The number of ChatGPT monthly users continues to grow. This month, that number reached 858 million with approximately 5.5 billion visits. People are using AI for a variety of reasons – research, writing, therapy, and more. But pretty soon (time to be determined), people will be able to use ChatGPT specifically to purchase products.
Shopify announced in September that merchants will be able to sell directly through ChatGPT conversations without links or redirects. It will appear right there on the page. “Shopping is changing fast. People are discovering products in AI conversations, not just through search or ads,” says Vanessa Lee, VP of Product at Shopify. “This will let our merchants show up naturally in those moments and give shoppers a way to buy without breaking their flow. It’s a really exciting shift for commerce.”
If you’re asking ChatGPT for a pair of high-quality vegan shoes, for instance, it will immediately show you options and then allow you to purchase right from the chat. Merchants’ store names will be clearly displayed so customers know who they’re buying from. Orders will flow into the Shopify admin, meaning the store itself will handle the order, the merchant’s name will show up on the receipt, etc.
Some of the companies that signed on to the deal are Glossier, Spanx, Vuori, Steve Madden, and more. Why are we, a Charlotte web design company, talking about this? First of all, we always have an eye on new developments, but secondly, there are things we can do to help you with the integration so that you can be one of the companies integrated into ChatGPT.
Why Companies Would Want to Integrate with ChatGPT
You might be thinking, “Should I really do this? Is it a good idea? You have to make that decision for yourself, of course, but here are some reasons why:
ChatGPT can help with the discovery phase. Rather than hoping someone stumbles upon your product, Chat can do that for you and help with the decision-making process. If your customer wants to know about the return policy or shipping times, that’s all available.
How to Prepare for the Shopify and ChatGPT Integration
As a Charlotte web design company, we can help you prepare for the integration. Your store has to be based in the U.S., on a paid plan, and integrated with Stripe. Your product descriptions need to be clear and have natural language. It’s expected that Shopify will release a ChatGPT sales channel app in its store so it could be as easy as turning that on.
Part of the process is enabling the “Agentic Commerce Protocol” (ACP), which acts as the link between your Shopify store and ChatGPT’s shopping features. You should be able to activate that feature in the Shopify admin settings. Turning it on will automatically enroll you in Chat’s instant checkout program.
More importantly, though, is to update your language in product descriptions. Instead of “women’s vegan-leather shoes,” you’ll want to say something like, “Comfortable black vegan leather shoes for women – ideal for wearing at the office.” Start to think about what people would search for, what words they would use, that describe your product, rather than the basics. You’ll also want to highlight the benefits – what makes your product special, who it’s for, and how it’s used. In my earlier example, I said, “comfortable,” “women,” and “ideal for wearing at the office.”
Also, add Schema markup to your product pages using JSON-LD format. Include details like pricing, availability, brand, ratings, and reviews. This structured data helps AI systems better understand your products and improves their presentation in ChatGPT conversations. If you don’t know how to do this, as a Charlotte web developer, we can help.
Get in touch with us via email or call (704) 336-9113.
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