I've been asking ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity about AEO topics. They never cite my site. Here's my honest analysis of why.
The Problem
I asked ChatGPT: "How do I optimize for AI search?"
Answer: Cited Moz, HubSpot, Search Engine Land. Not me.
I asked Claude: "What is AEO?"
Answer: Gave a generic definition. No citations at all.
I asked Perplexity: "llms.txt guide"
Answer: Cited some random blog I'd never heard of.
Why I Think This Is Happening
1. I'm Not Authoritative
This site is new. I have no domain authority, no backlinks from major sites, no citations in other content. AI favors sources it trusts.
2. My Content Isn't Unique Enough
I'm rehashing what others have said. Why would AI cite me when it can cite the original source?
3. Not Enough Training Data
ChatGPT's knowledge cutoff means it doesn't know this site exists. Newer AI tools might but I need to be discoverable.
4. No Real-World Validation
I don't have case studies, clients, or proof. AI might be trained to prefer "proven" sources.
What I'm Doing About It
- Focusing on unique experiments — data no one else has
- Building genuine backlinks — outreach, not spam
- Creating useful tools — things people actually use
- Being honest — maybe AI rewards authenticity?
This is a long game. I might not get cited for months. But I'll keep testing and sharing.
Learn the complete AEO framework: See our Answer Engine Optimization Master Guide for comprehensive strategies.
Want to optimize for specific platforms? See our guides for ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews.
Start with technical setup: Use our llms.txt Generator and Schema Generator.