Direct Online Marketing executives to speak on AI search for manufacturers

Direct Online Marketing president Justin Seibert and International Growth Strategist Diego Gattesco will join the U.S. Commercial Service on Oct. 29 for a webinar on how manufacturers can get found and recommended by AI search tools. The session comes as more B2B buyers use platforms like ChatGPT and Google Gemini to shortlist suppliers before visiting company websites.

Why it matters: - More B2B buyers are starting supplier research in AI tools instead of traditional search engines. - Manufacturers that are not visible in AI search may miss early-stage buyer consideration, including international demand. - The webinar is aimed at U.S. manufacturers that export or want to expand into overseas markets.

What happened: - Direct Online Marketing announced that president Justin Seibert and Diego Gattesco, DOM’s International Growth Strategist for Latin America, will present a webinar titled “AI Search for Manufacturers: How Manufacturers Can Get Found and Recommended by AI Search.” - The U.S. Commercial Service is hosting the webinar on Oct. 29, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m. ET as part of Manufacturing Month. - Enybe Diaz, an International Trade Specialist at the U.S. Commercial Service office in Charleston, will present with Seibert and Gattesco. - Registration is open at events.trade.gov.

The details: - The session will explain how AI search platforms discover or overlook manufacturers. - The webinar will cover the signals that help AI tools understand and recommend a company. - The presenters will outline practical steps manufacturers can take to improve online and AI visibility with buyers in the United States and abroad. - The intended audience includes business owners and executives, sales and business development teams, marketing and digital strategy teams, and export professionals. - DOM’s services include SEO, PPC, Agentic Engine Optimization, and Generative Engine Optimization. - Generative Engine Optimization focuses on visibility in AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini.

Between the lines: - The webinar reflects a shift in how manufacturers must think about discoverability, with AI platforms becoming a new gatekeeper for supplier selection. - DOM is positioning its AI-focused marketing services around that shift, especially for brands trying to reach international buyers. - Gattesco’s background at the U.S. Commercial Service gives the program a trade-development angle, not just a marketing one.

What's next: - Manufacturers attending the webinar are expected to leave with a clearer roadmap for improving AI search visibility. - DOM will continue promoting AI search optimization as part of its broader digital marketing offer. - Seibert and Gattesco are likely to keep speaking at trade and marketing events tied to international growth and export strategy.

The bottom line: - As buyers use AI tools to find suppliers, manufacturers need to make sure those systems can recognize, recommend and rank them.