How to Rank Your Website if ChatGPT Responds for You

The New Challenge of Web Positioning

If you've noticed a drop in your website's organic traffic over the last few months, you're not alone. Millions of websites are experiencing the same phenomenon: artificial intelligences are answering questions without users needing to visit your page.

ChatGPT, Google SGE, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot... all these tools are radically changing how people search for information online. The problem is clear: how do you position yourself if the user never clicks?

Data That Confirms It

According to recent industry studies:

• The average CTR in organic searches has fallen 30-40% since the arrival of AI-generated answers

• 58% of Google searches now show some type of generative response

• "Zero-click" searches have exceeded 60% of the total

The question is no longer whether this will affect you, but how you will adapt.

From SEO to AEO: The New Paradigm

What is AEO?

AEO (AI Engine Optimization) is the natural evolution of traditional SEO. It's no longer just about ranking on Google, but ensuring that artificial intelligences cite your content as a trustworthy source when responding to user queries.

Key Differences Between SEO and AEO

Practical Strategies for Ranking in 2026

1. Advanced Technical Optimization

A) Schema Markup: The Language of AIs

Artificial intelligences read code better than plain text. Implementing structured data is now mandatory, not optional.

What to implement:

• Article Schema for editorial content

• FAQPage Schema for frequently asked questions

• HowTo Schema for tutorials

• Organization Schema for your brand

• BreadcrumbList for hierarchy

• WebSite with SearchAction for internal searches

Validation Tools:

• Google Rich Results Test

• Schema.org Validator

• Bing Markup Validator

B) Perfect Hreflang (For Multilingual Sites)

If your website is in multiple languages, make sure each version is correctly flagged:

html

<link rel="alternate" hreflang="ca" href="https://example.cat/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="es" href="https://example.com/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/en/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="x-default" href="https://example.com/" />

AIs need to understand which version to serve based on the user's language.

C) Core Web Vitals: Speed is Credibility

AIs prioritize fast and secure sites. Critical metrics:

• LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): < 2.5s

• FID (First Input Delay): < 100ms

• CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): < 0.1

2. AI-Optimized Content

A) The E-E-A-T Principle

Google (and other AIs) evaluate content based on:

• Experience: Have you lived through what you explain?

• Expertise: Are you an expert on the topic?

• Authoritativeness: Do others recognize you as a reference?

• Trustworthiness: Is your information verifiable?

How to demonstrate it:

• Sign your articles with a complete author bio

• Include credentials and experience

• Cite verifiable sources

• Keep content updated with clear dates

B) Question-Answer Structure

AIs look for direct answers. Structure like this:

Ideal format:

text

## [Specific question]?

[Concise answer in 2-3 sentences]

[In-depth development with data, examples, use cases]

### Practical example
[Real case with measurable results]

C) In-depth vs. Shallow Content

AIs value complete and authoritative content:

• 2,000+ word articles that cover the topic exhaustively

• Avoid "thin" or superficial content

• Include data, statistics, studies

• Update regularly (AIs prioritize recent content)

D) Scannable Format

Make reading easy for both humans and machines:

• Hierarchical headers (H2, H3, H4)

• Numbered lists and bullet points

• Bold in key concepts

• Short paragraphs (3-4 lines)

• Comparative tables

• Highlighted quotes (blockquotes)

3. New Sources of Traffic and Visibility

A) Google Search Generative Experience (SGE)

How to optimize for SGE:

1. Create content that answers "the why" - SGE shows summaries, but users look for depth

2. Optimize for "People Also Ask" - these questions feed SGE

3. Include multimedia - images, videos, infographics increase visibility

4. Use FAQ Schema markup - makes it easier for SGE to cite you

B) Featured Snippets and Position Zero

Appearing in position zero means:

• Higher probability of being cited by AI

• Visibility even without clicks

• Perceived authority

How to achieve it:

• Answer specific questions concisely

• Use lists and tables

• Define terms clearly

• Include statistics and data

C) Optimization for Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Copilot

These platforms cite sources. To appear:

• Original and unique content - avoid duplicating information available on a thousand sites

• Own data and studies - original research has more value

• Constant updates - fresh content is prioritized

• Clean and descriptive URLs - makes it easier for AIs to reference you

4. Metrics to Track (Beyond Clicks)

Organic traffic is no longer the only important metric:

New critical metrics:

1. Search impressions - how many times you appear

2. Featured snippet appearances

3. Brand mentions - direct searches for your brand

4. AI citations - use tools like BrandMentions or Mention

5. Dwell time - when they arrive, do they stay?

6. Return rate - do users come back?

Essential tools:

• Google Search Console (essential)

• Google Analytics 4 (custom events)

• Ahrefs or SEMrush (position monitoring)

• Schema Markup Validator

• PageSpeed Insights

Checklist: Is Your Website Ready for the AI Era?

Use this list to audit your site:

Technical:

• Schema markup implemented (minimum: Article, Organization)

• Correct hreflang (if multilingual)

• XML sitemap updated and submitted to GSC

• Robots.txt allows AI crawling

• Core Web Vitals in green

• HTTPS active

• Perfect responsive design

Content:

• Articles signed with author bio

• Publication and update dates visible

• Content in question-answer format

• 2,000+ words in main articles

• Verifiable sources and data cited

• Optimized multimedia (images, videos)

• Regular content updates

Strategy:

• Google Search Console configured

• Featured snippet monitoring

• Content strategy based on E-E-A-T

• Old content update plan

• Brand mention tracking

• Social media presence for authority

Conclusion: Adapt or Disappear

The reality is clear: traditional SEO hasn't died, but it has evolved. The rules of the game have changed, and those who adapt first will have a competitive advantage.

Three principles to succeed in 2026:

1. Quality over quantity - One exceptional, well-structured article is worth more than ten mediocre ones

2. Demonstrable authority - AIs reward trustworthy and expert sources

3. Continuous optimization - This is not a one-time project, it's an ongoing process

The future of positioning

Searches will continue to evolve. Voice, augmented reality, new AIs... The principle remains: create valuable content, structure it for machines, write it for humans.

Your website can be an authoritative source for AIs. You just need to understand the new rules and apply them systematically.

Next Steps

Ready to adapt your SEO strategy to 2026?

1. Audit your current site - use the checklist above

2. Prioritize technical improvements - Schema markup and Core Web Vitals first

3. Update your best content - apply E-E-A-T principles

4. Monitor results - beyond clicks, look at impressions and mentions

5. Iterate and improve - AEO is a continuous process

Need help implementing these strategies? At newWweb we help companies adapt to the new web positioning paradigm.