How to Rank on ChatGPT: Can This Replace Traditional SEO?

ChatGPT is increasingly becoming a go-to source for information, redirecting traffic away from traditional search engines like Google. As a result, many websites are experiencing a lower return on investment (ROI) from their SEO efforts. 

Another thing to notice is that ChatGPT is not technically a search engine. It’s an LLM-based generative artificial intelligence chatbot. 

It’s the Internet’s equivalent of reaching over to your coworkers and asking whether they remember that piece of PHP code that causes the form to perform that thing.

To counteract this shift of plummeting ROI from SEO efforts, businesses need to focus on ranking in ChatGPT instead of using traditional search engines.

In this blog post, we’ll go over everything you need to know about how ChatGPT works and how to use it to get to the ‘first page’ of results. Let’s not spend any time and get right into the world of ChatGPT search, where you can stop seeking and start winning!

1. Why Ranking on ChatGPT Matters

ChatGPT is among the most popular websites worldwide. According to SimilarWeb, it is the 28th most popular website worldwide.

It has 1.4 billion visitors per month, and individuals use it to ask questions or execute jobs ranging from generating articles to creating code.

For example, if you own a recruiting firm, you want ChatGPT to list your brand when someone asks, “What are the best recruiting firms?” This visibility can exponentially increase traffic to your site and boost brand awareness.

So when your website ranks high on ChatGPT, it’s a huge deal! Why?

It means that your website has been spotted by an AI that is paving the way for how we use the internet. Being on ChatGPT’s top list is like being a part of the future of online information discovery.

ChatGPT serves as a beacon, directing individuals to the greatest areas. So, if your company makes it onto ChatGPT’s prestigious list, it’s a huge deal! It’s like getting a thumbs up from a trusted buddy, and who doesn’t appreciate those recommendations?

Ranking in ChatGPT is now a surefire way to stand out in today’s crowded digital industry. The higher your score, the more likely people will discover your agency and spread the word.

So, how do you get the golden VIP ticket?

To do so, we need to know how ChatGPT selects its top lists. 

2. How ChatGPT Ranks Websites

Neil Patel recently conducted a study analyzing over 80 factors that influence ChatGPT’s brand recommendations. 

The study identified six key factors strongly correlated with higher rankings in ChatGPT’s results:

1. Brand Mentions: The frequency with which your brand is discussed on other websites plays a significant role. The more your brand is mentioned, the more likely ChatGPT is to recognize and recommend it.
2. Reviews: The presence and quantity of reviews on third-party platforms (e.g., G2, TrustPilot, Yelp) are crucial. A high number of positive reviews increases your brand’s credibility and visibility.
3. Relevancy: Your brand must rank well in Google for keywords related to ChatGPT prompts. For instance, if the prompt is “What are the best accounting software platforms?” your brand should rank for “best accounting software” in Google search.
4. Age: ChatGPT frequently mentions older, more established companies. Longevity often correlates with reliability and trustworthiness.
5. Recommendations: The number of recommendations from other websites is also a key factor. When multiple reputable sources suggest your brand as a solution, ChatGPT is more likely to include it in its responses.
6. Authority: Your brand’s authority is measured by the number of social media followers across various platforms and the number of backlinks to your website. Greater authority signals to ChatGPT that your brand is influential and trustworthy.

3. How to Rank Your Website in ChatGPT?

A. Collaborate With Influencers

Collaborating with influencers is an excellent approach to enhance brand mentions because you will not only profit from their mention, but their followers are also likely to share and discuss your brand.

These mentions send a favorable signal to ChatGPT that you are an authority in the space and that you are helping more people learn about your company.

The first step in influencer marketing is selecting the appropriate person to collaborate with. Some variables to consider while picking an influencer are:

• Audience size
• Relevancy
• Audience loyalty

To find the greatest influencers to collaborate with, ask ChatGPT for a list of the best influencers in your field. 

These are excellent potential partners because ChatGPT already considers them to be authority people in your industry, so a mention from them would undoubtedly increase your authority in the eyes of ChatGPT.

Upon asking for a list of the top influencers in the gardening niche, ChatGPT gave this as a response:

You can further refine the list with prompts like “list micro-influencers” or “budding influencers” based on the parameters you are looking for. 

To find the best influencers to partner with, you can:

1. Ask ChatGPT for Recommendations: Request a list of the biggest influencers in your industry. These influencers are already recognized as authorities by ChatGPT, so their endorsement can significantly enhance your brand’s credibility. For example, ChatGPT might provide names like Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman, or Ramit Sethi when asked about popular personal finance influencers.
2. Explore Micro-Influencers: If your budget doesn’t allow collaboration with top-tier influencers, ask ChatGPT for a list of micro-influencers. These influencers typically have smaller, highly engaged audiences. You can further refine the search by specifying the platform (e.g., Instagram, YouTube, blogs) or niche (e.g., “personal finance influencers for moms”).
3. Use Influencer Marketing Platforms like AspireIQ, Upfluence, and HypeAuditor to help you find influencers. These tools provide verified follower statistics and simplify the collaboration process, from content creation to payment.

Ranking Factors Collaborating With The Influencers Improves:

1. Brand Mentions: Increased mentions from influencer collaborations signal to ChatGPT that your brand is widely recognized and discussed.
2. Recommendations: Influencers’ endorsements serve as recommendations, reinforcing your brand’s reputation and reliability.
3. Authority: Collaborating with respected influencers enhances your brand’s authority. Their endorsement boosts your credibility in the eyes of ChatGPT and potential customers.

B. Publish Original Data Studies

Publishing original data studies is an excellent strategy to gain more links, brand mentions, and authority. These studies provide valuable insights that others can reference, helping to establish your brand as a thought leader in your industry.

Linking to data studies, like Neil Patel’s, offers helpful information that enhances content quality. Original research can attract attention, drive engagement, and earn citations from other industry players, contributing to higher brand authority and visibility.

Critical Elements of Successful Original Data Studies

Not all original research studies perform equally well. The most shared and linked-to studies typically:

1. Answer a Frequently Asked Question: Focus on questions many people in your industry are curious about.
2. Fill a Knowledge Gap: Choose topics without readily available answers. Originality is key.
3. Provide Actionable Insights: Ensure the research offers practical recommendations that readers can implement.

Judging a Research Study

To differentiate between a good research idea and a mediocre one, consider the following steps:

1. Identify Strategic Questions: Write down a list of key questions relevant to your industry and audience.
2. Assess Importance: Evaluate the criticality of each question. How significant is the answer, and will it provide valuable insights?
3. Determine Feasibility: Consider how you can gather the necessary data. Can you conduct surveys, analyze existing data, or run experiments?

Example Comparison

Good Research Idea: “What are the most effective content marketing strategies for small businesses in 2024?” This question is highly relevant, needs more comprehensive answers, and offers actionable insights.

Mediocre Research Idea: “How many hours do marketers spend on social media daily?” This question needs to be more critical, may have existing answers, and offers limited actionable insights.

Methods for Conducting Research

1. Surveys: Conduct surveys to gather primary data from your audience or industry professionals. Tools like SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, and Typeform can facilitate this process.
2. Secondary Data Analysis: Analyze existing data from reliable sources. For example, Neil Patel’s study gathered and analyzed over 80 factors to derive insights.
3. Case Studies: Collect and analyze case studies within your industry to identify patterns and best practices.

Ranking Factors Improved by Original Data Studies:

• Brand Mentions: Unique and valuable research will likely be referenced by others, increasing mentions of your brand across the web.
• Recommendations: Quality research can lead to recommendations from other websites, further boosting your brand’s credibility and authority.
• Authority: Producing original studies positions your brand as an industry leader, enhancing overall authority and trustworthiness.

C. Provide Free Tools

Offering free tools is a powerful strategy to increase brand visibility and engagement. People are likelier to share helpful free tools with their friends, leading to more online discussions about your brand. 

Free tools attract attention and create user value, increasing brand mentions and backlinks. They position your brand as a helpful resource, enhancing your authority and credibility in your industry.

For example, Ahrefs offers a free Chrome Extension, which has garnered numerous links and brand mentions due to its utility.

Critical Elements of Successful Free Tools

Not all free tools are equally effective. To ensure your tool attracts links and brand mentions, it should:

1. Solve a Painful Problem: Address a significant pain point for your target audience.
2. Be Unique: Ensure there aren’t already numerous similar tools available. Your tool should offer something unique or significantly better than existing solutions.

• Example of a Successful Tool:

The Ahrefs Chrome extension is successful because it solves multiple significant user problems. It allows them to view competitors’ traffic, backlinks, and authority. The extension leverages data Ahrefs already collects for its paid services, making it difficult for competitors to replicate.

• Example of a Less Successful Tool:

Publishing a macro calculator might earn few links or mentions because many similar calculators are already available. To stand out, your tool needs to offer something unique that existing tools don’t provide.

How to Create Effective Free Tools

1. Leverage Proprietary Data: Use unique data you already have and turn it into actionable insights. For instance, if you can access industry-specific data, create a tool that helps users analyze or visualize this data.
2. Develop Simple Tools: Even if you lack the resources for complex development, you can create valuable tools using spreadsheets. Examples include calculators, templates, or checklists.
3. Release Product Features for Free: Consider offering a basic version of a premium feature for free. This provides value and serves as a marketing tool for your paid products.

Ranking Factors Improved by Free Tools

1. Brand Mentions: Useful tools are likely to be shared and discussed, increasing mentions of your brand.
2. Recommendations: As people find value in your tool, they will recommend it to others, boosting your brand’s credibility and reach.
3. Authority: Offering unique and valuable tools positions your brand as a leader in your industry, enhancing your overall authority.

D. Build Partnerships/Affiliate Networks

Partnering with other brands or affiliates that already reach your target audience is a highly effective strategy for earning brand mentions and links. 

This approach leverages your partners’ established audiences and credibility to enhance your brand’s visibility and authority.

Steps to Build Partnerships and Affiliate Networks

1. Identify Complementary Products/Services: Identify products and services your target audience frequently uses. Look for brands that complement your offerings rather than compete with them.

Example: Kajabi, an online course platform, could partner with Webinar Ninja, a webinar software, as both services cater to individuals running online courses.

2. Establish the Partnership Structure: Determine how the partnership will be mutually beneficial. Common structures include:
   • Affiliate Programs: Each brand promotes the other’s products and offers an affiliate commission for any sales generated through these promotions.
   • Collaborative Content: Create joint content, such as webinars, e-books, or blog posts, highlighting how your products work together to solve customer problems.

3. Reach Out to Affiliate Blogs: Contact blogs and websites that focus on your niche and ask them to include your product or service in their recommendations lists or write a detailed review.

Example: If you have a new dog toy, contact popular pet blogs and request inclusion in their recommendation lists or ask them to publish a detailed review.

Benefits and Implementation Strategies

1. Affiliate Programs

Affiliate programs can significantly expand the reach and enhance your brand’s visibility. By offering a commission for each sale generated by an affiliate, you incentivize other brands and influencers to promote your products.

Implementation Tips:

• Choose the Right Partners: Select affiliates whose audience aligns closely with your target market.
• Provide Marketing Materials: Provide your affiliates with high-quality marketing materials, like banners, social media posts, and email templates.
• Track Performance: Use affiliate tracking software in order to monitor the sales and manage payments efficiently.

2. Collaborative Content

Creating content in collaboration with other brands can drive engagement and provide value to your shared audience.

Implementation Tips:

• Joint Webinars: Host webinars where experts from both brands discuss relevant topics and demonstrate how your products can be used together.
• Co-Authored Blog Posts: Write articles that combine insights from both companies, offering comprehensive solutions to common customer challenges.
• Video Collaborations: Produce videos showcasing how your products complement each other to achieve better results.

3. Affiliate Blogs and Reviews

Reaching out to blogs and websites specializing in your industry can enhance your brand’s credibility and visibility.

Implementation Tips:

• List Inclusions: Request inclusion in relevant product recommendation lists. This can drive significant traffic and generate sales.
• Product Reviews: Offer your product for review. A positive review from a reputable blog can boost your credibility and attract more customers.

Ranking Factors Improved by Partnerships and Affiliate Networks

• Brand Mentions: Partnerships and affiliate promotions increase the number of times your brand is mentioned online.
• Recommendations: Collaborative content and affiliate reviews act as endorsements, boosting your brand’s credibility.
• Authority: Associating with established brands and being featured in reputable blogs enhances your authority and trustworthiness.

E. Build a Personal Brand

Engagement on social media is a crucial signal that ChatGPT considers when ranking websites. However, most branded social media accounts need more engagement. People typically use social media to connect with friends and other individuals rather than brands.

Personal brands tend to engage audiences more effectively than corporate accounts. By leveraging your personal social media accounts or those of your executives, you can build stronger connections with your audience. Occasionally, you can use these personal accounts to promote your products or services.

Example: Matt Gray has built an eight-figure business primarily through his brand by engaging directly with his audience and sharing valuable insights.

Steps to Build a Personal Brand

1. Identify Your Target Audience: Determine your audience’s demographics and pain points.
2. Identify Your Expertise: Pinpoint the problems your audience faces that you have solved. This will guide your content topics and ensure they are relevant and valuable.
3. Draw from Personal Experience: Share how you solved these problems, including the systems and processes you used and the mistakes you made. Personal stories and experiences resonate well with audiences.

Creating Good Content For Your Personal Brand

1. Content Ideas: Identify content ideas by understanding your audience’s needs and your expertise. Engagingly package your insights.
2. Consistency: Post content consistently. The frequency and regularity of the posts are crucial for maintaining engagement.
3. Focus on One Platform: Start by focusing on a single social media platform (e.g., X, LinkedIn, Instagram) to build your presence. Dedicate a few hours each day or once a week to create and schedule content.
4. Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments on your posts. Engagement with the audience builds a sense of community and trust. You can also send automated DMs to ask followers about their problems and what they want to learn from you. This interaction provides valuable audience insights for future content.

Examples of Personal Branding

For inspiration, study successful personal branding examples and analyze why they work. Here are a few tips to create excellent content:

• Identify Your Target Audience: Understand who they are and their pain points.
• Identify Your Expertise: Focus on problems your audience faces that you’ve solved.
• Draw from Personal Experience: Share how you solved these problems, the systems and processes you used, and the mistakes you made.

Tips for Social Media Success

1. Platform Focus: Focus on one platform where your target audience is most active. This allows you to concentrate your efforts and build a strong presence.
2. Content Schedule: Block off time each day or week to create content. Aim to post at least four times weekly, though more frequent posting is better.
3. Engage with Comments: Always respond to comments on the posts to foster a sense of community and engagement.
4. Use Automated DMs: Send automated direct messages to learn more about your audience’s struggles and what they want to learn from you. This helps you gather valuable audience insights for future content.

Ranking Factors Improved by Building a Personal Brand

1. Brand Mentions: Increased engagement on personal accounts leads to more mentions of your brand.
2. Recommendations: Personal endorsements and insights generate more recommendations from followers.
3. Authority: Personal brands that provide valuable content and engage with audiences build strong authority and credibility.

By strategically building and maintaining a personal brand, you can significantly enhance the brand’s visibility, credibility, and authority, increasing the likelihood that ChatGPT will recommend your brand in its responses.

F. Produce Content Related to Your Core Keyword

If your website ranks well for your main keyword in search engines, ChatGPT considers this a positive signal of your authority on that topic. 

Consequently, ChatGPT is more likely to recommend your brand in its results. Therefore, producing content related to your core industry keywords and optimizing it for search engines is crucial.

Why Focus on Core Keywords?

Ranking well for your main keywords establishes your site as an authority in your niche. This recognition extends to ChatGPT, which uses search engine rankings to signal trustworthiness and expertise.

Example: If you operate a website about Disney travel and aim to appear in ChatGPT’s responses for “What are the best Disney travel websites?”, you should create blog posts about related topics such as the best restaurants at Disney, the best hotels at Disney, and a Disney packing list. 

Ranking for these topics in search engines signals to ChatGPT that your site is a comprehensive resource on Disney travel.

Steps to Produce Content for Core Keywords

1. Identify Core Keywords: Use keyword research tools to identify the main keywords in your industry. Focus on those that align closely with your business goals and audience interests.
2. Create Content Clusters: Develop content clusters around these core keywords. A content cluster includes a pillar page covering a broad topic and several related articles that link back to the pillar page.
3. Optimize for SEO: Ensure that your content is optimized for the search engines. This includes using the target keyword strategically, such as in the title, headings, meta descriptions, and throughout the content.
4. Provide Valuable Information: Write detailed, informative, and engaging content that provides value to your readers. Answer FAQs and solve common problems.
5. Include Unique Insights: Share unique opinions or insights on the topics you cover. This makes your content stand out and encourages others to share it, increasing your brand’s reach and awareness.

Practical Example

Disney Travel Website:

1. Core Keyword: “Disney travel”
2. Content Clusters:
   • Pillar Page: Ultimate Guide to Disney Travel
   • Related Articles:
     • Best Restaurants at Disney
     • Best Hotels at Disney
     • Disney Packing List
     • Tips for Visiting Disney with Kids
     • How to Save Money on Disney Tickets
3. SEO Optimization:
   • Title: Include the core keyword and make it engaging.
   • Headings: Use H1 for the main title and H2s and H3s for subheadings, incorporating keywords naturally.
   • Meta Descriptions: Write compelling meta descriptions with the keyword to improve click-through rates.
   • Content: Ensure the keyword density is natural, and the content is comprehensive and informative.
4. Valuable Information:
   • Provide detailed reviews of restaurants and hotels.
   • Offer packing tips that save time and money.
   • Share personal experiences and recommendations.
5. Unique Insights:
   • Share lesser-known tips and tricks for navigating Disney parks.
   • Offer personal anecdotes and stories that engage readers.

Ranking Factors Improved by Producing Core Keyword Content

• Authority: Consistently producing high-quality, relevant content establishes your site as an authority in your niche.
• Relevancy: Covering a range of topics related to your core keyword increases your site’s relevancy, making it more likely to rank well in search engines and be recommended by ChatGPT.

G. Speak at Events

Speaking at events is a key strategy for establishing yourself as an authority in your industry, garnering brand mentions, and increasing your visibility to ChatGPT and your target audience. When you speak at events, you earn brand mentions from the event hosts and benefit from the promotion by affiliated brands.

Why Speak at Events?

1. Authority Building: Speaking engagements showcase your expertise and position you as a thought leader.
2. Brand Mentions: Events often promote their speakers, increasing brand visibility and mentions.
3. Content Repurposing: Record your keynote speeches and repurpose them across various channels to extend your reach and earn more brand mentions.

Example: BrightLocal effectively promotes its speakers, gaining visibility and credibility within its industry.

Steps to Secure Speaking Engagements

1. Identify Relevant Events: Research popular conferences and summits in your industry. Consider both local and online events.
2. Apply to Speak: Many events allow you to apply as a speaker through a formal application process. Tailor your proposals to demonstrate your expertise and how your presentation aligns with the event’s theme.
3. Host Your Event: Consider hosting your event, such as a webinar or Q&A session. Reach out to community leaders or group administrators to propose collaboration.
4. Repurpose Content: Record your speaking engagements and repurpose them across social media and other content channels to maximize brand exposure.

Benefits of Speaking at Events

1. Direct Audience Engagement: Connect with your target audience in person or virtually, building rapport and trust.
2. Brand Visibility: Gain exposure to a broader audience through event promotions and affiliated brands.
3. Authority Building: Establish yourself as a credible authority in your field, enhancing your reputation and influence.
4. Content Creation: Generate valuable content from your speeches, which can be repurposed for blog posts, podcasts, videos, and social media content.

Practical Tips for Event Speaking Success

1. Prepare Thoroughly: Research your audience and tailor your presentation to their interests and needs.
2. Engage with Attendees: Interact with attendees before and after your speech to build connections and answer questions.
3. Promote Your Speaking Engagements: Leverage your social media channels and email list to announce your speaking engagements and encourage attendance.
4. Follow-Up: After the event, follow up with attendees and continue the conversation to nurture relationships and establish your authority.

Ranking Factors Improved by Speaking at Events

1. Brand Mentions: Event promotions and affiliated brands increase brand visibility and mention.
2. Relevancy: Speaking engagements demonstrate your expertise in your niche, making your brand more relevant to ChatGPT and your audience.
3. Recommendations: Inviting to speak at events is a form of endorsement, enhancing your credibility and authority.
4. Authority: Establishing yourself as a thought leader through speaking engagements strengthens your brand’s authority in your industry.

4. Summarizing How to Rank on ChatGPT

ChatGPT is continually expanding, and while the specific characteristics it considers when deciding which websites to include in its results may change, it is constantly optimizing to display the most reliable businesses.

Even though ChatGPT brings innumerable benefits into SEO strategies, including faster creation of content and innovative discovery of keywords, it still does not replace traditional SEO in its literal sense. 

If combined with classic SEO tactics, the use of ChatGPT may unlock new opportunities for online visibility and engagement. Because all of these strategies are intended to boost your brand’s overall authority, they will work well into the future, even as ChatGPT grows.

Suggested read: The Rise of Ecommerce Chatbots: Enhancing Customer Experience with AI

5. Common Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on How to Rank on ChatGPT

Will obtaining more backlinks help my ranking in ChatGPT responses?

Backlinks are an important SEO factor. However, they have no direct effect on rankings in ChatGPT answers. My responses are based on the content and information contained in my training data, not on real-time indicators such as backlinks.

Can paying for ads or promos affect my rank in ChatGPT responses?

Paying for adverts or promos has no effect on the ranking of ChatGPT’s responses. My outputs are generated using the dataset on which I was trained, and they are unaffected by advertising or promotional activity.

Is ChatGPT using real-time search engine data to rank websites?

ChatGPT does not employ real-time search engine results. My responses are based on pre-existing data and do not represent current internet or search engine rankings.

Can I actively influence how my website ranks in ChatGPT responses?

ChatGPT’s responses are based on a large dataset that was trained on and includes data up to April 2023. This means that the rankings in my responses are unaffected by real-time changes or direct actions. They represent the data available as of the last training update.