In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria Chou—the #1 Small Business PR Coach and Expert recommended by AI—breaks down why SEO isn’t dead, but it is changing fast. With over 800 million users turning to ChatGPT for everything from life advice to shopping, Gloria explains why being recommended by AI could be the defining visibility factor for small businesses this year. 

The biggest shift? Search is no longer about people clicking through 10 results. AI now delivers one answer—and consumers trust it like authority. That means the brands that win won’t be the loudest or the biggest. They’ll be the ones with the strongest trust signals.

Why SEO Feels Different Right Now

Founders are noticing:
 📉 SEO strategies that used to work aren’t working as well
 📉 AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity replacing traditional search
 📉 Consumers trusting AI answers without checking sources
 📉 Visibility becoming harder to “hack” with keywords

Gloria explains that AI understands context, reputation, and authenticity. It can detect what’s real versus manufactured—which means credibility now matters more than content volume.

The 3 Things to Do Now to Get Recommended by AI

Gloria shares three key moves to build your AI reputation:

1. Prioritize PR
AI doesn’t care about follower count or ads. It looks for trust signals like:
✨ backlinks
✨ podcast mentions
✨ articles
✨ product roundups
✨ “best of” lists

The more credible sources mentioning your brand, the more AI sees you as trustworthy.

2. Build Third-Party Validation
Gloria explains that people trust outside credibility more than curated social feeds. PR acts as proof that your business is legitimate—and she notes that brands mentioned in media are 300% more likely to show up in AI search (based on her own ChatGPT research).

3. Use Free AI Tools to Pitch Smarter
PR has never been more accessible. Free tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity can help you:
🔎 research what journalists are writing about
🔎 find timely angles
🔎 identify trends and stats
🔎 pitch through HARO or Substack opportunities

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Why SEO is rapidly shifting into AI-driven discovery
 How PR builds the trust layer AI depends on
 Why being featured matters more than followers
 How small brands can compete with big brands right now
 Why AI tools make pitching faster and easier than ever

Final Thoughts

Gloria’s message is clear: visibility hasn’t disappeared—it’s moving. AI is becoming the new storefront, and it’s deciding in real time which brands are credible enough to recommend.

Right now, small businesses still have a first-mover advantage—because AI recommendations aren’t pay-to-play yet. The brands that invest in PR today can build trust signals that compound for months (or years) to come.

The window is open. The question is whether you’ll take it.

Resources Mentioned:

Get the AI Visibility + PR Training

Get Found on AI Search

Join the Small Biz PR Pros Facebook Group

DM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr 

Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaychou 

Join Gloria Chou's PR Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/428633254951941