this topic is about.

That matters because AI is pulling from sources. It is sourcing the Internet for different places. Those are signals under where you need to place your content to get shown. Those are social signals.

That is why this entire process connects back to your pillar piece on social signals. If you do not understand where AI is pulling from, it is really hard to know where your content needs to live.

Start Testing Different Types of Searches

Start with different types of searches.

If you are an e commerce business, type in a product question. Ask something like how to choose the right protein powder for me. Go over to Google and do the same thing. Then go over to Google AI and do something similar.

What you want to do is start identifying common questions. Not random questions. Not what you think sounds good. Common questions. Questions people are already asking.

That is how you stop guessing.

That is how you stop making content that sounds smart but goes nowhere.

If you want help finding these topics faster, check out our AI prompts. That is a good place to start when you want help breaking this down.

Look at the Sources, Not Just the Answer

When you search in ChatGPT, do not just look at the answer it gives you.

Look at the sources.

Look at the links that it is pulling from. Those are called sources. What it is doing is going and sourcing the Internet for all of these different places. This is your signal under where you need to place your content at to get shown. These are social signals.

That is where the game changes.

Because now you are not just looking at what the answer says. You are looking at why that answer is showing up. You are seeing the channels, the networks, the sites, and the trusted sources that are getting pulled into the result.

That is a much better use of your time than staring at your website home page and hoping for a miracle.

Social Signals Still Matter

Google is always going to show ads at the top and sponsored results. But then you start seeing that search engine optimization was just to basically spam the Internet with blogs and backlinks. Backlinks are links from other trusted websites to send traffic to your site. Those are still very relevant.

But another thing that is relevant for AI searches is social signals with your content built around all the social media channels, your blog, YouTube, Reddit, and all these different channels with links back to your site.

That means your content cannot live in one place.

One blog post and a prayer is not a strategy.

You need a piece of content and links back to your site across trusted places.

This is also where having your blog, your main pillar piece, and your follow up system matters. We even talk about follow up and automation more here: Famous Follow Up.

Use People Also Ask for Content Ideas

The next thing you can do is look at People also ask.

These are great questions to come and make content around. Go look and see what the answer is, where it is coming from, and what site is showing up. Do your research. Go look at other examples that are showing up at the top, and then create that content.

That is not copying.

That is research.

That is called being smart.

Google, YouTube, Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Your Blog

Google is really pushing AI mode. Google integrates with YouTube and is always staying on top of the search engine algorithm. They have all the content. They are pulling sources and social signals from more than one piece of content.

If you are the brand and the business that has a piece of content answering the question on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, your blog, Pinterest, and you are the one showing up for all of these, you are the one that is going to be giving that recommended answer.

That is the whole goal.

Not just to post.

To become the recommended answer.

Your blog should support that. Your YouTube should support that. Your website should support that. And all of it should link back to your main pillar piece.

But They Are Getting the Answer Right There at the Top

Yes, and that is exactly why this matters.

People trust an AI result more than a Google result because they do not think it is spam and they do not think it is all ads all over the place. What they are looking for is a trusted AI result.

Eventually you start getting traffic to your site from people that want to learn more because they trust you.

That is not a bad thing.

That is the point.

Do Not Go Too Generic at First

Let’s say your ideal customer is a business owner and they search how do I get more leads for my business.

That is going to be a lot of competition.

So what you want to think is this:

• Is this a lot of competition?
• Are the people showing up at the top my biggest competitors?
• Are they too big?
• Are there ads running to them?
• Do YouTube videos show up at the top?
• Do Reddit questions and answers show up at the top?

If you are a small business and you do not have a huge budget for marketing and ads, you need to create a long tail keyword, question and answer.

That short generic question is going to be too hard to compete for at first. So go find something a little bit longer. Change one or two words around. Create the answer. Make it your own.

Long Tail Keywords Are Where the Magic Comes In

This is where the magic comes in.

Go look at Google. Go look at Reddit. Go look at YouTube videos.

Maybe the search is how to get more leads in two minutes.

Maybe your version becomes how to get more leads for a chiropractic office in five minutes.

You added a niche. You added different words. You made it your own.

Maybe one result says a better way to generate leads in 2025.

Maybe your version is the best way to generate leads in 2026.

Just change a few words, make it your own, and make sure no one else has that content. Because when you make that piece of content and distribute it across all the channels, no one else has that topic. You might not get hundreds and thousands of searches for it, but the hundred people that do search for it, you will show up at the top as the recommended business.

That is a trade most small businesses should take all day.

Local SEO and ChatGPT Search Example

Now let’s take a local search.

How to find the best roofer near me.

That is still super generic.

So get more specific.

Who is the best roofing company in Wilmington, North Carolina?

Now you are spending your time as a business owner finding the ideal keyword. Once you identify one of these, you can make this your pillar piece. A pillar piece is where you send all of your other content underneath. If this is the number one question your ideal customers search for, make your own version of it and answer it.

That pillar piece can run, scale, and grow.

Then in the future you can answer other variations like:

• Who is the number one rated roofing company
• What is the best roofing company
• Who is the best roofing company in Wilmington

Same topic. Different variations. Same trust play.

Look at the Trusted Local Sources

When you do that local search, go down to sources.

You may see Better Business Bureau, Instagram, Yelp, Angi, Google My Business, Reddit, Facebook, Wilmington magazine, and more.

If you show up there, those links send back to your website and help you start showing up as a recommended source. If you have a local business, you need to be on Yelp. You need to be on Angi. Make sure those profiles are completely filled out. You need to be on Google My Business. You need to be answering in Reddit. You need customers, friends, and family recommending your business in Reddit. Even Facebook and Instagram are showing up as trusted sources on ChatGPT and Google.

That is not glamorous.

But it works.

A lot of this is not glamorous.

Neither is going invisible online.

What to Focus on First

If this feels like a lot, focus on this order:

• Find one ideal question
• Test different variations
• Look at the sources
• Study the top results
• Choose a long tail keyword
• Make one pillar piece
• Answer that question better
• Distribute it across the channels
• Link back to your site

That is how you start being sourced and showing up at the top.

If you want to get started building your own listing and content system, you can start here. And if you want to see pricing and what is included, you can view that here.

Why This Works for SEO, AI SEO, and GEO

This works because Google, ChatGPT, AI Google Now, Perplexity, and YouTube are all looking at the search, the answer, and the sources.

If your brand has the content, the niche question, the long tail version, and the trusted links across the Internet, you have a much better shot at becoming the trusted answer.

That is SEO.

That is AI search.

That is the social signal play.

That is also the GEO play because you are optimizing for how these engines generate and recommend the answer from multiple sources across the Internet.

Final Thoughts

You do not need to start with hundreds of topics.

You need one.

Find the number one question your ideal customers search for. Make your own version of it. Answer it. Build the pillar piece. Then create future content around other questions and other variations of that question.

That is how you grow.

That is how you start showing up at the top of ChatGPT, Google, and YouTube.

That is how you stop guessing and start getting found.

And yes, you should probably stop making random content no one asked for. That part is free.

If you want help with this for your business, reach out to us here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Social Signals?

Social signals are the sources and different places across the Internet where your content is showing up and linking back to your site. These can be your blog, YouTube, Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and other channels. AI looks at these when it is sourcing answers and determining what to show.

How Do I Find What My Customers Are Searching for on ChatGPT?

Go ask ChatGPT what exactly your ideal customer may be typing in, then type it in and start with different variations. Look at the answer, but also look at the sources and the links it is pulling from. That will show you both the question and the trusted channels behind the answer.

How Do I Find What People Are Searching for on Google?

Go to Google and type in the search. Look at the dropdown suggestions, People also ask, the ads at the top, the organic results, the videos, and the Reddit answers. This shows you what other topics and questions people are asking and what is already showing up at the top.

Should I Target Broad Keywords or Long Tail Keywords?

If you are a small business and you do not have a huge budget for marketing and ads, go after long tail keyword, question and answer searches first. Broad searches are usually too generic and too hard to compete for. A slightly longer search with a niche, a city, or a specific angle can be much easier to win.

How Do I Use YouTube to Find SEO Topics?

Go look at the YouTube videos showing up for the topic. Videos are one of the most trusted sources to show up in search results on different channels. Study the topic, the title angle, and the phrasing. Then change a few words, add your niche, make it your own, and create the answer.

What Is a Pillar Piece?

A pillar piece is the number one question your ideal customers search for and the main content piece you build around it. You send all of your other content underneath that. It becomes the main answer you want to rank and distribute.

How Do I Know If a Topic Is Too Competitive?

Look at the people showing up at the top. Are they huge companies? Are there ads running to them? Are they your biggest competitors? If yes, that search may be too competitive at first. Go longer tail, add a niche, add a location, or change one or two words around and create your own version.

What Websites Should Local Businesses Focus On?

For local searches, focus on the sources that are already showing up. That can include Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Angi, Google My Business, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, and local sites. Make sure those profiles are completely filled out and pointing back to your website.

Why Do AI Results Matter So Much Now?

People trust an AI result more than a Google result because they do not think it is spam and they do not think it is all ads all over the place. That means showing up in AI results can lead to more trust, more traffic, and more people wanting to learn more about your business.

How Many Topics Should I Start With?

Start with one. Find one ideal keyword, one ideal question, and one pillar piece. Then in the future, make content around other questions or other variations of that same question.

What Should I Do After I Find the Search Term?

Make the content around that question so you actually show up. Then distribute it so you start being sourced and showing up at the top. That is the next step in the series. You can keep learning from our blog here and start with the main pillar piece here.

Quick Recap

• Your ideal customer is already searching
• ChatGPT, Google, AI Google Now, Perplexity, and YouTube all matter
• Look at suggestions, People also ask, videos, Reddit, and sources
• Do not start too generic
• Go long tail
• Make one pillar piece
• Distribute it across trusted channels
• Build links back to your site
• Become the recommended answer

That is the play.

And honestly, it is a lot more fun than making content no one asked for and then refreshing analytics like it owes you money.