I often find myself asking Chat GPT a question rather than just searching for something on Google.
I’m sure you do too.
It’s 2026, and visibility on Google isn’t everything. The real money comes in when answer engines start pulling you into their answers – even if that doesn’t always translate into sales.
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini etc. are all little search engines in their own right.
And to get the most out of your presence on the internet, you need to optimize for them as well.
Luckily, doing so isn’t all that much different from traditional SEO.
Let me show you how.
Link building cheat sheet
Why Should You Care About Ranking on ChatGPT?
A few years ago, ranking on Google felt like the finish line. Today, it’s just one piece of the puzzle.
More and more people are skipping traditional search engines entirely and going straight to Chat GPT, Claude, Gemini, or whatever answer engine they have built into their phone, browser, or car.
Especially with voice search and AI mode.
When someone asks a question out loud, they’re not scrolling search results. They’re listening to one answer.
And that answer usually comes from an AI.
If your brand isn’t part of that ChatGPT response, you’re invisible at that moment. No blue links. No second chances.
What makes this even more important is that these tools aren’t niche anymore. ChatGPT is already a default assistant for research, recommendations, comparisons, and buying decisions for tons of users.
People ask it what tool to use, which service is best, or how to solve a problem instead of typing the same query into Google.
That shift alone should be enough to get your attention.
But here’s the part most people miss.
Google is doing the exact same thing.
Google’s AI overviews work very similarly to ChatGPT and other answer engines. They look at top-ranking pages, extract the clearest answers, and surface them directly in the search results.
Different interface, same idea.
Which means this isn’t about optimizing for one platform.
If you optimize your content to be clear, trustworthy, and easy for AI to quote, you’re not just improving rankings on ChatGPT. You’re improving your chances of showing up in Google AI overviews, voice search answers, and pretty much every other answer engine at the same time.
It’s a multiplier effect.
Instead of fighting for clicks on one search engine, you’re putting your brand in front of users everywhere they ask questions.
Text search. Voice search. AI assistants. Summaries. Overviews.
All that visibility stacks up, even if it does not easily translate into quantifiable metrics like clicks or sales.
How Does ChatGPT SEO Work?
From a bird’s-eye view, ChatGPT SEO isn’t some mysterious new thing. It’s just SEO… with a different end goal.
You have to understand how ChatGPT and other answer engines actually work.
It doesn’t magically invent answers out of thin air. It looks for information that already exists on the web and then generates a response based on that.
In practice, that usually means content that already ranks, especially in the top 10.
Here’s the important part.
It doesn’t even need to be your own content.
Even if that page belongs to someone else, ChatGPT can still pull you into the answer.
A tools list. A comparison article. A “best software” roundup. A quote in a guide.
That’s precisely how I got ChatGPT to quote us for outreach and link building tools-related queries:
Contrary to popular belief, brand mentions and backlinks have become so powerful in the age of answer engines.
The AI isn’t just looking at your site. It’s looking at the entire page one ecosystem around a topic.
But being in the top 10 is only step one.
Once ChatGPT (or Google’s AI overview) has a pool of trusted sources, it still needs to decide what to quote.
This works very similarly to featured snippets. AI answers are essentially multiple featured snippets stitched together: a short introductory paragraph, a list or comparison, sometimes a table, and often a video when it makes sense.
Answer engine optimization essentially boils down to optimizing for each of these types of snippets.
Informational content should answer the question immediately after the heading in a short, clear paragraph. Commercial content should make prices, features, and differences obvious at a glance. If an AI can lift a section of your page and reuse it without rewriting, you’re doing answer engine optimization right.
How to Get Quoted By ChatGPT
Get Brand Mentions and Backlinks to Rank in the Top 10
If there’s one thing that hasn’t changed with the rise of answer engines, it’s this: links are still crucial for rankings.
ChatGPT, Google AI overviews, and every other answer engine all rely on Google’s ranking systems as a trust layer.
When content quality is similar (and it usually is among top results), links are the deciding factor.
They’re still one of the strongest signals of authority and credibility in Google’s algorithm, and that directly influences which pages make it into the top 10.
And if you’re not in the top 10, you’re almost never seen.
The process of building them is still fairly straightforward, at least in theory. You find relevant sites that already rank or have authority in your niche, identify the right contacts, reach out with a personalized pitch, and secure a mention or link where it makes sense.
In practice, that’s where most people and businesses get stuck.
Prospecting takes time. Outreach takes experience. And scaling it without burning bridges or spamming inboxes is hard.
That’s exactly why we built Respona.
Our done-for-you link building service helps you earn high-quality backlinks and brand mentions on sites that actually move the needle for rankings and AI visibility. We handle everything: prospecting, contact discovery, outreach, follow-ups, and placements: all essential SEO tasks that drive results.
If you want your brand to rank in the top 10 and start getting quoted by ChatGPT, Google AI overviews, and other answer engines, this is the fastest way to get there.
Sign up for Respona and let us build the links that get you quoted.
Optimize Content for AI Overviews
If you want to get quoted by ChatGPT, you have to optimize for Google’s AI overviews first.
They run on the same logic.
AI overviews are essentially an evolution of featured snippets.
Instead of pulling one block of content, Google now scans the top 10 results and assembles an AI-generated answer made up of multiple snippet types: a short paragraph, a list or comparison, sometimes a table, and often a video.
ChatGPT and other answer engines work the same way. Different interface, same building blocks.
That’s why optimizing for AI overviews comes down to structure and clarity.
Each section of your content should answer one specific keyword query immediately after the heading.
Informational sections need a concise 40–60 word paragraph that can stand on its own.
List-style content should be short, clean, and placed directly under a clear header.
Comparison-heavy or commercial content works best in real HTML tables with schema markup that clearly show prices, features, or descriptions without extra fluff.
Video also plays a big role here. For how-to and tutorial queries, AI overviews often pair a quoted paragraph with a video clip. If you have structured, step-by-step content and a relevant video, your chances of being pulled into the overview increase significantly.
One last thing that matters more than most people and SEO professionals think: your content has to sound human and maintain your brand voice.
Over-polished or unedited AI generated content might rank, but it rarely gets quoted. AI overviews favor clear, natural answers: the kind that make sense instantly and reflect authentic content creation rather than robotic content writing.
Think of it as applying content marketing principles to AI optimization: create valuable, user-focused material that serves your audience while following an SEO strategy designed for both human readers and AI extraction.
Tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics can help you track which of your blog posts are gaining visibility, while keyword research helps identify the right topics and queries to target. You can even use ChatGPT prompts to generate content ideas, though the final output should always be reviewed and refined by humans to ensure quality and alignment with your marketing strategy.
For local businesses and companies running Google Ads, this approach to SEO content also improves user experience across all marketing channels, from social media to traditional search engines, ultimately driving better website traffic and supporting your broader digital marketing efforts.
Get Listings on All Relevant Platforms
One of the easiest wins for ChatGPT SEO is also one of the most overlooked: getting listed on platforms where answer engines already look for trusted data.
AI systems don’t just pull information from blog posts. They rely heavily on structured, authoritative platforms that aggregate reviews, comparisons, and company data.
For SaaS businesses, that means sites like G2, Capterra, Clutch, Product Hunt, and similar directories. These platforms already rank extremely well and are often part of the top 10 results for commercial and comparison queries.
If your product is listed there, you’re instantly in the AI’s line of sight.
When ChatGPT or Google AI overviews answer questions like “best outreach tools,” “top SEO software,” or “best link building services,” they frequently pull from these listings. Even a short description, feature list, or review snippet can be enough for your brand to be mentioned in an AI-generated answer.
This doesn’t only apply to SaaS.
Local businesses benefit from Google Business Profiles, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and industry-specific directories. Agencies and service providers should be listed on Clutch, UpCity, DesignRush, and similar platforms. Ecommerce brands often get picked up through marketplaces, review sites, and comparison engines.
Link building cheat sheet
Now Over to You
Answer engines aren’t a future trend anymore. They’re already how millions of people discover tools, services, and solutions every single day.
If you want to get quoted by ChatGPT, Google AI overviews, and every other answer engine that matters, the formula is simple: rank in the top 10, structure your content so AI can extract answers easily using proper headings and schema, and build real authority through brand mentions and quality links.
That last part is where most businesses fall behind—and where a solid content strategy and SEO optimization make all the difference.
High-quality mentions don’t happen by accident. They’re earned through consistent, manual outreach on sites that already rank and already have Google’s trust. This is core to any effective marketing strategy, whether you’re focused on content marketing, SEO efforts, or broader digital marketing initiatives.
That’s exactly what we do at Respona.
If you want a hands-off way to build the kind of authority that helps you rank, get quoted, and stay visible across all answer engines; from traditional search engines to AI mode assistants- sign up for our done-for-you link building service.
We’ll handle the hard part while you focus on growing your business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is ChatGPT SEO?
ChatGPT SEO is the process of optimizing your brand and content so it gets quoted or mentioned in ChatGPT’s answers. It relies on traditional SEO foundations like rankings, links, and authority, combined with content structured for AI extraction.
Do I need to rank #1 to get quoted by ChatGPT?
No. In most cases, ranking in the top 10 is enough. ChatGPT and Google AI overviews pull answers from multiple high-ranking pages, not just the top result.
Can ChatGPT quote my brand even if my site doesn’t rank?
Yes. If your brand is mentioned on another page that ranks in the top 10, ChatGPT can still include you in its answer. That’s why brand mentions are so powerful.
Are links still important for answer engines?
Absolutely. When content quality is similar, links are often the deciding ranking factor. Strong link profiles increase your chances of being considered by both Google AI overviews and ChatGPT.
What’s the fastest way to improve my visibility in answer engines?
Building high-quality mentions on authoritative sites is the fastest way. That’s what helps you break into the top 10 and get pulled into AI-generated answers consistently.
