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How to Rank Websites in ChatGPT

Learn how I rank websites in ChatGPT and other AI tools.

Authors
  • avatar
    Name
    AJ Dichmann
    Twitter
  • VP of Digital Strategy at Globe Runner
Table of Contents

ChatGPT is quickly becoming the go-to tool for getting answers online—especially with the release of ChatGPT-4o. While Google is still important, more people are turning to AI tools for fast, conversational search.

That means brands, marketers, and content creators need to understand how to rank in ChatGPT if they want to stay visible in 2025 and beyond.

This guide will break down everything you need to know about AI visibility and what it takes to show up in tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini.

What Does It Mean to “Rank” in ChatGPT?

Unlike Google, ChatGPT doesn’t show a traditional list of 10 blue links. Instead, it gives a summarized answer based on its training data, plugins, browsing tools, and integrated APIs.

But make no mistake—ranking in ChatGPT is real. If the model pulls information from your website, links to your product, or mentions your brand in its response, that’s visibility. That’s traffic. That’s influence.

So the question becomes: how do you train ChatGPT to notice your content?

Let’s break it down.

Understanding How AI Models Use Data

To rank in ChatGPT, it helps to understand where it gets its answers. AI models rely on a mix of:

  • Pre-trained data: This includes books, websites, and public knowledge from before their cut-off date.
  • Live web browsing or plugins: In the case of ChatGPT-4o (when browsing is enabled), it can pull current info directly from live websites.
  • Structured content: Like schema markup, tables, FAQs, and how-to guides.
  • Trusted third-party sources: “Top 10” lists, review sites, news articles, and well-known directories.

In other words, it’s not just about having a website. You need to be everywhere the AI looks—and be easy for the model to understand.

How to Rank in ChatGPT with AI-Friendly SEO

If you want to rank in ChatGPT, your content must be optimized not just for humans—but also for machines.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Write in an AI-Friendly Way

  • Use clear, simple language that models can understand.
  • Break content into short paragraphs, headers, and bullet points.
  • Make sure every page has a strong, relevant H1 tag and clear subheadings.
  • Answer common questions in a conversational tone (similar to how someone might ask ChatGPT).

Example:
Instead of:

“Our solutions offer unmatched vertical scalability and horizontal integration.”

Try:

“Our product grows with your business and works with other tools you already use.”

2. Add Schema Markup

Structured data like Schema.org helps AI know exactly what your content is about. Use it to mark up:

  • FAQs
  • Reviews
  • Products
  • Events
  • How-to steps

Search engines and AI tools both use this data to generate rich answers.

3. Use HTML Tables, Lists, and Definitions

Well-organized formatting helps AI summarize and extract key info.

Example Table:

FeatureBenefit
Free ShippingDelivered in 3–5 days
24/7 SupportChat with a real person anytime
Easy ReturnsNo hassle, 30-day window

Tables like these are easy for LLMs to interpret—and they often show up verbatim in AI responses.

When figuring out how to rank in ChatGPT, don’t ignore the power of external links. ChatGPT (and other AI models) often reference trusted third-party sites instead of linking directly to your homepage.

So you need to be mentioned in places like:

  • Top 10 and “Best of” lists
  • Roundup blog posts
  • Industry directories
  • User forums and Reddit threads
  • Quora or Stack Overflow

Think of it like this: every time your brand or site is referenced in one of these places, it’s another signal that tells the AI:
📌 “This content is legit.”

✅ Pro Tip: Partner with bloggers and creators who write AI-accessible roundup content. These pieces often get picked up in ChatGPT responses.

How to Track Your Visibility in ChatGPT

Since there’s no official “ChatGPT rank tracker” (yet), the best way to track performance is by using AI visibility tools like Brand Visibility. This tool monitors how often your brand appears across different large language models (LLMs), including:

  • ChatGPT
  • Deepseek
  • Claude (Anthropic)
  • Perplexity.ai
  • Google Gemini

Plus tools like:

  • Cursor
  • Microsoft Copilot

You can track:

  • Brand mentions
  • Product visibility
  • Competitor coverage
  • Specific queries and how your site is showing up

By monitoring this data, you can start adjusting your SEO strategy specifically for AI discovery—not just Google.

The Future of Search is AI

Ranking on Google is still important—but if you’re not thinking about how to rank in ChatGPT, you’re missing a major visibility opportunity.

AI tools are becoming the first stop for:

  • Product recommendations
  • How-to guides
  • Service comparisons
  • Brand research

The brands that win in 2025 will be the ones who optimize for both traditional search and conversational AI.

Want help getting your brand found in ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity? Our team is already helping clients show up in AI search results—and we’d love to help you too.

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