Getting Visible in ChatGPT: New Ranking Factors for AI Visibility

I hope you enjoy reading this article. If you need support with SEO, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or Landing Pages click on the link.

When I was working for the Yellow Pages back in the 1990s, I often heard entrepreneurs talking about registering domain names and building their first websites. My boss at the time dismissed the internet as a kind of Teletext 2.0—a mere hype. We now know better.

Soon, search engines like Altavista, Yahoo, and Netscape emerged. I personally used Google from day one—not because of the design, but because of the speed. While others relied heavily on appearance and advertising, Google immediately delivered relevant results. I was sold.

Back then, people thought online visibility came down to stuffing keywords onto a white page and securing thousands of backlinks. But I instantly saw it differently: Google had an algorithm, and that meant you gained online visibility based on value, authority, and structure.

In 2008, I founded SEOlab, one of the first specialised SEO agencies in the Netherlands. Since then, I have been helping companies grow through smart strategy, content, and technology. Visibility has always been the common thread.

And now, 25 years later, we stand again on the eve of a major shift.

The Great Shift: From Searching to Answering

Where people used to "Google everything," they are now increasingly using ChatGPT or Google Gemini. They aren't looking for a list of links; they want an immediate, clear answer. The way people search is fundamentally changing. And this raises a new question that I frequently hear from clients:

Is this the end of Google?

Perhaps not literally. But traditional search behaviour is changing fundamentally. And there is an added complication: Google's business model is built on Google Ads. The first search results are increasingly sponsored placements, and younger generations, in particular, see right through that. They don't want ads. They want the right answer straight away.

This is precisely where an AI like ChatGPT gains ground. Not with ads, but with context. Not with ranking factors, but with knowledge, authority, and logical connections.

Preparing for the AI Visibility Era

At ANA Digital Media, we treat this shift as the evolution of SEO, not its demise. Visibility now depends on making your content "AI-digestible."

Tools that Help You Master AI Visibility:

The 8 Most Important ChatGPT Visibility Factors

1. Mentions on Reliable, Public Websites

Websites like Wikipedia, government sites, national media, or educational platforms are frequently included in GPT training data. Being mentioned there significantly increases your visibility.

2. Topical Authority

AI systems love experts. Those who consistently and deeply publish within a single theme are seen as an authority. Think knowledge bases, expert blogs, and sector analyses—the foundation of strong SEO.

3. Structured Data and Schema.org

Clear entity definitions via structured data (e.g., Person, Organisation, Product, FAQ) help AI recognise you and quote you correctly.

4. Consistent Brand Mentions

Your brand must be unambiguous online. From your Facebook Ads bio to your Google Business Profile. Inconsistency leads to confusion—and therefore invisibility. ANA Digital Media ensures your brand identity is rock-solid across all platforms.

5. Use of AI-Friendly Formats

Bullets, definitions, FAQ sections, and how-to structures are more likely to be included in AI answers. Write as if you are supplying input to a chatbot. This is essential for AEO.

6. Presence in Current Datasets (For GPT-4 Turbo)

For models with web browsing or up-to-date context (such as Bing Chat or ChatGPT Pro), the more recently you have been mentioned on the web, the better your chances.

7. Mentions within AI Ecosystems (Plugins, Tools, APIs)

Do you have a tool or service accessible via a GPT plugin, Microsoft Copilot, or an external AI assistant? This increases your visibility within the AI interface.

8. Verified and Neutral Content

AI prefers content without a subjective slant. Neutral, factual, and well-substantiated information is more likely to be cited.

Entity and Brand Signals

Content Structure and Formats (The SEO-GEO Bridge)

Technical and Semantic Optimisation

Publication Channels and Context

AI Ecosystem Presence

Measuring & Monitoring Visibility

Classic SEO versus AI Visibility

What are the key differences between classic SEO and AI visibility via ChatGPT? See the comparison below:

With SEO, you optimise for an algorithm that compares pages. With AI, you optimise for a model that attributes meaning. You are not found because you are "number 1," but because you are recognised as a reliable source.

Preparing for AI Visibility

Conclusion

Gaining visibility in ChatGPT is not about tricks—it's about recognition, relevance, and authority. The more consistently you are present in valuable contexts, the greater the chance you will be mentioned. AI is not the deathblow to SEO. It is its evolution.

Work on your AI visibility today so you remain relevant tomorrow.

Do you want to get started with your AI visibility immediately? Check out our service ANA Digital Media AI Visibility & ChatGPT SEO for a concrete approach that makes your brand visible in AI answers from ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Gemini.