It’s not much different than traditional SEO practices, with just a few tweaks. Check them out; plus five easy ways to get cited by an LLM.
It’s not much different than traditional SEO practices, with just a few tweaks. Check them out; plus five easy ways to get cited by an LLM.
So here’s the deal: No one really knows the answer to what is the best way to get their brand cited by an LLM (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Perplexity), because everything is still new, but there have been some definite wins, and we can all learn a few things from those brands that have been able to do this successfully.
Perhaps it’s too early to say these strategies are a guaranteed way to get cited, but they certainly can’t harm your brand’s visibility on the World Wide Web. First things first, if you haven’t caught up on the recent changes to how results appear when we type in a search query,
Google has its own AI-generated answers, and an increasing number of people are relying on LLMs to find the answers they need. I wrote an article that sums up the major shift and why it’s a win-win for everyone.
If you don’t have a lot of time to dive into the intricacies of how LLMs pull information from websites and Reddit or what the difference between AEO, GEO, and SEO is *(see key below), here are five simple things you can do for your brand or company to increase the chances of being cited.
Some of them you probably are already doing because of good SEO practices, but for others, maybe focusing on just a few of these can make all the difference:
1. Include expert opinions, industry benchmarks, and factual research-backed data.
One of the great things about the introduction of AI-generated answers in LLMs is that, to increase the chances of being cited, you are encouraged to include statistics and industry-accepted benchmarks, including expert opinions.
Your content is more authoritative if you have references and statistics anyway, but it will also help LLMs identify your content as more legitimate. LLMs value factual research-backed information, which can help to get cited. (see what I just did there when I included a hyperlinked reference for this statement, include a stat and it will be even better.)
2. Get Listed on Wikipedia
So, Wikipedia is an important source of authoritative information for LLMs. It was found that Wikipedia content is about 3% of GPT’s training data, and LLMs favor open and neutral, highly sourced platforms like Wikipedia. AI models like trustworthy information, and Wikipedia is on that list.
Consider creating a page, as it can increase your chances of being cited. When creating a Wikipedia page, you must keep it updated frequently and check it periodically to make sure that users have not added erroneous information. The process of getting a Wikipedia page approved is not easy, so if you are interested, it’s a good idea to read and understand the guidelines and explore tutorials before starting.
3. Reddit and Other User-Generated Content (UGC) Platforms
I outlined the relationship between AI, GEO, and Reddit in this article, which explains why it’s not a bad idea to establish a presence on this platform as a first step. It is important to understand how to use Reddit and other user-generated platforms so that your account is not banned or you do more damage to your brand than good.
Reddit, like most, does not like spam, nor does it take kindly to brands tooting their own horns. People go there to engage and discuss different facets of industry-relevant questions and queries. To make the most of it, post in relevant subreddits, follow Reddit etiquette, and, above all, remember that posting is an opportunity you have to earn by making relevant comments first.
4. Structure Pages with Clear Hierarchy
One of the easiest and real-world ways to increase the chances of web pages being referenced by an LLM is to create a clear structure with H1, H2, H3, etc. headings, bullets, listicles, and dedicated portions to user intent.
This means working on including headings if you haven’t already, and structuring each page section to answer a user query. This can help LLMs to identify the content as helpful when scanning pages to pick up from. Make sure the content answers questions directly, such as how, why, and where.
5. Consistent Brand Mentions Across Diverse Platforms
Taking the time to write for different publications where you can discuss best industry practices and mention your brand name is not a waste of time after all. Especially when AI is looking for brand presence, which signals trust signals across the web, and it sees that your brand has been mentioned many times across different platforms.
This is a great way not only to create authority and legitimacy but also to increase your chances of being cited. Do not doubt the impact of any mention in reviews, user platform accounts, and podcasts.
What Can You Do Today?
If someone asked me to choose from the five listed above, which ones could a small business owner implement today? I would say 1 and 3. Here’s the deal: all of this may seem overwhelming, and as a small business owner, you sometimes do not have a dedicated marketing team.
But you can create a Reddit account and start engaging in subreddits that are relevant to your industry while constructively mentioning your brand name. You can also review your web content and incorporate facts, figures, and expert opinions to enhance its legitimacy.
These are easy fixes that you CAN do today.
KEY
*SEO (Search Engine Optimization) focuses on traditional search engine rankings and driving clicks to websites using keywords and backlinks.
AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) aims to get content featured in AI-generated answer boxes and voice search responses by providing direct, concise answers.
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) focuses on optimizing content to be cited as a trustworthy source within the synthesized, contextual answers of AI-powered large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT.
Originally published for AI Mind on Medium on February 20, 2025
Freelance Content Writer, SEO Blogger, Ghostwriter - squareONE 
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