A key strategy is to directly ask the AI a series of prompts to reverse-engineer its process and generate a specific action plan for your brand.
The Process to Discover Your AI Ranking Strategy
You can uncover a customized plan by asking the AI a specific set of questions:
"What are the top [your category] brands in [your location]?" This shows you who the AI is currently recommending.
"How did you come up with these results?" This reveals the AI's data-gathering process, which includes web searches, independent roundup articles, industry-specific sites, and news sources.
"Why didn't you include [your brand] in your list?" This prompts the AI to explain what signals your brand is missing, such as features in public lists, high retail presence, or broad marketplace distribution.
"What can [your brand] do to get listed in the top five recommendations always?" This will generate an exact, actionable plan for your business to follow.
Key Strategies to Rank in AI
The AI's recommendations boil down to excelling in two main areas: the "PR awareness game" and the "SEO content game". The goal is to ensure your brand appears in the public data sets the AI uses for its analysis.
Here are the priority actions to take:
Dominate the "Listicle" Game
- The primary goal is to get your brand featured in every relevant "best of" article for your category.
- Conduct outreach to publishers with professional media kits and offer them exclusives to encourage inclusion.
The primary goal is to get your brand featured in every relevant "best of" article for your category.
Conduct outreach to publishers with professional media kits and offer them exclusives to encourage inclusion.
Win the SEO Battles
- While not just about technical SEO, a strong search presence is crucial. Your brand should appear on the first page of Google for critical search terms like "best [your product] in [your location]".
- Create your own optimized blog posts and product pages, and partner with high-domain authority websites for guest blogging to build credibility.
While not just about technical SEO, a strong search presence is crucial. Your brand should appear on the first page of Google for critical search terms like "best [your product] in [your location]".
Create your own optimized blog posts and product pages, and partner with high-domain authority websites for guest blogging to build credibility.
Build Public Review Volume
- The AI prioritizes reviews on public platforms over those on your own website.
- Aim for 50-100 five-star reviews on platforms like a Google Business Profile or Amazon. You can encourage this by sending follow-up emails to customers asking for reviews on these specific third-party sites.
The AI prioritizes reviews on public platforms over those on your own website.
Aim for 50-100 five-star reviews on platforms like a Google Business Profile or Amazon. You can encourage this by sending follow-up emails to customers asking for reviews on these specific third-party sites.
Generate Social Proof and Influencer Partnerships
- Partner with content creators and influencers in your niche by sending them products and ideas for content.
- Get your product featured in relevant public discussions, such as online competitions or recipes, to build brand authority.
Partner with content creators and influencers in your niche by sending them products and ideas for content.
Get your product featured in relevant public discussions, such as online competitions or recipes, to build brand authority.
Expand Retail and Marketplace Visibility
- The AI recognizes brands with broad distribution.
- Increase discoverability by selling on major marketplaces like Amazon or eBay and partnering with boutique or even larger retailers.
The AI recognizes brands with broad distribution.
Increase discoverability by selling on major marketplaces like Amazon or eBay and partnering with boutique or even larger retailers.
Maintain Fresh PR Hooks
- Keep your brand newsworthy by regularly launching new products, engaging in brand collaborations, or creating other PR opportunities.
Keep your brand newsworthy by regularly launching new products, engaging in brand collaborations, or creating other PR opportunities.
Ultimately, ranking in AI is not a quick technical fix but a long-term strategic effort. It involves consistently working to build your brand's public presence so that when the AI scans the web, your business is recognized as a top option. The AI can even map out a detailed 12-month plan to help you achieve this "domination".