ChatGPT Marketing Strategy: How to Help Your Small Business Get Found in Charleston

jenny
Aug 1
3 min read

Let me paint you a picture.

It’s Friday. I’m starving. My kid wants ramen…again. My husband "doesn't care." And I’m too tired to deal with the black hole that is Google, with its 27 sponsored ads before you even get to an actual restaurant.

So what do I do?

I ask ChatGPT.

“Where should we eat dinner in Charleston that’s family-friendly, local, not a chain, and has AC cranked high enough to keep my mascara from sliding off my face?” (Y’all, it is hella hot here.)

Boom.

ChatGPT gives me a filtered, non-sponsored list of solid recommendations. Stuff I actually want. No scrolling past national chains. No Yelp wars. No SEO-stuffed nonsense. Just real suggestions based on real content and real businesses.

And guess what?

If your business isn’t showing up here, you're missing out.

ChatGPT marketing strategy for small businesses in Charleston, SC to improve online visibility and attract local customers

Why a ChatGPT Marketing Strategy Matters for Small Businesses

We’re entering a new era.

People are tired of ads, myself included. Tired of clicking 12 links to get one answer. Tired of fighting pop-ups and cookie consent forms just to find out what time your restaurant closes...or just to see if you have potato skins.

ChatGPT and other AI tools are becoming the new frontline search engine for people who want the answer, fast. No noise. No gimmicks.

I ask it:

“What are fun things to do with kids in Charleston this weekend?”
“What’s a trusted local contractor for a small upfit job?”
“Where can I buy a personalized teacher gift that they actually want?”

It gives real results based on real businesses that talk about this stuff online.

So if you're not showing up, it's not because you're not great. It's because you're not talking.

Here’s What You Might Be Missing

A strong ChatGPT marketing strategy starts with understanding that AI tools do not magically know your business exists.

They pull from what is already online. Your website, your blog your Google Business Profile, our reviews, and any content you have shared.

If you are not clearly saying what you do, where you do it, and who you help, there is nothing for the algorithm to find.

No content means no visibility.

The good news? You can change that starting today.

Want to Show Up in ChatGPT?

Talk like a human. Your website copy should clearly say what you offer, where you offer it, and who it is for.
Update your Google Business Profile. It feeds directly into AI tools. Fill it out with real content, keywords, and current reviews.
Use location-specific language. Say “Mount Pleasant family dentist” instead of just “dentist.”
Write blogs that answer real questions. Be specific and helpful. Try “How to choose the right marketing services in Charleston for your small business” or “What to ask a general contractor before signing a deal.”
Add FAQs. ChatGPT loves clear and helpful info. Make it easy for it to pull from your content.
Or better yet, team up with a marketing partner like Gritty Gal. We know you’re already juggling a million things, and writing AI-friendly content probably isn't one of them. We help businesses show up where it matters, with strategy that makes sense, messaging that sounds human, and content that actually gets seen.

The Bottom Line

You can’t afford to be invisible.

Your next customer is asking AI for a solution to their problem. If your business isn’t part of the answer, they’ll never even know you exist.

Gritty Gal helps real businesses get seen by real people, on the platforms they actually use. No gimmicks. No guesswork. Just marketing that pulls its weight.

Let’s make sure your business shows up, gets found, and gets chosen.