ChatGPT ranked Waterloo #3 and told me exactly why it’ll never be #1.

Waterloo makes good sparkling water. Real distribution, clean ingredients, strong carbonation.

ChatGPT ranked it #3 and told me exactly why it’ll never be #1.

Five prompts. Fresh chat. Flavored sparkling water as the category.

Prompt 1: Best flavored sparkling water brands.

Spindrift at #1 (real fruit juice). LaCroix at #2 (best zero-calorie classic). Waterloo at #3 (best bold flavor).

Prompt 2: What do you think of Waterloo?

“One of the better zero-calorie sparkling waters — but only if you actually want strong flavor without sweetness. If you expect soda-like taste, you’ll be disappointed.”

Prompt 3: Why wasn’t Waterloo ranked #1?

Three reasons, verbatim. No real juice — less authentic than Spindrift. Inconsistent lineup — “some flavors are top-tier, others are widely criticized.” Not a true soda replacement — “brands with juice or minerals feel more complete.”

Useful. But the next answer is the one that matters.

Prompt 4: What would Waterloo need to change to be cited as a top brand?

A five-point product roadmap:

1. Upgrade from “natural flavor” to real ingredients. Add a tier with real juice (5–10 calories) or add minerals like Topo Chico.
2. Cut weak SKUs. Grape and Watermelon named as underperformers. Double down on Lemon-Lime, Summer Berry, Raspberry Nectarine.
3. Improve mouthfeel. Slight salinity or fuller carbonation.
4. Pick one lane. Waterloo is stuck between cheap (LaCroix, Bubly) and premium (Spindrift, Topo Chico). Pick one.
5. Tighten carbonation consistency.

ChatGPT named the weak SKUs. Named the competitors Waterloo is stuck between. Named the product changes that would move it up.

Prompt 5: What sources did you use to evaluate Waterloo?

It disclosed the weights:

• Professional taste tests (Sporked, Tasting Table, Daily Meal) — 50%
• Comparative rankings (Good Housekeeping, Paste, Consumer Reports) — 25%
• Ingredients and brand data — 15%
• Consumer sentiment (Reddit, reviews) — 10%

Half the ranking is driven by three publications. If Waterloo isn’t reviewed favorably there, the fixes in Prompt 4 don’t land.

You don’t need a market research firm to tell you where your product is weak. You need five prompts and ten minutes.

Swap your brand and category into these:

1. Best [your category] brands.
2. What do you think of [your brand]?
3. Why wasn’t [your brand] ranked #1?
4. What would [your brand] need to change to be cited as a top brand?
5. What sources did you use to evaluate [your brand]?

Screenshot every answer. Share with your product team Monday.

If you want to know what ChatGPT is actually saying about your brand, that’s what I do. Email me at newsletter@paidaisearch.com.

Sources: /blog/issue-6-sources