Frequently asked questions
About StreetTea
What is StreetTea?
StreetTea publishes verified, structured information about physical store locations—prices, stock, operating hours, active sales, clear photos—in a format AI assistants like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini effortlessly digest and cite. When a local customer asks an AI where to buy something nearby, your store's exact, ground-truth details are right there waiting.
Why does my store need this? I already have a website.
Most small-business websites exist for human browsing, not for AI tools scanning text. They rarely list actual shelf inventory, price points, or what's on sale this week. When an AI can't locate those specifics, it makes wild guesses, quotes a dead directory, or recommends your competitor down the road. StreetTea hands it the facts straight from your aisle.
Does this replace my Google Business Profile?
No. Keep it! Google relies heavily on Maps data, which works fine. StreetTea covers open-web AI assistants—ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Copilot—and packs in granular depth a standard profile misses, like itemized inventory and cash vs. credit pricing.
Is this just SEO?
No. Standard SEO aims to rank links on a web search page. StreetTea makes your business the source an AI quotes when answering directly. Call it AEO or GEO if you want. We call it getting your shop straight into the answer.
Who it's for
What kinds of businesses can use StreetTea?
We started with gas stations and corner convenience shops, which still make up most of our listings. But the approach fits any brick-and-mortar storefront holding real products customers search for: liquor stores, pet shops, auto repair garages, specialty food markets, hardware stores, and more.
Do you work with online-only stores?
Not right now. StreetTea strictly serves businesses with physical doors customers walk through.
My store is already on StreetTea and I never signed up. Why?
We build starter listings using public map data so nearby shops become searchable immediately. They carry clear "unverified" labels. If it's your shop, claim it free, fix mistakes, and upload current photos. Want it gone? Contact us and we'll take it down right away.
How it works
What does "verified" mean?
It means every detail comes straight from the owner or from dated on-site photos—not from user reviews, scraped business pages, or educated guesses. Each listing displays where the data originated and the exact date checked.
What's the difference between claimed, unclaimed, and drafted listings?
- Claimed: The owner manages the profile and keeps data fresh.
- Unclaimed: Photo-verified by our team, but not yet claimed by the owner.
- Drafted: Built from public map records, awaiting on-site verification.
AI assistants detect these tags easily, so accuracy is never exaggerated.
How do I create my listing?
Setup takes just a few minutes:
- Add the basics: Enter your business name, address, hours, and what you sell.
- Snap photos: Use your phone to shoot your storefront, shelves, coolers, menu boards, price signs, and any deal signage. The more of the store you show, the more there is for AI to find.
- We do the rest: StreetTea reads your photos and pulls out the details: products, brands, prices, deals, and amenities. We turn all of it into a clean, structured storefront page and publish it where AI assistants and search engines look. Every detail is stamped with where it came from and when.
No website skills, no forms full of product lists, no SEO. If it's visible in the store, it can end up in the answer.
How do I keep it up to date?
Your listing comes with a private management link. When prices change, a new deal starts, or you add products, update the details or upload new photos. Changes go live right away, and we notify search engines that your listing has changed.
How long before AI assistants pick up my listing?
Usually days, sometimes faster. We notify search engines whenever your page updates, and AI web crawlers scan StreetTea continuously. We can't force a specific assistant's refresh schedule, though.
Can you guarantee ChatGPT will recommend my store?
No. Be skeptical of anyone who promises that. We ensure accurate, readable store data sits ready for AI crawlers. What an assistant recommends depends on the exact question asked and how your shop compares.
Can I pay to rank higher?
No. StreetTea never sells placement or rankings. Listings reflect real-world store conditions. That honesty is precisely why AI platforms cite them.
Pricing and getting started
How much does it cost?
Claiming your listing is free.
What do I need to get started?
Your business name, address, and a few photos from your phone. Claim an existing listing or submit your store from the homepage.
Who's behind StreetTea?
StreetTea is built by an independent operator who runs two convenience stores on Long Island. It started as a way to get our own store found by AI assistants. It worked, so we opened it up.