LLM SEO Rankings: How to Make AI Chatbots Recommend Your Business First

Last Updated on 19 September 2025 by Dorian Menard

Getting your business to appear on Google is one thing, but ensuring it’s the first recommendation from AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini is a different challenge.

As these AI chatbots become the go-to for answering questions, it’s crucial to make sure your business is the one they mention.

To stand out in Large Language Models (LLMs), you need to rank high as most LLMs pull results from the top pages but you will need more than just good SEO. It’s about creating a strong, authentic online presence across various platforms. This means having quality content, being recognised as an authority, and getting positive reviews on sites like Trustpilot and Google Business Profile.

Your business should also be mentioned in reputable publications. Each LLM, like Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT, has its preferences, such as a strong Google presence or ethical practices. Essentially, it’s about being credible and relevant everywhere online to get recommended by LLMs.

Let’s dive more into AI search optimisation!

Key Takeaways

• Focus on Traditional SEO – Most LLMs pull data directly from search engines, so strong search rankings remain your foundation.
• Secure High-Authority Mentions – Get featured in respected industry publications and news sites through digital PR and content partnerships.
• Maintain Complete Business Profiles – Keep detailed, consistent information across Google Business Profile, Trustpilot, and industry-specific platforms.
• Implement Structured Data – Make your business information easily readable by AI through proper schema markup and technical optimisation.
• Create Comprehensive Documentation – Develop clear service pages, transparent pricing, and detailed FAQs that answer common customer questions.
• Build Quality Backlinks – Focus on earning links from high-authority sites that enhance your domain authority and brand mentions.

How LLMs Rank and Recommend Businesses

Wondering how to rank in ChatGPT or Claude?

Understanding how Large Language Models rank and recommend businesses requires looking at both their internal architecture and external data sources.

Unlike traditional search engines that primarily rely on keywords and backlinks, LLMs use a sophisticated combination of data sources and ranking signals to determine which businesses to recommend.

Core Ranking Mechanisms

Most modern LLMs, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, utilise two primary methods to gather and rank business information:

1. Training Data Authority

• Historical data from high-authority publications and verified sources
• Established brand mentions and citations across reputable platforms
• Academic and industry-specific references that demonstrate expertise

2. Real-Time SERP Integration

• Direct integration with search engine APIs to pull current results
• Preference for businesses ranking highly in traditional search
• Fresh content and recent mentions from authoritative sources

This dual approach means that visibility in LLMs depends both on historical authority signals and current search engine performance.

Key Ranking Factors

Research and testing reveal three critical factors that influence LLM business recommendations:

1. Search Engine Authority

• Traditional search engine optimisation metrics (domain authority, backlinks)
• SERP rankings for relevant queries
• Technical optimisation and structured data implementation

2. Brand Trust Signals

• Volume and quality of online reviews
• Presence on trusted review platforms (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot)
• Industry-specific certifications and accreditations

3. Content Relevance

• Comprehensive service/product documentation
• Clear pricing and business information
• Expert-level content demonstrating industry knowledge

The weight of these factors varies by platform – Gemini heavily prioritises Google ecosystem signals, while Claude emphasises ethical business practices and academic citations.

ChatGPT tends to favor businesses with strong overall digital presence and authoritative mentions across multiple sources (more in our tips section at the bottom of the article).

This understanding of LLM ranking mechanisms helps inform a more targeted AI chatbot optimisation strategy, focusing efforts on the signals that most significantly impact visibility across all major platforms.

Optimising Content for Large Language Model rankings

Why SEO for LLMs Is (Not So) Different

SEO for LLMs isn’t your typical keyword-stuffing game. Unlike traditional search engines that rely heavily on keywords and backlinks, LLMs focus on context and relevance.

Here are a few ways LLM SEO differs from Perth SEO for example:

• Context Over Keywords: LLMs prioritise understanding the context of a query rather than just matching keywords.
• Natural Language: Since LLMs are designed to mimic human conversation, content that flows naturally and answers questions directly is more likely to be favored.
• Dynamic Responses: LLMs can generate different responses to the same query based on subtle changes in wording, so optimising for a range of related phrases can be beneficial.

But they still heavily rely on external signals such as:

• Traditional SEO rankings: Most LLMs leverage search APIs so they pull data directly from search engines.
• Brand reputation and mentions: Brand reputation is important as they look at reviews and crawl forums.

All these factors should be considered as par of your overall LLM marketing strategy!

Content Relevance

Getting your content to rank well with LLMs like ChatGPT and Gemini is all about relevance. You want your content to answer specific questions that users might have.

Think about what your audience is asking and make sure your content provides clear, concise answers. Using structured data can help make your content more accessible and understandable for these AI models.

Improving Content Authority

Authority is key when it comes to AI search engine optimisation. You want your content to be seen as a trusted source. Here are a few tips:

• Build domain authority by getting backlinks from reputable sites.
• Regularly update your content to keep it fresh and accurate.
• Engage with your audience through comments and social media to boost your credibility.

Adopting Conversational Keywords

With LLMs, it’s important to use conversational keywords. These are phrases that people naturally use when speaking. Instead of targeting just “best coffee maker,” try something like “what’s the best coffee maker for home use?”.

This approach aligns with how people interact with AI chatbots, making your content more likely to be picked up.

Quick Tips for Optimising Content

• Focus on long-tail keywords that match natural language queries.
• Use structured data to organise your content for better AI understanding.
• Keep your LLM-friendly content updated to maintain its relevance and authority.

By following these steps, you can enhance your content’s chances of being recommended by AI chatbots, ensuring your business stays ahead in the evolving digital landscape.

Building Authority Through Backlinks

Why Backlinks Matter for AI chatbots

Backlinks have always been a cornerstone of any good search engine optimisation campaign, but their importance is growing even more as AI-driven platforms become popular.

These platforms look at authority as a sign of authority and trust and backlinks are super important when it comes to authority (despite Google’s claims). If your content is linked by other reputable sites, it’s more likely to be picked up by AI chatbots when they generate responses.

This means your business could be the one they recommend first.

Strategies to Gain Quality Backlinks

Getting quality backlinks isn’t just about quantity; it’s about the quality of the links. Here are some strategies:

• Guest Posting: Write articles for well-known blogs in your industry. This not only gets you backlinks but also exposes your content to a broader audience.
• Collaborate with Industry Leaders: Partner with industry leaders for webinars or podcasts. This can lead to natural backlinks from their sites.
• Create Unique Content: Publish unique research or data that others in your industry will want to link to.
• Brand Mentions or Citations: Get listed on authoritative industry publications or directories.

Quick Tips for Building AI-Friendly LLM Backlinks

• Aim for backlinks from high-authority sites to boost your credibility.
• Use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to monitor your backlink profile and ensure quality.
• Focus on organic link-building strategies to maintain a healthy backlink profile.

Building a strong backlink profile is not just about improving your SEO; it’s about making sure your content is recognised and trusted by AI platforms. By focusing on quality and avoiding shortcuts, you can create a strategy that supports long-term success.

Leveraging Structured Data for AI Chatbots

What is Structured Data?

Structured data is like a secret language that helps search engines and AI recommendation engines understand the content on your website better. It’s a way of organising information so that machines can easily read it.

Think of it as adding labels to your content, making it easier for AI chatbots to know what your page is about.

How Structured Data Improves business visibility in LLMs

Using structured data can significantly boost your ChatGPT visibility with Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Claude. By providing clear and organised information for your local business, you help these models understand and use your content more effectively.

This means your business is more likely to be mentioned when these AI chatbots generate responses.

Best Practices for Implementing Structured Data

• Use FAQ Schema: If your page answers common questions, use FAQ schema to make sure AI can pick up on this easily.
• Apply Relevant Schema Types: Depending on your content, use the right schema types like Local schema, Product, Review, or Article.
• Keep It Updated: Regularly update your structured data to match any changes in your content or offerings.

Examples of Structured Data Usage

By implementing these practices, you can make sure your content is not only visible but also preferred by AI chatbots, giving your business a competitive edge.

The Importance of E-E-A-T in LLM SEO

What is E-E-A-T?

E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness. These are the key factors that search engines and AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini use to evaluate the quality of your content. It’s not just about what you say, but how you say it and who says it.

For businesses aiming to optimise their content for AI-driven platforms, understanding and implementing E-E-A-T is crucial.

How E-E-A-T Impacts LLM Recommendations

When AI chatbots recommend content, they prioritise sources that demonstrate strong E-E-A-T. Here’s how each component plays a role:

• Experience: Content should reflect real-world experience. This can be achieved by including case studies or personal insights.
• Expertise: Showcasing your knowledge on a topic is vital. This can be done by citing credible sources or having content written by industry experts.
• Authority: Building authority takes time. It involves consistently producing high-quality content that others in your field recognise and reference.
• Trustworthiness: Trust is earned by being transparent and honest in your content. User reviews and testimonials can enhance this aspect.

Practical Tips for Boosting E-E-A-T

• Authority Links: Despite what a lot of SEO are claiming, quality and authoritative links are still the most important factor to influence chatbot search rankings and EEAT.
• Author Bios: Include detailed author bios to showcase their credentials and expertise.
• Cite Sources: Always cite reputable sources to back up your claims.
• Update Regularly: Keep your content updated to maintain its relevance and accuracy.
• User-Generated Content: Encourage reviews and testimonials to build trust.

Quick Tips for Enhancing E-E-A-T

• Build high-quality and authoritative links such as Digital PR links
• Include author bios to showcase expertise.
• Cite reputable sources to build authority.
• Use client testimonials to enhance trust.

Understanding and applying E-E-A-T principles can significantly boost your content’s visibility and credibility in the eyes of AI chatbots and search engines alike.

Why Is It Important To Rank Your Business In LLMs?

Picture this – millions of people each month are asking AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini for recommendations.

These aren’t just casual browsers; they’re actively looking for solutions, products, and services. And unlike Google, which throws hundreds of results at you, these AIs handpick just a few businesses they trust enough to recommend.

Right now, we’re in that sweet spot where most businesses haven’t caught on yet. It’s like having a chance to rank on Google back in 2010 – the competition is low, but we know it won’t stay that way.

While exact numbers vary, industry trends clearly show that businesses are rapidly increasing their investments in AI-related marketing strategies, including LLM optimisation.

Benefits of Ranking Your Business in LLMs

Market Leadership
• Get in early while others are still figuring it out
• Stand out as an innovative player in your space
• Shape how AI recommends businesses in your industry

Traffic & Growth
• Reach a massive and growing audience
• Connect with younger buyers who prefer AI assistants over traditional search
• Enjoy steadier visibility and diversify your traffic

Competitive Edge
• Claim your spot before your competitors wake up
• Benefit from limited recommendations (AI picks few, Google lists many)
• Build early trust with these systems while it’s still relatively easy

Future Protection
• Stop depending solely on Google’s algorithm
• Secure your place in the future of search
• Stay relevant as AI continues reshaping how people find businesses

Understanding LLMs and Their Role in SEO

How LLMs are Changing the Game?

So, LLMs are seriously shaking things up when it comes to how we find things online. Take ChatGPT, for example. It’s all the rage now, landing in the top 10 searches with a whopping 115.7 million people looking it up every month. Source

And here’s the thing: unlike the old-school way of googling and getting a zillion options, AI chatbots give you just a handful of choices. This means if your business pops up in those recommendations, you’re in for a lot of eyeballs and potentially more customers.

Businesses that get a shoutout from these AI assistants see a big bump in people visiting their sites and even more people actually buying products or services.

Examples of Popular LLMs

• ChatGPT: Developed by OpenAI, this model is known for its conversational abilities and is widely used in customer service applications.
• Gemini: Google’s entry into the LLM space, Gemini focuses on providing concise and accurate information.
• Claude: A lesser-known but powerful LLM that excels in understanding complex queries and providing detailed responses.

Understanding these models and their unique characteristics can help businesses tailor their content strategies to better align with each LLM’s strengths.

Monitoring and Measuring LLM SEO Performance

New Metrics for LLM SEO

As LLMs like ChatGPT and Gemini become more integrated into search, the way we measure SEO success is changing.

Traditional metrics like keyword rankings and organic traffic are still important, but now we need to consider how often our content is referenced or cited by these AI models.

This means tracking LLM Visibility, which is all about how often your content pops up in AI-generated responses such as AI Overviews produced in Google Search.

Tools for Tracking LLM SEO

While there aren’t many tools specifically designed for LLM SEO yet, existing tools can still be useful. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Google Search Console: Great for monitoring organic traffic and understanding which keywords bring users to your site.
• Google Analytics: This tool will allow you to track referreral traffic from LLMs.
• Ahrefs: Use it to track backlinks and see how your content’s authority is growing.
• SEMrush: Helps in tracking keyword rankings and discovering new opportunities.

Adapting Strategies Based on Data

Once you’ve got the data, it’s all about using it to tweak your strategy. If you notice certain topics or keywords are getting more attention from LLMs, focus on those.

Maybe create more content around those subjects or update existing pieces to make them more comprehensive.

Also, keep an eye on your backlinks. If a particular piece of content is getting lots of links, consider creating similar content to boost your authority.

Quick Tips for Monitoring LLM SEO

• Regularly check your content’s citation rate by AI models.
• Use Google Search Console to track changes in organic traffic.
• Analyse which keywords are driving LLM visibility and focus on them.

Staying on top of these metrics ensures your content remains competitive and continues to meet the evolving standards of AI-driven search environments.

What We Are Focusing On At Search Scope

The landscape of ranking in Large Language Models is still largely uncharted territory, with results that often prove challenging to replicate consistently. Through extensive testing, we’ve discovered that success varies significantly across different niches and industries.

This variability appears to be heavily influenced by the training data available to each LLM in specific sectors, along with numerous other factors that remain somewhat mysterious even to experienced SEO professionals.

Given this uncertainty, our current approach combines proven traditional SEO techniques with experimental LLM-specific strategies. The foundation of our methodology relies heavily on establishing strong search engine visibility, as we’ve observed that LLMs frequently pull real-time data through SERP APIs.

Here’s what we’re currently focusing on:

• Strategic Digital PR campaigns to secure authoritative brand mentions
• Comprehensive management of business profiles across trusted platforms
• Proactive review management and response strategies
• Citation building and verification across industry-relevant directories. We even offer citation cleanup services
• Calculated parasite SEO efforts through high Domain Rating publications (both paid and free)
• Technical SEO implementation focusing on structured data

We’re experimenting with new methods to influence LLM recommendations, including strategic interaction with AI models. By providing feedback when our target brands or websites are mentioned, we aim to impact future training iterations of these models.

Our research indicates that visibility in LLMs involves a mix of traditional SEO, brand authority, and how each AI model processes information.

As we refine our strategies, we focus on techniques that provide measurable results and adapt to the evolving AI search technology landscape.

As of 2025, the best approach is digital PR campaigns (High DR links) according to us as they help build a strong authority, rank websites higher and increase brand mentions and overall exposure!

SEO Tips for Specific LLMs

ChatGPT Optimisation Checklist

1. Primary Focus: Domain Authority & Brand Mentions
2. Required Actions:

• Boost your traditional SEO rankings
• Create and maintain profiles on Trustpilot, G2, and Capterra
• Set up tracking for brand mentions using tools like Ahrefs or Meltwater
• Ensure pricing and service information is clearly documented
• Build presence on Stack Overflow and GitHub (for tech companies)
• Engage regularly on Reddit and industry forums

Google Gemini Optimisation Strategy

1. Primary Focus: Google Ecosystem Integration
2. Required Actions:

• Rank high in Google search
• Optimise Google Business Profile with weekly updates and posts
• Create content for Google Discover through news and blog content
• Implement FAQ, HowTo, and Organisation schema markup
• Develop presence on YouTube with educational content
• Secure mentions in Google News through PR activities

Claude AI Optimisation Framework

1. Primary Focus: Ethical Business Practices & Academic Validation
2. Required Actions:

• Document environmental and social responsibility initiatives
• Publish detailed privacy policy and ethical guidelines
• Secure academic citations or research partnerships
• Create case studies with verifiable results
• Build presence on ResearchGate and academic platforms to get recommended by Claude AI

Cross-Platform Quick Wins

1. Technical Requirements:

• Implement comprehensive schema markup
• Create detailed FAQ sections
• Maintain consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across platforms

2. Content Priorities:

• Develop data-backed case studies
• Create educational resources
• Document customer success stories

3. Authority Building:

• Launch targeted digital PR campaigns
• Secure industry expert contributions and brand mentions
• Build relationships with academic institutions

Monthly Maintenance Checklist:

□ Update all business profiles
□ Post new case studies or success stories
□ Monitor and respond to reviews
□ Check and fix any inconsistent business information
□ Track and analyse referral traffic from each platform

Why Choose Search Scope for Your LLM SEO Needs?

As we’ve demonstrated throughout this guide, success in LLM rankings heavily depends on traditional SEO fundamentals – particularly high search engine rankings and authoritative backlinks. This is precisely where Search Scope excels.

Our Unique Approach

We don’t just chase LLM visibility in isolation. Instead, we build a robust foundation through proven SEO strategies that naturally enhance your visibility across all platforms:

• Securing high-authority backlinks through strategic digital PR campaigns
• Building genuine brand authority through quality content and expert positioning
• Implementing technical SEO best practices that benefit both search engines and LLMs

Track Record That Speaks

Our clients consistently achieve and maintain top rankings in competitive niches. Recent successes include:
• 300% increase in referral traffic from AI platforms for a SaaS client
• Top 3 ChatGPT recommendations in multiple industries
• Consistent visibility across Google, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini

Future-Proof Strategy

While others are scrambling to understand LLM optimisation, our clients are already benefiting from our comprehensive approach to digital authority. We focus on building lasting online presence that works across all platforms – today and tomorrow.

Ready to dominate both traditional search and LLM recommendations? Let’s discuss how our proven SEO expertise can help your business thrive in this AI-first landscape where we optimise your business for AI chatbot recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences between traditional SEO and LLM SEO?

Traditional SEO focuses on optimising for search engines like Google, using keywords and backlinks to improve rankings. LLM SEO, on the other hand, is about optimising content for large language models like ChatGPT and Gemini. This means focusing more on content relevance and authority, as these models prioritise understanding context and providing accurate answers over just keyword matching. There are a lot of similarities between the two approaches.

How can businesses ensure their content is cited by AI chatbots?

This is not exact science unfortunately! To increase the chances of being cited by AI chatbots, businesses should focus on building strong domain authority and creating high-quality, authoritative content. Using structured data can also help, as it makes content more accessible and understandable for AI models. Additionally, boosting your online reputation can definitely help with industry or local searches.

What tools can be used to track performance on LLM platforms?

While there are emerging tools specifically designed for LLMs analytics can also provide valuable insights, the best option is to monitor referral traffic from LLMs.

How does schema markup improve visibility in AI chatbots?

Schema markup helps search engines and AI chatbots understand the context and structure of your content better. By using structured data, you can make your content more accessible to AI models, increasing the chances of it being cited or referenced. This can significantly boost your visibility in AI-generated responses, as it helps the models identify and prioritise relevant information.

What role does E-E-A-T play in optimising for AI-driven platforms?

E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness) is somehow important for optimising content for AI-driven platforms. AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini prioritise content that demonstrates these qualities, as they aim to provide accurate and reliable answers. Businesses should focus on building authority links (EEAT is mostly link based) and trust through high-quality content and credible sources to improve their chances of being recommended by these models.

Why do AI chatbots often not cite their sources?

AI chatbots sometimes don’t cite sources because they’re designed to generate responses based on a vast amount of data, which makes it challenging to pinpoint specific sources. Additionally, the primary goal of many AI models is to provide concise and relevant answers, which might not always include detailed citations. This can be frustrating for businesses aiming to get recognised through LLM SEO.

How can I make my content more likely to be cited by AI chatbots?

To increase the chances of your content being cited by AI chatbots, focus on building strong domain authority through digital PR links and creating high-quality, authoritative content.

What are some common challenges in optimising for LLM SEO?

Common challenges in optimising for LLM SEO include the lack of source citations by AI chatbots, competition for high-traffic queries, and the rapidly changing nature of AI algorithms. These obstacles can make it difficult for businesses to maintain visibility and ensure their content is recommended by AI-driven platforms.