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SEO for SearchGPT: Key Ranking Factors from 13 SEO Experts

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Generative AI is reshaping the search landscape, and platforms like SearchGPT are disrupting the traditional SEO playbook. To provide some much-needed guidance, we tapped 13 SEO experts on the key strategies to rank in this brave new world of AI-powered search.

Some of them were a little...uncertain. Josh Gallant, B2B SEO Consultant at Backstage SEO, explains this as being in a “tin-foil-hat-territory” with how early in the game we are, although he does have some early observations. 

As Garret Sussman, Director of Marketing at iPullRank, puts it, "Nobody knows definitively" what SearchGPT's secret sauce is. But hey, that's just part of the fun, right?

1

What Are the Essential Factors for Appearing in ChatGPT Search Results?

Despite the uncertainties, our panel of SEO experts did manage to uncover a few key factors that can improve your chances of ranking on SearchGPT.

Director of Marketing at IPullRank
We know that ChatGPT leverages Bing's index, content from select news orgs, and some announced (and unannounced) partners. So our best guess is that Bing and content relevance are the name of the game.

We've decided to take a look at the percentage of the most critical factors for ranking in SearchGPT based on the most popular answers. Suprisingly, Bing index was not at the top of the list.

How to rank in SearchGPT: key factors

So buckle up, marketers and SEOs, because it's time to...well, optimize, and learn how to rank in SearchGPT.

Authority and Credibility: Mentions and Links

With SearchGPT, it's all about reputation. The more you’re mentioned, and the better your backlinks, the more likely AI is to pick you up.

Josh Gallant shares some of his early observations for the B2B category and says that appearing in multiple articles is “a big one”:

B2B SEO Consultant at Backstage SEO
If you're in (or own) the current top-ranking page in search too, even better. 

SEO & Growth Advisor at Aura
To rank well in ChatGPT Search, focus on building authority through trusted backlinks, creating in-depth and conversational content, and targeting niche keywords that match user intent closely. SearchGPT favors clear, specific answers and credible sources. 

Co-Founder & CMO at The Multiverse AI
Volume of mentions matters. GPT tends to favor genuinely popular products measured by mentions. Consistent online mentions increase your chances of being referenced by GPT, especially on platforms like Reddit. 

Basically, show up often and show up strong. GPT likes to quote what’s popular, so if everyone’s talking about you, GPT probably will too.

Relevance and User-Centric Language

AI wants content that speaks directly to user questions, in clear, friendly language. It’s like having a conversation — only with, you know, a robot.

SEO Director at Jellyfish
Natural, user-centric language within your content, as well as well-structured templates and UX for easy AI crawling, will be critical in ranking in SearchGPT. 

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SEO Manager at Confidential
Establish content relevance by speaking your client’s language. GPT questions tend to be more specific, favoring long-tail keywords. The more mentions a brand has around a specific topic, the more likely ChatGPT will surface that information.

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Chief Growth Officer & Co-Founder at SEOWind
ChatGPT search uses Bing, so traditional SEO factors like keyword relevance, content quality, and backlinks still play a role. 

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Long-tail keywords, conversational tone, and matching user intent are key here. AI is more “tell me a story” than “give me a keyword dump.”

Comprehensive Content and Structured Answers

When it comes to ranking, structured content is your friend. Give clear answers, use headings and bullet points, and cover your topic like a pro.

Director of SEO and Operations at Growth-onomics
Answering queries in detail and structuring your content with related questions can make a difference. Being mentioned in multiple sources and having a comprehensive approach seems to help with GPT visibility. 

Senior SEO & SEM Analyst at One Identity
Ranking in ChatGPT may benefit from focusing on low-volume, complex queries that are harder for AI to tackle, as well as allowing the GPT Bot to crawl your site. This means that traditional SEO remains essential alongside optimizing for AI-powered search.  

Chief Growth Officer & Co-Founder at SEOWind
Content should directly answer specific questions, and building topical authority across a subject can improve citation likelihood.  

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If you’re looking to score points with SearchGPT, it’s all about delivering detailed, well-organized answers.

Traditional SEO (It’s Not Dead Yet)

Yes, AI is new and exciting, but classic SEO is far from obsolete. Bing’s index still plays a major role, so don’t toss out those traditional tactics just yet.

SEO Team Lead at CVMaker
I believe we should expect ChatGPT Search to take over a significant portion of search in the next 12 months and grow, but the classic way of searching will remain.

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Head of Technical SEO at SALT.agency
Technical SEO won’t die anytime soon, and even if folks do shift to AI, it won’t be an overnight process. For now, staying the course with existing best practices will likely yield the best results.

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Co-Founder at Asset Camp
The traditional SEO factors still count, but more attention will have to be paid to how Bing ranks content, versus Google.

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Although AI search mechanisms like SearchGPT are evolving, the consensus is that traditional SEO principles — like high-quality content, authoritative links, and semantic SEO — remain relevant. So, keep building those links, crafting high-quality content, and optimizing like there’s no tomorrow.

2

How Will ChatGPT Search Impact Businesses' Advertising and SEO Over the Next 12 Months?

If SearchGPT search becomes a big deal, it could mean fresh opportunities (and a few headaches) for digital marketers. 

Director of Marketing at IPullRank
Early adopters will develop content programs that align with ChatGPT's algorithms, potentially reshaping digital marketing strategies as we know them.

SEO & Growth Advisor at Aura
ChatGPT Search could start pulling some organic traffic away from Google, especially for highly specific queries, shifting focus toward providing concise, direct answers.

If we take a look at the critical factors of ranking in ChatGPT itself (hopefully, we're not too late to the party), you'll see a lot of correlation between those and the ones we believe will affect SearchGPT.

How to rank in ChatGPT: case study by Neil Patel

Key factors of ranking in ChatGPT itself based on a case study by NP Digital.

Head of SEO & Founder at Venator Media
Once ads are available on ChatGPT search I believe the cost-per-click will be lower compared to Google’s search engine ads. However, it will also depend on which partners ChatGPT will cooperate with.

Expect an AI-friendly approach to become the norm, with content tailored to the preferences of the ChatGPT bot itself. Companies that get ahead here might just be the ones to beat.

3

How Do You Expect the Role and Importance of Links to Change with ChatGPT Search Compared to Traditional SEO?

Even in the brave new world of AI search, links still matter. But according to Dan Taylor, it’s not about the sheer number anymore. Quality, authority, and trust are where it’s at.

Head of Technical SEO at SALT.agency
Links still matter in ChatGPT Search, but quality seems more critical than sheer volume. In my experience, GPT models prefer citing sources that display authority and relevance over less-known websites.

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SEO Director at Jellyfish
Links will always be important to SEO, but in ChatGPT, the focus is more on mentions and references across high-authority platforms than on direct backlinks.

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Chief Growth Officer & Co-Founder at SEOWind
External links have been declared dead as a ranking factor by Google multiple times, yet from an SEO perspective, we still see the significant impact they have in building domain authority. In my opinion, being cited by a third party remains one of the strongest trust signals, establishing website authority and driving more traffic 

​​​​​​Think of links like good friends — better to have a few loyal ones than a lot of distant acquaintances.

P.S.

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Wrap Up

In the end, ranking on SearchGPT may feel like shooting at a moving target, but don't let that intimidate you. The essential ingredients remain the same: building authority, creating relevance, and delivering clear, user-centric content. 

Think of it as old-school SEO with a modern twist — where mentions, conversational language, and well-structured information have taken center stage. The experts' insights may be mixed, but the overall message is clear: embrace the blend of traditional SEO principles and AI-friendly tactics to improve your chances on this new frontier.

13 SEO Experts answering how to rank in LLMs

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Choose from 36024 high-quality websites and 3426 Telegram channels

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