AI Search · 6 min read
How to rank inside ChatGPT: a founder’s guide to AI search
When your buyer asks ChatGPT: "What is the best developer platform for compliance auditing?", how does it choose which 3 companies to list?
It doesn't count backlink quantity or inspect meta keywords. Large Language Models weigh entity clarity, cross-web citation consensus, structured schema markup, and topical authority signals.
Step 1: Unambiguous Entity Definition
Ensure your company's product category, ICP, and value proposition are defined identically across your site, LinkedIn, Crunchbase, press releases, and documentation.
Step 2: Citation Signals Over Backlinks
LLMs rely heavily on third-party citations — discussions on Reddit, Hacker News, G2 reviews, and industry publications — to corroborate your claims.