How to Rank on ChatGPT: Index, Optimize, and Show Up in AI Search Results

So here’s something interesting I’ve been seeing lately. People aren’t just Googling anymore. They’re straight-up asking ChatGPT, “Who’s the best SEO company in Auckland?” or “Which web agency can actually get results?” And the AI just… answers. It’s wild.

Now, most business owners look at that and think, “Okay, how do I get my website into that answer box thing?” If that’s what brought you here, good question. I’ve been poking at this stuff for months, testing, breaking things, rebuilding, and yeah — I’ve got a pretty solid picture of how it works.

So, grab a coffee. Let’s talk about how to get your site noticed by ChatGPT (and all these new AI tools) without losing your mind or wasting your time.

How to Index Website on ChatGPT

Let’s start simple. You can’t actually “submit” your website directly to ChatGPT. There’s no form, no dashboard, nothing like Google Search Console. But here’s the trick — ChatGPT gets a lot of its live info from Bing Search.

So, if Bing can see your site, ChatGPT probably can too. That’s step one.

Here’s what I usually tell clients to do:

1. Hop into Bing Webmaster Tools. Verify your site, add your sitemap, same as you’d do for Google.
2. Clean up that sitemap. If you’ve got old junk pages or 404s, toss them. Bing doesn’t love clutter.
3. Use schema markup. It’s like giving Bing subtitles for your website. It tells AI what each page actually is.
4. Make sure Bingbot isn’t blocked. Check your robots.txt. You’d be surprised how often people accidentally block crawlers.
5. Ask questions in your content. ChatGPT understands conversational structure, so if your pages read like real conversations, it can connect better.

That’s pretty much it. Once Bing’s got you in the system, you’re officially visible to ChatGPT.

How to Show Up in ChatGPT Results

Alright, being indexed is cool, but that’s just the door. You actually want to show up when people ask stuff.

So here’s the thing. ChatGPT doesn’t work like Google’s top-10 results. It’s more like, “Who seems trustworthy and clear enough for me to quote?”

That means your content should be:

• Readable. Write like a person. No jargon soup.
• Organized. Use headings, short paragraphs, and lists.
• Helpful. If you’re explaining something, do it well. Don’t tease the answer ten scrolls down.
• Specific. Local details, stats, examples — those matter.
• Up to date. If your site looks abandoned, ChatGPT won’t risk mentioning it.

I’ve seen it happen a few times. Someone types “best SEO agency in Auckland,” and ChatGPT mentions one or two familiar names. Those names? Usually the ones who’ve written actual, useful, local content that answers questions directly.

So yeah — show up by sounding human and helpful. The days of keyword stuffing are done.

How to Submit Website to ChatGPT

People ask me this a lot. “Hey, can you submit my site to ChatGPT?” Nope, can’t. But you can submit to Bing, and that’s the same highway ChatGPT drives on.

Here’s what I’d do:

• Go to Bing Webmaster Tools, and upload your sitemap manually.
• Keep your site fresh. Add a blog, update service pages, tidy up old stuff.
• Use Microsoft Clarity (it’s free) to track how people use your site. Bing trusts sites with good engagement.
• Double-check your schema data using a validator.

It’s all about giving the system signals. Think of it like breadcrumbs leading ChatGPT back to your business.

Also, make sure you exist outside your website. Add your business to Google Business, LinkedIn, Bing Places, and even sites like Crunchbase. AI tools love cross-checking info. If you’re consistent everywhere, you look more reliable.

How to Rank on ChatGPT

Okay, let’s get into the part everyone really wants — ranking.

Honestly, there’s no “ranking page” like Google’s list, but ChatGPT still decides who to quote. It’s a kind of silent ranking based on how clear, confident, and authentic your writing feels.

Here’s what makes a big difference:

1. Sound natural. Talk like you’re chatting with a mate, not writing a research paper.
2. Show experience. Mention real results or case examples. Even simple lines like “We helped a plumber in Takapuna get 200 % more calls” give AI something concrete.
3. Use the Q&A format. This article is doing it right now — direct questions, clear answers.
4. Keep sentences mixed up. Some short, some long. People don’t speak in perfect patterns, and AI tools notice that.
5. Avoid fluff. Every word should earn its place.

I had one client rewrite their entire FAQ section just using natural language — things like “How long does SEO actually take?” instead of “SEO duration and optimization timeline.” Two weeks later, they started popping up in Bing summaries and AI Overview results. It works.

How to Optimize for ChatGPT Search

Here’s where you bring it all together.

Optimizing for ChatGPT isn’t about tricking an algorithm; it’s about being easy to read, quote, and trust.

Do this:

• Start your headings with questions — “How,” “What,” “Why.”
• Keep answers short and punchy.
• Add examples where possible.
• Cut long introductions; get to the point fast.
• Use plain English.

If a teenager could read your article and understand it, that’s perfect. ChatGPT looks for clear, useful writing that doesn’t waste time.

When I rewrote my own “AI SEO” page last month with simple sentences, I noticed something weird — ChatGPT started quoting small parts of it in conversations about New Zealand SEO. Not a backlink, not traffic, but visibility. It’s a start, and it tells me this works.

How to Optimize Website for ChatGPT

Now let’s zoom out from content to your website as a whole.

If you want AI tools to understand what you do, structure matters.

• Add schema to every main page. Articles, services, contact info — all labeled properly.
• Make your About page real. Include your story, team, city, and maybe a photo. AI connects authenticity with local details.
• Keep your internal links natural. Don’t overdo it. Link where it makes sense.
• Stay mobile-friendly. AI systems mirror Bing’s ranking logic; user experience counts.
• Mention your location. Even in your content. It ties your business to local search patterns.

When you treat your site like a living, breathing brochure instead of a keyword dump, everything — from Bing to ChatGPT — “gets” you better.

ChatGPT SEO Tool — What’s Real, What’s Not

There isn’t some magic ChatGPT SEO software that does this for you. But a few tools help you track what matters.

• Bing Webmaster Tools – check if your pages are visible and when Bing last crawled them.
• Microsoft Clarity – lets you see where people click and scroll. Super handy.
• Schema Markup Validator – make sure your structured data isn’t broken.
• SEMrush or Ahrefs – still useful for topic clusters and keyword intent.

And yeah, you can even use ChatGPT itself for testing. Ask it:

“Who are the top SEO consultants in Auckland?”

If you don’t see your brand anywhere, that’s your sign to polish your structure or add more relevant pages. Check again after a few weeks.

Extra Tips Most People Miss

A few quick ones I’ve learned the hard way:

• Publish new content every month or two. ChatGPT prioritizes fresh info from Bing’s index.
• Cover niche angles. Instead of “SEO tips,” try “SEO for electricians in Auckland.” Less competition, more relevance.
• Use alt text on your images. It helps context.
• Keep your tone consistent. AI picks up weird stylistic changes.

And above all, stay human. Seriously. I know that sounds funny in a ChatGPT article, but if your tone feels robotic, AI tools just skip over you. They look for real voices.

FAQs About ChatGPT SEO

Can you manually submit your website to ChatGPT?
Nah, not yet. ChatGPT gets everything from Bing. Just focus there.

How long till I show up in results?
Usually a few weeks after Bing indexes your pages. Sometimes sooner if your content’s new.

Can small local businesses appear too?
Yep, totally. Just use schema and mention your location naturally.

Is ChatGPT SEO the same as Google SEO?
Not really. Google cares about links and engagement; ChatGPT just wants clarity and good answers.

How do I know if ChatGPT knows about my site?
Ask it! Type questions around your niche and see if your brand gets mentioned or linked.

What should I avoid?
Copying AI-written junk or overusing keywords. That stuff smells automated and won’t last.

How Rank Phoenix Helps

We’ve been doing SEO across New Zealand for a while now, and this AI stuff — it’s not scary, it’s exciting.

At Rank Phoenix, we mix what’s always worked (solid on-page SEO, local targeting, link authority) with what’s next — AI visibility.

Here’s what we do differently:

• Clean your site structure so Bing indexes it easily.
• Add proper schema so ChatGPT recognizes your services.
• Rewrite top pages in a conversational tone.
• Test your visibility right inside ChatGPT and Gemini.

It’s not about gaming AI. It’s about helping it understand your value faster than your competitors.

Final Thoughts

Alright, let’s wrap this up.

AI search isn’t replacing Google tomorrow, but it’s changing how people find answers. And honestly, it’s a good thing. It forces everyone — me, you, every business — to write better, cleaner, more human content.

If you want your site to rank on ChatGPT, start simple.
Get on Bing, fix your sitemap, add schema, answer questions clearly, and keep updating your content.

It’s like I tell every client: SEO hasn’t died. It’s just grown up a bit. Machines are learning how people talk, and now it’s our turn to make sure they understand you.

So yeah, keep it clear, keep it honest, and make it sound like you. That’s what works — for Google, Bing, and yes, even ChatGPT.