More people now ask ChatGPT and Perplexity for recommendations than scroll a page of Google links. That shift raises a new question for every business: when someone asks an AI about your industry, does it know you exist — and does it mention you? Getting cited by AI is a discipline of its own. Here's how it works.
Why AI cites some businesses and not others
AI answer engines include a business in an answer when they can understand it clearly and corroborate it confidently. That means two things matter most: clarity (are there specific, verifiable facts about you?) and consistency (is the same information about you repeated across multiple credible sources?). Vague, thin, or contradictory information gives an AI nothing safe to cite.
The concrete steps
Publish specific, verifiable facts. "We've delivered 120+ websites since 2023" is citable; "we have extensive experience" is not. Numbers, dates, and specifics give AI something concrete to include. Add an llms.txt file at your domain root — a plain-text summary written for AI crawlers, explained in what is llms.txt and do you need one. Allow AI crawlers in robots.txt (GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot); if you block them, you're invisible to AI search. Use FAQPage schema so your question-and-answer content is machine-readable. These are the AEO fundamentals detailed in SEO vs AEO.
| Signal | How to build it |
|---|---|
| Clear facts | Specific numbers, dates, outcomes on your site |
| llms.txt | Plain-text summary at your domain root |
| Crawler access | Allow GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot in robots.txt |
| Structured data | FAQPage and Article schema |
| Corroboration | Consistent mentions across credible sources |
Build corroboration across sources
The single strongest signal is consistent mention across credible sources — your own site, your social profiles, business directories, publications, and third-party articles. If several independent sources describe your business the same way, an AI can cite you with confidence. This is the AEO equivalent of backlinks: external corroboration is what turns "a claim on your own site" into "a fact the AI trusts."
What to do this week
Check that your robots.txt allows AI crawlers, add an llms.txt file, put specific verifiable facts on your key pages, add FAQPage schema to your FAQ content, and make sure your business is described consistently everywhere it appears. These steps cover most of what makes you citable — and the early-mover window is still open.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my business cited by ChatGPT?
Publish clear, specific, verifiable facts about your business; add an llms.txt file and allow AI crawlers in robots.txt; use FAQPage schema; and build consistent mentions across credible external sources. AI cites what it can clearly understand and confidently corroborate.
Does ChatGPT read my website?
AI engines increasingly use real-time web crawls alongside training data, but only if you allow their crawlers in robots.txt. If you block GPTBot and similar crawlers, your site is invisible to AI search.
What is the most important factor for AI citation?
Consistent corroboration across credible sources. When several independent places describe your business the same way, an AI can cite you with confidence — the AEO equivalent of backlinks in traditional SEO.