With ChatGPT increasingly influencing online search behaviour, many websites are seeing declines in traffic and visibility from traditional SEO efforts. The solution? Optimise your presence to rank well in ChatGPT.

For example, if you own a marketing agency, you’d want ChatGPT to recommend your brand when users ask, “What are the best marketing agencies in Australia?”

This article will walk you through how ChatGPT determines which brands to feature and provide actionable tips to enhance your website’s ranking.

How ChatGPT Decides Which Brands to Highlight

Recent research by Neil Patel identified six factors strongly associated with the brands ChatGPT recommends:

  • Brand Mentions
    The frequency with which your brand gets mentioned on other websites.
  • Reviews
    The presence and volume of reviews on third-party platforms like Trustpilot and Yelp.
  • Relevance
    Does your website rank on Google for keywords relevant to the ChatGPT query?
  • Brand Age
    Established brands with a longer track record often feature more prominently.
  • Recommendations
    The number of sites that cite your brand as a solution to a query.
  • Authority
    Metrics like your social media following, the diversity of your platforms, and the backlinks pointing to your site.

Optimising for these factors is critical to secure a spot in ChatGPT’s results. Let’s dive into strategies to help you stand out.

Proven Strategies to Rank Better on ChatGPT

  1. Collaborate with Industry Influencers
    Team up with relevant influencers to amplify brand mentions. Their endorsements boost your credibility and encourage your followers to discuss your brand. When selecting influencers, focus on their alignment with your niche, audience size, and engagement levels.
  2. Publish Unique Data Studies
    Publishing original research positions your brand as a thought leader and generates backlinks, mentions, and authority. Data studies that answer industry questions, offer actionable insights, or fill existing knowledge gaps tend to perform best. Start by identifying questions or challenges in your industry and create research to address them. Surveys and data aggregation can be practical approaches.
  3. Offer Free Tools
    Providing free, valuable tools like calculators, templates, or planners encourages online chatter about your brand. Even simple solutions created with spreadsheets can attract attention if they solve real problems for your audience.
  4. Build Strategic Partnerships and Affiliate Networks
    Collaborate with brands or affiliates that share your target audience to amplify your reach and earn more mentions. Look for complementary products or services your audience already engages with, and explore opportunities to co-market or form referral agreements.
  5. Utilise Personal Brands
    Social media activity is a significant indicator of ChatGPT’s authority. Strengthen your online presence by leveraging the social accounts of your leadership team. Chances are, your senior staff has a much bigger following than your branded social channels. Authentic, relatable content—significant posts that address your audience’s challenges or share personal insights—can drive engagement and build trust.
  6. Generate More Reviews
    Reviews are a powerful signal of trustworthiness. Encourage customers to leave reviews at critical moments, such as after they’ve experienced significant value from your product or service. A follow-up email sequence or incentives like discount codes can significantly boost review volume.

Final Thoughts

ChatGPT is continually evolving, and while its ranking criteria may shift, credibility and authority will always matter. For newer brands, it may take time to see significant results. Still, by implementing these strategies, you’ll build a solid foundation to secure your spot in ChatGPT’s recommendations—and future-proof your brand’s online visibility.