Can You Optimize for AI Search Engines Like ChatGPT?
Here's a question we’re starting to hear more and more:
"Can you target AI search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity?"
Short answer? Sort of.
Long answer? Let’s break it down.
AI Search is Here (Kind Of)
Tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Grok, Claude, and Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) are changing the way people discover information. Instead of returning a list of links like traditional search engines, AI tools are now providing direct answers, often pulling from a mix of published sources, internal training data, and real-time web crawls.
The big question is: Can your business show up in those answers?
Right now, there’s no direct or transparent way to "optimize for AI search" in the same way you would for Google search results. Each AI tool is powered by its own large language model (LLM), and the way they retrieve or cite information is proprietary and mostly hidden from public view.
But here’s the good news: the best practices for traditional SEO still carry over, and might matter more than ever.
What You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your Odds
While we can’t directly submit your site to an AI platform for indexing like we can with search engines, we can make your content more likely to be discovered and cited by them. Here’s how:
- Publish content regularly around specific topics you want to be known for
- Use schema markup and clean HTML so your site’s structure is easy for AI crawlers to understand
- Write clearly and factually - AI tools favor content that’s verifiable and sourced
- Get referenced on other reputable websites - citations and backlinks improve trust and visibility
- Stay consistent - Authority builds over time, not overnight
The bottom line: authority-focused SEO is still your best path forward. AI tools are designed to find reliable, accurate information, and that starts with your website being recognized as a credible source.
The Future of AI Search (And How We’re Preparing for It)
There’s a lot we don’t know yet. Every LLM is doing its own thing, and none of them are transparent about how they rank or cite sources. What we do know is that:
- AI search tools are already being layered on top of traditional search engines
- Some are experimenting with source citation (Perplexity does this well)
- There’s no formalized ad platform... yet... but we expect that to change
We’re keeping a close eye on all of this. If (or when) a new standard for “AI SEO” emerges, we’ll adopt it. Fast. That’s what we do.
Let’s Be Real: SEO is Still the Play
We get it, AI is the shiny new thing, and it’s changing fast. But in a world flooded with content, real strategy still wins. Clear writing, strong authority, technical optimization, and a consistent publishing cadence are what get results—no matter what platform is pulling the strings.
If you want your business to stay visible in an AI-powered search world, now’s the time to focus on building a strong SEO foundation. That’s what we do at Hero Agency, and we’re pretty damn good at it.
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