Show Up When People Search for Gifts

You can't see exactly how each tool picks its sources, so I'm keeping this simple. What you CAN see is the output: ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews and Perplexity will often show the pages behind a "best product" answer.

One study looked at 106,758 English citations behind "best product" answers in those three tools, and counted how many were pages that earn money from what they recommend, like affiliate roundups:

Gift guides and roundups are a big part of what these tools read. And those pages are written by people you can email! 💌

Before you write a single pitch, go and see who's already being cited for YOUR kind of gift.

Open ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google, and ask the questions your customer would actually type. "Best gifts for new moms." "Gifts for dog lovers under $50." Write down every site that shows up as a source.

Then search Google directly with these, swapping in your niche:

"gift guide" dog lovers 2026
"best gifts for" new moms
intitle:"gift guide" skincare
"gifts under $50" [your niche]
"gift guide" [your city or country] small business

Check last year's versions too (swap 2026 for 2025). A site that ran a guide last year is a good bet to run one again, and the writer's name is usually right there at the top.

Pop everything in a simple sheet: site, guide name, writer, contact email or pitch page, date you pitched, date you followed up. Mix a few big publications with LOTS of smaller niche blogs, newsletters and creators.

And check EVERY site yourself before you pitch. I'm not handing you a list of editors on purpose, because those lists go stale fast.

Build this pack ONCE, in one shared folder, and reuse it for every pitch.

Send these NOW. Black Friday lands on November 27 this year, and inboxes get very full after that. Keep them SHORT too: editors get a lot of these, and the one that makes their job easy wins.

The pitch email

Subject: [Product name] for your [2026 gift guide / gifts for dog lovers list]

Hi [Name],

I loved your [name of last year's guide or a recent article], especially [one specific pick or line you liked].

I'm the founder of [Brand], and I think [Product] could be a great fit for your [gifts for X] guide this year. It's [one sentence on what it is and who it's for], and it's [price] which puts it in your [under $50 / stocking stuffer / splurge] section.

A couple of things that might help:
- Hi-res images (product on white plus lifestyle shots): [link to folder]
- Product page: [link]
- [One short proof point: a review line, a stat you can back up, or something that makes it giftable, like it ships gift-wrapped]

I'd love to send you a sample so you can try it yourself. Just reply with the best address and I'll get it out this week!

Thanks so much,
[Your name]
[Brand] | [phone or best contact]

That first line matters most. Can't name something specific you liked about their work? They probably aren't the right target yet.

The follow-up

Send it 5 to 7 business days later.

Subject: Re: [original subject]

Hi [Name],

Just bumping this in case it got buried! Happy to send a sample of [Product] or any extra images if it's a fit for your [guide name] this year.

Thanks again,
[Your name]

ONE follow-up is plenty. No reply after that? Move on and stay friendly. Next year's guide exists too.

Plenty of "best of" pages and creator posts are affiliate content: the writer earns a commission when someone buys through their link. Offering one helps a LOT.

• Pick a commission you can afford: work it out from your margin, and do it BEFORE you're in a hurry. Getting featured at a loss is still a loss.
• Set up a way to track it: Shopify has its own app for this called Shopify Collabs. It lets you invite creators, give them affiliate links or discount codes, send gifts, track sales and pay commissions. It's on all Shopify plans except Starter and Retail, so check your own admin. Whatever app you use, test it with a small order first. Source: Shopify Help Center
• Pitch the roundup writers and creators the same way you pitched editors: use the same email and add one line: "We also run an affiliate program at [X]% commission, happy to set you up."
• Gift first when it makes sense: a creator who has actually used your product writes a far better roundup than one who's only seen the photos.

Write a page on your own site that answers the exact question your customer types into AI, with your product in it. Pick a question you can answer with authority. Sell dog gear? "Best gifts for dog lovers" is yours!

A structure you can copy:

1. A title that matches the REAL question: "The best gifts for dog lovers (2026 edition)". Use the words people search, and skip the clever pun.
2. A short intro that answers the question straight away: who this list is for, and how you picked.
3. Sections by budget or type: under $30, under $75, under $150, splurge. Or by who it's for: the new puppy parent, the dog who has everything.
4. Each pick gets its own little block: product name, price, who it's perfect for, a line or two on why, and a link.
5. A short FAQ at the bottom: the questions people ask, like "What do you buy a dog lover who has everything?" and "What's a good gift under $50?". Answer each one in plain sentences.
6. The practical stuff: Christmas shipping cut-off dates, gift wrapping, gift notes, returns.

Your own products should be in there, OBVIOUSLY, but a page that's all you with zero variety reads like a catalog, so mix in bundles or gift sets where it fits. And write it the way you'd talk a friend through it, because nobody wants to read a wall of product descriptions.

Once it's live, link to it from your homepage and put it in your emails. It'll do double duty as a gift guide for your own customers too! 📝