Is AI the newest referral channel? 🤖✨
Yesterday I hopped on a discovery call with a prospect from Calgary. Who sent her my way? ChatGPT. She fed the bot a detailed prompt describing her ideal coach. ChatGPT served up three names:
The first two didn’t feel aligned to her.
She wasn't very hopeful until she got to the third option - me - and found on my website exactly what she asked for.
She skimmed a few pages, felt an immediate yes, and within 24 hours of our discovery call, she signed the contract and paid in full. I was just as astonished as she was—so I stepped back to figure out why the match clicked so fast.
Why it worked
1. Crystal-clear positioning = easy AI matchmaking My site spells out who I serve, how I work, and the results I help create. That clarity made it simple for both an algorithm and a human to see the fit. (Huge kudos to my brand designer Fernanda Campos Ervilha and web designer Valentina from ByBold for turning my brand into such a welcoming home that speaks to my audience.)
2. SEO still matters—maybe more than ever Years of weaving client language and thoughtful keywords into my content meant ChatGPT could “see” me when it went looking for something very specific. Credit to my copywriter Victoria Cowan, MA for nailing the messaging that resonates with my people.
3. Trust transfers My new client said, “I couldn’t believe ChatGPT found someone so perfect.” Because the recommendation felt spot-on, she treated it almost like a personal referral—and leapt in with confidence.
A nudge for fellow business owners
Audit your digital home. Could AI—or your dream client—scan your site and “get” you in 30 seconds?
Speak your clients’ language. The words they’d type into a prompt or search bar should live front-and-center on your pages.
Blend human warmth with technical smarts. Story, voice, testimonials, and clear offers help algorithms send the right people your way—and reassure those people once they land.
I still believe in good old word-of-mouth, but this week proved the “mouth” might now be a bit more broad.
Are you treating AI tools like potential referral partners yet? I’d love to hear how you’re preparing (or not!) for this shift. 👇
#Marketing #AI #SEO #BrandPositioning #SmallBusiness
