AI Search Is Here, Is Your Catalog Ready?
A shift is underway in how customers shop. Traditional Google searches are giving way to AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, where shoppers ask conversational questions and expect instant, tailored product recommendations. OpenAI's April 2025 update put it plainly: "Products are selected by ChatGPT independently and are not ads." That means your catalog's visibility hinges on how well it's optimized for AI - not on ad spend or old-school SEO tricks.
Optimizing for AI search is a different beast than traditional SEO. It's about making your product data clear, structured, and easy for AI to understand and recommend. In this post, we'll walk you through how to optimize your product catalog for AI search like ChatGPT, with five practical steps and examples from retailers who've already cracked the code. Generative Engine Optimization is here!
Whether you manage a handful of SKUs or millions, these strategies will help you get your products in front of AI-driven shoppers. Let's dive in.
Why AI Search Optimization Matters Now
AI search are reshaping how products get discovered. Shoppers aren't just typing "waterproof jacket" anymore - they're asking, "What's the best waterproof jacket for hiking in the rain?" or "Will this daybed fit in a small apartment?" Tools like ChatGPT process these queries, scan product data, and deliver recommendations on the spot.
For retailers, this shift brings two big realities:
- Visibility Is Organic: AI recommendations aren't paid ads. Your catalog has to be AI-ready to show up.
- Speed Wins: The sooner you optimize, the faster you'll tap into this growing traffic source.
For many retailers, there is a focus now to add conversational FAQs and structured data, so they can slash their time-to-market and start appearing in ChatGPT's product carousels, driving more eyes to their products.
Ready to follow suit? Here's how.
5 Practical Ways to Optimize Your Catalog for AI Search
Optimizing for AI search doesn't have to be overwhelming. These five steps, pulled from the AI Shopping Readiness Guide, will get your catalog ready to shine in conversational search.
1. Write Conversational Product Titles and Descriptions
AI loves natural language that mirrors how people talk. Ditch the keyword-stuffed jargon and focus on benefits and use cases.
How to Do It:
- Craft titles that answer shopper intent (e.g., "Kavaria Sunbrella Waterproof Daybed for Small Patios").
- Write descriptions that highlight real-world value (e.g., "Keeps you dry on rainy hikes without weighing you down").
Why It Works: AI matches products to conversational queries. A title like "Best Lightweight Rain Jacket for Hiking" beats out "Jacket Men's Green" every time.
Pro Tip: Merchkit's AI-Powered PDP Rewriter can churn out optimized titles and descriptions for your entire catalog in minutes.
2. Add Structured Data to Help AI Understand Your Products
Structured data (like schema markup) is like a roadmap for AI engines, it tells them exactly what your products are and why they matter.
How to Do It:
- Use Product schema to tag prices, availability, and reviews.
- Add FAQPage schema for common questions (e.g., "Can I wash this jacket in a machine?").
Why It Works: AI needs clean, organized data to pull your products into its answers. Skip this, and you risk being invisible.
Real Example: Daniel House Club added structured data to their furniture catalog, helping AI Search recommend their pieces for queries like "best sofa for small spaces."
Pro Tip: Merchkit's Auto-Structured Content tool bakes schema into your product exports automatically.
3. Embed Real-World FAQs on Product Pages
FAQs aren't just for customers - they're gold for AI engines. They provide bite-sized, conversational content that AI can use to answer queries.
How to Do It:
- Add 3–5 FAQs per product (e.g., "Does this daybed need assembly?").
- Keep answers short and clear for easy parsing.
Why It Works: AI often pulls FAQ content directly into its responses, boosting your product's chances of being featured.
Pro Tip: Merchkit's Content Campaign Builder generates and distributes FAQs across your catalog effortlessly.
4. Optimize Images for AI Search
AI doesn't just read, it sees. Clean, descriptive images can get your products into AI-generated carousels.
How to Do It:
- Use high-res, square images (1024x1024px) to avoid cropping.
- Write alt text that describes the scene (e.g., "Hiker in green waterproof jacket on rainy trail").
- Skip text overlays on main images.
Why It Works: AI prioritizes visuals that match the query. Blurry or cluttered images get skipped.
Pro Tip: Merchkit's Image Health Checker flags problem images and suggests fixes fast.
5. Syndicate Optimized Content Across Channels
AI engines pull data from everywhere, so consistency across your channels is crucial. Syndication keeps your catalog unified and fresh.
How to Do It:
- Push optimized listings to Shopify, Amazon, Google, etc., with tools like Merchkit's Feed Optimizer.
- Update quarterly with new images, specs, or bundles.
Why It Works: Uniform data builds AI's trust in your catalog, improving visibility.
Pro Tip: Merchkit's Workflows handle updates automatically, keeping your catalog AI-ready.
Merchkit: Making AI Search Optimization Simple
You don't have to tackle AI search alone. Merchkit is here to help retailers and brands get their catalogs live, ranking, and converting, fast. Here's what we bring to the table:
- 10x Faster Onboarding: Automate vendor data extraction and cleanup.
- On-Brand Content: Generate AI-optimized titles, descriptions, and FAQs that sound human.
- Channel Syndication: Push your catalog to every platform with perfect formatting.
- Performance Iteration: Use sales data to keep refining your content.
Daniel House Club leaned on Merchkit to automate vendor onboarding and create conversational content, scaling their catalog for AI search without extra staff. The payoff? Faster launches and more AI Search visibility.
Wrap-Up: Get AI-Ready Today
AI search like ChatGPT are changing how shoppers find products, and how retailers stay competitive. Optimizing your catalog with conversational titles, structured data, FAQs, sharp images, and syndication puts you in the driver's seat. Start small, scale smart, and watch your products pop up where it matters.
Don't wait for your competitors to figure it out first. Optimize for AI search and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) now, and own the future of eCommerce.