# Can AI search help a B2B startup get its first customers? - working worksheet

Reviewed alongside the Eli guide: https://hireeli.io/resources/ai-search-first-b2b-customers

## Decision to make

Decide how AI-search visibility fits an early customer-acquisition plan

Owner: ____________________
Review date: ____________________
Canonical page or destination: ____________________

## Buyer questions

- [ ] Can ChatGPT help a B2B startup get customers?
- [ ] Which AI questions should a startup monitor?
- [ ] What should a founder do after a competitor is recommended?
- [ ] How can AI-search traffic convert?

## Evidence-led work plan

### 1. Check whether AI belongs in the buying journey

Ask prospects how they research tools and services.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 2. Create a ten-question non-brand starter set

Use questions a buyer could ask before knowing the company name.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 3. Diagnose the earliest missing stage

If the page cannot be crawled, fix access.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 4. Build a destination that continues the answer

A visitor arriving from an assistant should find the same comparison or problem explained clearly, with relevant proof, limitations and one next action.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 5. Keep the evidence layers honest

Record provider mentions, linked citations, referral visits, confirmed needs, leads and customers separately.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

## Source ledger

- [ ] Google Search Central: AI features and your website: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guide
- [ ] OpenAI: publishers and developers FAQ: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/12627856-publishers-and-developers-faq
- [ ] Eli: AI Visibility Index methodology: https://hireeli.io/ai-visibility-index/methodology
- [ ] Google Analytics: traffic-source dimensions: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/11242870

## Measurement boundary

Baseline date and exact context: ____________________
7-day observation: ____________________
14-day observation: ____________________
30-day observation: ____________________
Known limitations: ____________________

Keep technical eligibility, citations, recommendations, visits, leads and revenue as separate evidence. This worksheet does not guarantee an external ranking or commercial result.