ChatGPT Citation Optimization Checklist
How does one go about getting their website or webpage mentioned as a source in ChatGPT output? Try this. Think of this as SEO for (humans + AI), because ChatGPT (and other AI models) have slightly different “tastes” than Google. 1. Make Your Content AI-Ready ChatGPT is basically a super-skimmer—it grabs the most obvious, structured, factual bits. If you want to be cited, you need to be immediately parseable. ✅ Do: - Put the core answer at the very top in 1–3 short, factual sentences. - Use clear H2/H3 headings that mirror the question you’re answering. - Break complex topics into short bullet lists. - Include dates, stats, definitions, or named entities in plain text. - Provide original data if possible — AI loves primary sources. 🚫 Don’t: - Bury the answer halfway down in a 1,500-word intro. - Hide key facts in images or PDFs without text equivalents. - Use only flowery, opinion-heavy writing with no concrete facts. 2. Make It Search-Engine Friendly First Because if ChatGPT is in “web search mode,” it’s relying on Bing/Google to find you. ✅ Do: - Research relevant long-tail keywords (e.g., “what is SBA 7a loan interest rate 2025”) - Use those keywords naturally in: Page title First paragraph At least one subheading - Add meta descriptions that clearly summarize the page. - Use HTTPS and a fast-loading, mobile-friendly design. 3. Build “AI Trust Signals” ChatGPT is more likely to link to sources that look credible. ✅ Do: - Get backlinks from trusted sites (guest posts, directories, industry associations). - Add About / Contact pages with a real name, email, and organization. - Use schema markup for articles, FAQs, and products (structured data helps AI parse). 4. Create Single-Purpose, Question-Targeted Pages If you want to be cited, don’t make the AI dig. Example: - Instead of a generic page on “SBA Loans,”create “Current SBA 7(a) Loan Interest Rates – August 2025” as a dedicated post. - Include: The answer in the first line An updated date (“Last updated: August 8, 2025”) A table of historical data - This increases your odds for exact-match queries.