How to rank in ChatGPT

How ChatGPT decides who to name

When it searches, ChatGPT retrieves pages from the web and writes from them, often showing sources. When it does not search, it answers from training data. For current recommendations, such as a restaurant or a local service, the search path matters most.

Seven steps

• Make sure you can be found in web search. ChatGPT's search draws on search indexes, so basic SEO applies.
• Allow OpenAI's crawlers in robots.txt if you want to be included.
• State who you are, what you do and where, in plain text on your home and service pages.
• Keep name, address, phone and hours identical on your site, Google Business Profile and directories.
• Collect recent, genuine reviews on the platforms your industry uses.
• Get listed in the roundups and directories that already appear as sources for your category.
• Test with real buyer questions every month and note what changes.

What does not work

Stuffing pages with keywords, publishing large volumes of thin AI-written content, and paying for guaranteed mentions. None of these changes what the model retrieves in a lasting way, and the first two can hurt your search rankings.