Hey, want to unlock the secrets to ranking your website on one of the most popular platforms in the world? ChatGPT can be your gateway to millions of potential clients. Let’s dive in!
ChatGPT has quickly become one of the most visited sites globally, with SimilarWeb ranking it as the 28th most popular site in the world. With 1.4 billion visitors per month, people are using it to ask questions, write content, and even create code. More importantly, users are leveraging ChatGPT to find and evaluate companies for hire. Imagine your business being recommended by ChatGPT—this could significantly boost your visibility and client base.
Understanding How ChatGPT Recommends Companies
Before diving into what you need to do to get recommended by ChatGPT, it's crucial to understand its recommendation process. ChatGPT’s current model is trained on vast datasets, but as updates roll out and datasets become more real-time, your chances of being recommended will improve.
When I asked ChatGPT, “What ad agency would you recommend for SEO services?” it came up with a list. Interestingly, some of the results included companies that aren't ad agencies. This shows that while ChatGPT has the potential to provide recommendations, the process is not yet perfect.
Key Factors Influencing ChatGPT Recommendations
To understand how ChatGPT ranks websites, I asked over 100 different questions and analyzed the responses with a statistician and data analyst. Here are the six factors that showed a strong correlation with ChatGPT’s recommendations:
1. Brand Mentions
The frequency with which a brand or product is mentioned across the web plays a significant role. The more often a brand is mentioned, the more likely it is to be recommended by ChatGPT.
2. Reviews
Both the number and quality of reviews matter. High ratings and numerous positive reviews on platforms like TrustPilot, Amazon, and BBB can enhance your chances of being recommended.
3. Relevancy
There is a strong correlation between the keywords in the question asked and the keywords found in content related to the recommended products or companies. Ensure that relevant keywords are present on your web pages.
4. Age
Older products or companies tend to be recommended more often. This could be due to the established reputation and accumulated data over time.
5. Recommendations
ChatGPT often pulls recommendations from other sites that list top products or services, such as "best credit cards for college students." These lists often influence ChatGPT’s suggestions.
6. Authority
The social following, domain authority, and the type of sites mentioning the product or service also matter. Higher authority and trustworthiness lead to more recommendations.
The One Big Issue with ChatGPT
Optimizing for ChatGPT is essential, but there are challenges. One significant issue is that ChatGPT’s index isn’t updated in real-time, which affects the accuracy of its recommendations. During our tests, 27.41% of the responses were inaccurate or not a real solution to the query.
How to Optimize Your Website for ChatGPT
To get recommended by ChatGPT, focus on the six factors mentioned above. Here’s how:
- Brand Mentions: Increase the number of times your brand is mentioned across the web. Leverage PR strategies to get more mentions.
- Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on trusted platforms.
- Relevancy: Use SEO tools like Ubersuggest and Answer the Public to find relevant keywords and incorporate them into your content.
- Age: If you’re a newer company, focus on building a solid reputation and increasing your online presence over time.
- Recommendations: Get your products or services listed on reputable sites that rank or recommend top products.
- Authority: Build your social media presence and aim for high-quality backlinks from authoritative sites.
Conclusion
Link building is not just about quantity but quality and relevance. Follow these best practices to see significant improvements in your Google rankings. Start applying these strategies and watch your site's visibility grow.
How much of your SEO efforts focus on link building? What are your favorite strategies?