Read time: 3 minutes
Agency pitches this year carry a new line item: AI visibility. A monthly retainer to get your brand into ChatGPT.
If you’ve been sitting on that proposal, good. Recent studies put hard numbers on it.
ChatGPT visitors convert well. There aren’t many of them yet.
What the numbers say
1. ChatGPT sends a sliver of Google’s traffic
Receipt: ChatGPT sent 0.62% of the visits Google organic did, across 100 sites and 12 months. On the 55 sites that tracked conversions, Google organic drove 27x more conversions than all tracked AI referrals. Source: Marie Haynes, Oct 21.
Good visitors. Not many of them.
2. AI visitors convert better, not everywhere
Receipt: AI converted at 7.18% vs 6.08% for organic, across 63 sites that met the study’s traffic thresholds. On 23 of those 63, AI did worse. Source: SEO Works.
The average looks good. Your site may not match it.
3. AI may work like word of mouth
Someone sees your name in an AI answer, then searches for you on Google later. Your analytics credits Google.
Receipt: Similarweb data from June 2026 found brand searches rose after AI recommendations in selected categories. Source: SparkToro.
Is it worth it for you?
Three quick questions:
- Do your buyers research for weeks before they buy?
- Do they ask AI tools which provider is best for their need?
- Has a new customer ever told you an AI tool sent them?
The first two mean AI answers may shape your buyers’ shortlist. That’s worth checking. The third is evidence.
No signals yet? Put the budget into channels you can measure, and check again in a few months.
My rule: consider a small paid test when buyers say AI sent them, or AI visits turn into revenue.
Until then, these cost time, not a retainer:
- Rank for your buyers’ questions. Build one clear page for each question a buyer asks.
- Put the answer first. My rule of thumb: answer in the first 100 words, then explain.
- Ask your buyers. Add a how-did-you-hear-about-us field to your contact form.
Do this today
- Look: find last month’s visits from chatgpt.com and perplexity.ai in your analytics.
- Ask: ask ChatGPT for the best [your service] for [your buyer]. Note who shows up.
- Add: put that field on your contact form today.
↳ The full issue has the 60-second test, a copy-paste prompt for your service pages, and every source.
Reply and tell me what an agency has pitched you on AI visibility, and what it cost. I read every reply.
Eric Melillo
Find me on X, LinkedIn, Instagram,
or Book 1:1 Strategy Call
PS – Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help you:
- Free Resources – Get swipe files, templates & AI prompts to accelerate your growth.
- Online Courses – Learn step-by-step from proven frameworks to build and scale your creator business.
- Book 1:1 Strategy Call – Being stuck is a choice. In 30 minutes, we’ll map your next 3 moves to get you unstuck. No cost, no strings. Creators who win don’t wait.