How can we ensure our SEO content helps us appear on ChatGPT and Perplexity?

To maximise your chances, explicitly structure your content using common search phrases and add schema markup for FAQs and How-Tos to increase the likelihood of being referenced.

The following text is about the question: “How to optimise your SEO content for AI search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity”

As AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity gain traction, businesses are asking: how can we improve our visibility on these platforms to ensure our SEO content appears in AI search results like ChatGPT and Perplexity? These generative AI search engines are quickly becoming key discovery tools, alongside traditional search engines like Google and Bing.

If you already get inbound traffic through SEO, chances are some of your prospects are discovering you via AI search on platforms such as ChatGPT and Perplexity. Here's how to optimise your content for maximum reach in this new era of AI search and visibility. Generative AI optimisation is now a core part of any forward-looking SEO strategy focused on appearing in ChatGPT and Perplexity answers.

Why AI Search Matters for SEO

AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity increasingly influence how users discover and consume content through AI search. These platforms summarise and cite web content—especially high-ranking and well-structured SEO pages. Optimising for AI citations means improving your chance of being featured as a trusted source in natural language queries used on ChatGPT and Perplexity.

According to a recent study, if your page ranks #1 on Google:

You have a 20% chance of appearing in Perplexity search results

And a 10% chance of being cited by ChatGPT

So, traditional SEO still matters, but with a few strategic tweaks, you can double-dip into both Google and AI search visibility. This shift toward large language model (LLM) visibility rewards content that's both algorithmically sound and conversationally rich—core factors in appearing on ChatGPT and Perplexity.

Core Strategies to Optimise for AI Search Engines

1. Keep Creating High-Quality SEO Content

To increase your visibility in ChatGPT and Perplexity, continue producing high-quality SEO content. AI tools still rely heavily on Google's ranking to decide what’s credible. Your SEO fundamentals—keyword targeting, link building, and technical health—still apply. Strong domain authority and evergreen content increase your chances of being included in AI-generated answers on tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.

2. Use Conversational, Human-Friendly Language

To appear on ChatGPT and Perplexity, make your SEO content sound natural and user-friendly. AI tools prefer content that mimics how people talk and ask questions. Avoid jargon and long-winded sentences. Natural language optimisation helps match the tone and phrasing used in ChatGPT or Perplexity queries.

Do this:

• Write like you speak
• Break up long paragraphs
• Use contractions and questions

3. Showcase Expertise with Sources and Stats

AI search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity favour authoritative, evidence-based content. Sourcing and citations help your site stand out when LLMs like GPT-4 or Claude 3 scan the web for references that they can cite in their answers.

How to show expertise:

• Include statistics and studies
• Reference academic or industry research
• Quote or interview experts

4. Include FAQs in Every Piece of Content

If you want your SEO content to appear in ChatGPT and Perplexity, add structured FAQ sections. LLMs love structured question-answer formats. FAQ content is highly indexable and often surfaces in AI-generated snippets, improving your presence in Perplexity answers and ChatGPT summaries.

Tactics:

• Add 3–5 succinct FAQs per article
• Answer each within the first 1–2 sentences
• Create standalone FAQ pages for depth

How to Appear in ChatGPT’s Integrated Search

To increase your chances of being featured in ChatGPT’s search integration (which uses Bing), make sure your SEO content is optimised for Bing’s indexing and discoverability.

• Ensure your site is indexable by Bing – No robot.txt blocks! Bing discoverability is critical since ChatGPT’s web browsing uses Bing as a backend for fetching SEO content.
• Get featured on high-authority sources like Wikipedia, government sites, or well-respected blogs. These citations improve your chance of appearing in ChatGPT’s generative answers sourced from trusted domains.

How to Optimise for Perplexity.ai

To appear on Perplexity, your SEO content must be clear, fact-based, and easy to cite. Perplexity SEO favours clarity, reliability, and directness in your writing—key traits for AI search inclusion.

Tips:

• Create dedicated “Perplexity Pages” rich in facts and references
• Optimise URLs and metadata clearly
• Build backlinks from credible sites
• Prioritise clarity, citations, and brevity

Tools to Track Your LLM Visibility

To ensure your SEO content shows up in ChatGPT and Perplexity, use tools designed for LLM search tracking.

• Direct Testing: Search for your keywords in ChatGPT and Perplexity in incognito mode. Prompt testing is the most direct way to check LLM search visibility.
• Peec.ai, Profound, Knowatoa: Track how different prompts reference your site. These tools specialise in generative search monitoring.
• Ahrefs and SEMrush: Maintain traditional SEO health and keyword rankings, which still impact AI search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.

TL;DR: AI Search Optimisation Checklist

• ✅ Use conversational, clear language for ChatGPT and Perplexity
• ✅ Keep SEO best practices strong
• ✅ Add FAQs to all articles for better AI citation
• ✅ Reference statistics and experts for credibility
• ✅ Optimise for Bing indexing to get found on ChatGPT
• ✅ Use fact-rich, well-structured content
• ✅ Track visibility on ChatGPT and Perplexity with monitoring tools

AI Search Optimization FAQs

1. Does ranking on Google affect your visibility on ChatGPT or Perplexity?
   Yes. High-ranking pages are more likely to be cited. A #1 Google ranking gives you a 20% chance on ChatGPT and 10% on Perplexity.
2. What kind of content do AI search tools prefer?
   Conversational, expert-led, and structured content that answers questions clearly and cites reputable sources—perfect for ChatGPT and Perplexity visibility.
3. How do I appear in ChatGPT’s search results?
   Ensure your content is discoverable by Bing and referenced on high-authority platforms like Wikipedia to be cited in ChatGPT’s AI-generated responses.
4. What’s different about optimising for Perplexity.ai?
   Perplexity values citation-rich, factual content. Backlinks and metadata matter more than traditional UX or branding for getting into Perplexity search results.
5. Can I monitor how my site shows up in AI tools?
   Yes. Use tools like Peec.ai or manually test via incognito prompts on ChatGPT or Perplexity to track where your SEO content appears.

‍