ChatGPT isn’t just a productivity tool. It’s the new search engine in disguise. People are no longer just Googling things—they’re ChatGPT-ing them (is that a verb now?). Which means the answers it serves up? Those are becoming the new recommendations people actually act on.
More and more users are asking AI to find experts, recommend service providers, and explain complex ideas simply. So if your name, content, or business never shows up in those answers, you’re missing a huge opportunity. Not just for visibility—but for trust, traffic, and clients.
And let’s be honest: if you’re tired of your website acting like a digital wallflower instead of your lead generator, this is the wake-up call. Visibility in AI tools like ChatGPT is about being known for something. And if you want to start showing up, I can help you optimize your key pages and build out blog content that cements your authority (so you’re not just shouting into the void).
What Does It Mean to “Show Up” in ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is trained on a massive amount of internet content—it’s basically a big sponge for well-written, high-authority content. When it “answers” a user’s question, it’s usually not pulling random opinions from thin air. It’s drawing from patterns and phrases it’s seen over and over from trusted sources.
In some cases (like with plugins or browsing enabled), it can even pull real-time info from top-ranking websites. But whether it’s drawing from its training data or live search, one thing remains true: it favors content that’s clear, consistent, and reputable.
There’s no magic snippet, no blue link. But relevance, authority, and clarity? Still king.
What Makes ChatGPT Mention Certain Sources?
ChatGPT isn’t biased toward just the big names—it’s biased toward recognizable expertise. It pulls from content that sounds like it knows what it’s talking about. Here’s what actually moves the needle:
Authority: Do you look like an expert? Do you write like one? Have you built a digital presence that says “I know this inside and out”? ChatGPT picks up on that. So do your potential clients.
Clarity: Jargon-filled, fluffy writing doesn’t get quoted. Clear, helpful content does.
Topical depth: Having 10 blog posts around “prenatal fitness” shows you’re not just dabbling—you own that lane.
Structure: Your content needs to be easy for AI to read, summarize, and understand. Think: proper headings, strong intros, clear definitions, and strategic formatting.
External validation: Being featured on podcasts, quoted by others, or linked in articles? That adds credibility signals that AI picks up on, too.
👉 Pssst… I help with all of this through SEO-optimized pages and strategic blog planning. Reach out if you’re ready to build that kind of authority.
Step 1 to Show Up in ChatGPT: Own a Specific Topic, Hard
This is the hill I will gladly die on: vague websites don’t convert. They don’t get referenced by ChatGPT either. If your homepage says you help “busy people live healthier lives,” it might sound broad and inclusive—but it’s doing absolutely nothing for your visibility. ChatGPT—and your actual audience—can’t tell what you specialize in, so you get skipped.
You don’t need to appeal to everyone. You need to appeal specifically and clearly to the people you’re meant to help. Want to become the go-to expert for postpartum nutrition? Fantastic. Then every corner of your site needs to scream “I know this subject better than anyone else.” That starts with your homepage, your services page, and your About page.
Those core pages aren’t just filler—they’re your positioning platform. They help ChatGPT and Google (and real people!) connect the dots between your expertise and the questions they’re asking.
Step 2: Create High-Quality, Topical Content Consistently
Look, I get it—everyone’s shouting that “blogging is dead.” But those people aren’t getting steady leads from SEO, and they definitely aren’t showing up in ChatGPT answers. Strategic blog content is the long game that keeps working after the Instagram Reel stops getting views.
But we’re not talking about posting random musings once a month and calling it a content strategy. We’re talking about topic clusters—multiple pieces of content around one central theme that build depth and authority.
If you’re a dietitian focused on gut health, you shouldn’t just have one blog post titled “What is Gut Health?” You should also have posts on “Foods to Avoid with IBS,” “What Causes Bloating After Meals,” and “Supplements That Support Gut Health.” When your site becomes the Netflix library of a niche topic, AI takes notice.
It’s also about formatting—headings, summaries, internal links. These aren’t just for humans. They help AI understand the structure of your site so it knows where to pull information from and how your expertise connects across topics.
Step 3: Build Trust Signals—For Humans and AI
You know how you Google a restaurant, and if there are no reviews or photos, you instantly assume it’s sketchy? Your website is the same. It needs trust signals baked in—otherwise both humans and bots will keep scrolling.
Trust signals come in many forms. Client testimonials. “As seen in” logos. Case studies. Your credentials and certifications. A clear About page that shows you’re not some faceless entity using stock photos and vague promises. All of that matters so much more than you think, especially for health and wellness professionals.
And here’s the kicker—AI tools are trained to recognize those trust markers. If you’ve got clear author bios on your blog posts, media features linked back to your site, or even a robust FAQ section that pre-answers common questions? That’s gold for ChatGPT.
The more signals you give—”Hey, I’m legit, I know my stuff, and here’s proof”—the more you become the person AI and people trust to reference.
Step 4: Don’t Ignore the SEO Basics
I love a good AI tool, but let’s not pretend it’s magic dust. ChatGPT and Google still depend on the same foundational stuff: crawlable content, clean site structure, and keyword clarity. In other words—SEO basics are still non-negotiable.
Your title tags? Matter. Your meta descriptions? They matter. Headers, alt text, internal links, page speed, site hierarchy—all of it still plays a role. You could write the most brilliant, life-changing blog post ever—but if your site’s a technical mess, AI won’t see it. And if AI doesn’t see it, neither will your future clients.
You don’t need to be an SEO wizard. You just need to make sure the essentials are covered so your content gets seen, indexed, and prioritized.
Bonus: Don’t Forget About GEO
Want to really boost your chances of showing up in ChatGPT answers? It’s time to think beyond just SEO and start optimizing for GEO (Generative Engine Optimization).
GEO is about formatting and presenting your content in a way that AI models like ChatGPT can easily reference, understand, and quote—even without direct links. The top-performing optimizations for GEO efforts include:
- Quotation additions – Add short, punchy statements that can be easily pulled and cited.
- Statistic additions – Citing credible stats makes your content more authoritative and quotable.
- Fluency optimization – Clear, natural writing wins over clunky jargon or keyword stuffing.
- Cited sources – Link to high-authority research or articles to strengthen trustworthiness.
- Technical terms – Using the right lingo (without overcomplicating it) signals expertise.
- Authoritative tone – Sound like a pro, not a casual blogger, if you want AI to treat you like one.
In other words: write like you’re the expert ChatGPT would want to quote. Because you are.
TL;DR – Authority = Visibility
ChatGPT doesn’t care if your content is flashy. It cares if it’s helpful, credible, and consistently on-topic.
You can’t fake depth or trust. But you can build it. One clear page, one strategic post, one trust signal at a time.
👉 Ready to show up in AI answers and organic search? Let’s get your website and blog working harder for you. Not sure where to start? Start here and let’s build something that earns visibility—not just vibes.
