A practical, step-by-step guide to making your website visible and recommendable by ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and other AI assistants.
Why ChatGPT Optimization Matters
When someone asks ChatGPT "What's the best project management tool?" or "Where should I eat in Berlin?", the AI draws from its training data and any web content it can access. If your website isn't optimized for AI comprehension, you're invisible to millions of potential customers.
Step 1: Make Your Content AI-Parseable
AI systems don't "read" websites the way humans do. They extract structured information. Here's how to help them:
**Use clear headings**: H1 for page title, H2 for sections, H3 for subsections**Write in declarative statements**: "Company X is a B2B SaaS platform" not "We might be what you're looking for"**Include specific facts**: Numbers, dates, locations, and verifiable claims**Answer questions directly**: Structure content as Q&A when possibleStep 2: Add Structured Data (Schema.org)
Schema.org markup helps AI systems understand the type and structure of your content:
**Organization schema**: Your company name, logo, contact info, social profiles**Product schema**: Product names, descriptions, prices, availability**FAQ schema**: Common questions and answers about your business**Article schema**: For blog posts and content pagesStep 3: Create AI-Specific Files
Two files dramatically improve how AI systems understand your business:
**llms.txt**: A plain-text overview at your domain root (/llms.txt)**ai-instructions.json**: Structured data at /.well-known/ai-instructions.jsonThese files give AI direct access to your business information without needing to parse complex HTML pages.
Step 4: Optimize Your robots.txt
Make sure you're not blocking AI crawlers. Add explicit allow rules:
GPTBot (ChatGPT's crawler)ChatGPT-User (ChatGPT browsing)Claude-Web (Anthropic's crawler)PerplexityBot (Perplexity's crawler)Google-Extended (Google's AI training crawler)Step 5: Build Authority Signals
AI systems weigh credibility. Strengthen your authority by:
**Publishing original research**: AI systems cite unique data and insights**Getting mentioned on authoritative sites**: Wikipedia, industry publications, news outlets**Maintaining active social profiles**: LinkedIn, Twitter with consistent branding**Collecting reviews**: Google Business, Trustpilot, G2, CapterraStep 6: Keep Content Fresh
AI systems consider recency. Regularly update your:
Homepage messaging and statsProduct/service descriptionsBlog with new industry insightsFAQ section with current answersStep 7: Monitor Your AI Visibility
Track how AI systems understand your brand:
Ask ChatGPT about your company and see what it saysRun regular scans with VisibleForAI to track your AI readiness scoreCompare your visibility against competitorsMonitor score changes after implementing optimizationsCommon Mistakes to Avoid
**Blocking AI crawlers** in robots.txt (most common issue)**Using only images** for key information (AI can't read images well)**Vague marketing language** instead of specific facts**Missing structured data** (no Schema.org markup)**Outdated content** with old dates and stale information**No FAQ section** to answer common queries directly