How to Get Brand Mentions in AI: Your Guide for 2025

In this guide, I’ll teach you how to get brand mentions in AI.

Now, whether you call it GEO, LLMO, advanced SEO, or something else…that’s up to you. The end goal is the same: getting AI tools like ChatGPT or Google’s AI Mode to mention your brand for relevant queries.

Being a founder or marketer, this is something you should learn, considering how AI is increasingly changing the way we search. 

Now, let’s understand how AI perceives information compared to traditional search engines. 

How AI tools like ChatGPT and Google AI Mode gather and rank information

To get brand mentions in AI, you first need to understand how these tools actually see and process the web.

Both traditional search engines and AI search engines are machines. So they can’t actually understand content relevancy and quality like humans do. That’s why they rely on certain signals. 

In traditional search engines like Google, keywords, backlinks, and semantic relevance act like these signals. If you publish a well-optimized blog post and build a few solid backlinks, there’s a good chance it’ll start ranking.

Check these top results for the query “best email marketing tools for startups.”

It has a list of blog posts and a few product pages, all optimized for the relevant keywords.

But AI search engines aren’t like that. They don’t rely on live crawling or backlinks in the same way. 

Tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Mode generate answers based on what they’ve already learned. 

Ask a question to ChatGPT or any other AI search engine. It’ll predict the most likely answer by generating the next sequence of words — based on how often those words have appeared together in its training data or in other sources on the web.

That means, if your brand is associated with positive or relevant words in most contexts — including Reddit discussions, news articles, social media posts, and not just blog articles — then the AI search engine will likely display it as an answer to relevant questions.

In other words, the number of times and the context in which your brand is mentioned elsewhere acts as a quality and relevancy signal for AI.

Here’s the same query but asked on ChatGPT:

The list is different from what appears in the Google SERP. But if you check Reddit threads for the same topic, you’ll see that these tools have the most number of mentions.

Here’s an example:

Of course, this example is anecdotal. But a report by Kevin Indig that analyzes over 7,000 citations also found the correlation between a brand’s popularity and its probability of citation by AI tools.

Often, the only content that’s in your control among these is the content you publish on your own website and some PR on news websites. 

Comments on social media and discussion forums usually aren’t in complete control of the brand. Plus, I don’t recommend engaging in any kind of unethical practices to manipulate such social discussions.

So what can you do? Optimize your own content for generative engines, utilize your own social media profiles, and leverage discussion platforms to create your brand’s presence. This is the exact strategy we’ll discuss in the next section.

How to get brand mentions in AI: Step-by-step strategy

Now that you understand how AI tools gather information and what influences brand mentions, let’s dive into exactly how to get brand mentions in AI.

Here’s the strategy, step by step:

1. Make sure AI can crawl your websites and access information

According to Google, there’s no special technical requirement to make your content accessible to AI systems. As long as your pages are published, publicly available, and indexed, they can be crawled by AI tools — just like they are for SEO.

That said, many websites — often for privacy or competitive reasons — go out of their way to block AI bots. 

If you’ve added specific blockers to prevent AI crawlers like GPTBot or Google-Extended, it’s time to rethink that strategy. If your goal is to get mentioned by AI, you must ensure that your content is visible to those models in the first place. 

Double-check your robots.txt file and meta directives to ensure you’re not unintentionally opting out.

You can selectively control what gets accessed using directives like: 

• noindex 
• max-snippet
• data-nosnippet
• nosnippet

But use these carefully. Only block what you’re certain you don’t want AI to include in its outputs. If you restrict access to valuable pages, you risk removing your brand from the AI conversation entirely.

Also, keep this in mind: you can’t block AI from training on your content and still expect it to talk about you. 

If you want your brand to show up in AI-generated answers, the model needs training signals — relevant mentions, context, and content it can learn from. The more it learns about your brand, the better.

Finally, gated content is off-limits for most AI tools. If you’re publishing original research, surveys, or industry insights, consider leaving them ungated. 

AI models are more likely to reference open-access, high-value content as authoritative — and that can position your brand as a go-to source in your niche.

2. Understand how generative AI already perceives your brand

Before diving headfirst into optimizing your content to get brand mentions in AI, first see how AI perceives your brand. If your content is already optimized for SEO and ranking, there’s a good chance that AI is already mentioning your brand in relevant responses. 

And if there are areas where it isn’t — or if the context feels off — you can only improve once you know what’s currently being said.

Start by asking AI-tool-specific questions like:

• “What is [Your Brand] known for?”
  
• “What are the top [industry] tools?”
  
• “Which companies are best for [problem your product solves]?”
  

Use tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Run the same queries across each and compare the results.

Pay attention to:

• Whether your brand is mentioned at all
  
• The sentiment around your brand (positive, negative, or neutral)
  
• What words or value props are associated with it
  
• Which websites or sources the AI is referencing (if any)
  

This will give you a clearer picture of how generative models understand and frame your brand right now.

That said, running these queries manually across multiple tools every day is tedious — especially if you’re publishing a lot of content or managing a large number of topics.  

To make this easier, use Writesonic’s Generative Engine Optimization tool. 

You can select 4–5 core topics, and it will automatically run relevant prompts across major AI tools for you. 

You’ll instantly see where and how your brand is mentioned, which sources are influencing the output, and whether any gaps or misalignments need fixing.

Once you’ve assessed your brand’s current position, the next few steps will help you improve it — and increase your chances of being mentioned naturally in AI-generated responses.

3. Write or tweak website content to change perception

Once you know how AI currently perceives your brand, it’s time to shape that perception through your own content to get brand mentions in AI.

If AI tools aren’t mentioning your brand — or worse, are mentioning it incorrectly — it’s often because it’s not getting the right content. The content being used to train or inform them (whether from your own site or third-party sites) is reflecting the wrong information. 

The only solution? Change that content.

Let’s break it down with an example.

Say I search “What is Writesonic?” on ChatGPT. It lists information about Writesonic along with some sources. Look at the sources. 

Some are from external websites (which we will deal with later) and some are Writesonic’s own pages.

These are the sources we will start tweaking, because they are within your control and easier to update.

In this context, ChatGPT is taking information from Writesonic’s Home Page, About Page, and one other tool page. But generally, it can also take information from your blog posts, help center, and any other page on your website. 

If those pages contain outdated messaging, missing product details, or aren’t aligned with your current positioning, that’s what AI will pick up and repeat. 

So if you want the model to reflect a specific feature set, positioning angle, or use case, those pages should say it — clearly and repeatedly.

For ease of use, check the sources for all your prompts directly through the Generative Engine Optimization tool.

Start with the internal pages cited in the sources, tweak their information, and also skim through other pages to make sure they reflect the same information.

Once you are done with your own pages, move on to handling the other sources. There are two ways to doing it, which I’ll discuss in the next two steps.

4. Reach out directly to sources to add your brand in relevant articles

Ideally, you’d want to get your brand mentioned in as many relevant external websites as possible. But let’s start with one of the easier and more immediate tactics: reaching out to sources that are likely to mention your brand.

These are sites that already mention your competitors, or that publish content closely related to your industry — like tool roundups, comparison articles, and product reviews. If they’re covering the space you operate in, there’s a good chance your brand deserves to be there too.

Here’s how to do it right:

• Start with content that already ranks or gets cited by AI tools. Use the Generative Engine Optimization tool to identify URLs that appear frequently in AI-generated answers for your core prompts. If a source is cited for mentioning a competitor, prioritize those websites.

• Evaluate whether your brand fits naturally into the topic. Don’t just aim to get mentioned — aim to add value to the piece.
  
• Craft a concise outreach message. Highlight why your brand should be included, what value it offers to the audience, and share a quick blurb they could add (this makes it easy for them to say yes).
  
• Be polite and non-pushy. Editors, bloggers, and content creators are more likely to respond positively when your message is helpful, respectful, and clearly not spammy.

Here’s one such email I received that’s thoughtfully crafted and brings out their brand’s value proposition without being pushy:

You can use this approach for:

• “Best tools for X” listicles
  
• “Top alternatives to [competitor]” posts
  
• Reviews and roundup-style blogs
  
• Online magazines or startup directories
  

While not every outreach will lead to an update, many smaller blogs and niche publications are open to making quick edits—especially if your pitch is relevant, informative, and saves them time.

And remember, even one or two strong external mentions from the right sites can help LLMs build stronger associations between your brand and a given topic.

In the next step, I’ll walk you through the second, more scalable method: using PR coverage to earn authoritative mentions organically.

5. Prioritize PR Coverage Not Just for Backlinks

If you’ve worked in SEO before, you probably think of PR as a way to build backlinks. And that used to be the main benefit. 

But in the AI era, PR is doing a lot more than passing link equity — it’s helping build your brand as a recognized entity that AI tools can trust and talk about.

Think product roundups on TechCrunch, expert quotes in Forbes, or niche blog mentions that show up in “best tools for [use case]” posts. These references shape how AI understands your brand, what it does, and when to include it in relevant answers.

Now, how do you actually get that kind of PR?

Start with this:

• Pitch timely, value-based stories. Instead of just announcing a new feature, tie it to a broader trend. For example, “How [Your Brand] is using AI to help creators repurpose video content.”
  
• Get included in roundups or expert quote articles. These tend to perform well in search and are often pulled into AI-generated summaries. Use HARO (Help A Reporter Out) or Qwoted to respond to expert source requests — your quotes could land in high-authority articles.
  
• Use clear, descriptive language in your media interactions. Think like your audience — what phrases would they use to ask AI about your category? Include that language in your quotes and bylines.
  
• Target the right publications. You don’t need very well known news publications — sometimes a mention in an authoritative niche blog that AI already cites is more valuable than a general news feature.
  
• Partner with PR professionals if needed, especially if you’re targeting tier-1 publications or lack media relationships.
  

The goal here isn’t to get mentioned once — it’s to build a web of high-context mentions across multiple trusted sources. Over time, those mentions train AI models to recognize your brand as relevant to specific topics or industries.

In the next step, we’ll dive into keywords — specifically, how to write and structure them for AI-first visibility.

6. Focus on conversational and long tail keywords

We’ve already covered what to do with specific sources. Now let’s look at how to structure your content to get brand mentions in AI.

Most AI-generated answers are driven by natural, conversational queries—not just short, exact-match keywords. That means if you want your brand to show up in AI results, your content should reflect how real people ask questions, not just how they search in Google.

Think of the difference between:

• “Email marketing” (broad and generic)
  vs.
  
• “What’s the best email marketing tool for solopreneurs with a small list?” (specific and conversational)
  

AI tools are more likely to generate responses based on the second kind of query. These are called long tail keywords — search phrases that are longer, more specific, and usually have clearer intent.

Here’s what you should do:

• Identify questions your users are likely to ask about your product or industry. Use Google Trends or Writesonic’s Answer The People tool to quickly identify these.
  
• Include those phrases naturally within your blog posts, landing pages, FAQs, and comparison content.
  
• Optimize for “best,” “how,” “why,” and “which” style queries. These are the most common formats people use with AI tools.
  
• Use tools like ChatGPT or Writesonic’s Generative Engine Optimization tool to simulate these queries and test how your content performs.
  

Also, go beyond keywords and think in terms of topic clusters and semantic relevance. AI thrives on context, so your content should holistically address a topic — covering not just one keyword, but all its related subtopics. This helps models associate your brand with a broader theme, not just a single phrase.

In short, if your content mirrors the way people talk to AI, it increases the odds that AI will talk about your brand.

7. Give proper citations to authoritative sources in your content

Adding stats, citations, and authoritative sources is a tactic well-known even in traditional SEO. But for AI, it works a bit differently.

According to a research study by the IIT, Delhi and Princeton University, content with explicit citations and clear attributions — like quoting studies or citing sources — had a much higher chance of being picked up and referenced by AI tools. 

This isn’t just about hyperlinking to a source. It’s about explicitly stating the source within the content.

For example, instead of just linking the words “this study” to a report, say:

“According to a 2023 study by McKinsey…”

Or

“As Google’s Search Central guidelines explain…”

This kind of clear attribution helps AI models associate your content with authoritative sources—and that makes your page more likely to be summarized or cited in AI responses.

Of course, adding the actual hyperlink is still valuable for user experience and credibility. But for AI, the mention needs to be explicit — the model can only “see” and interpret what’s written, not just the destination of a link.

So when you write content:

• Name-drop trusted brands, institutions, and publications clearly.
  
• Use phrases like “according to,” “as reported by,” or “a study by.”
  
• Back up claims with real data and original sources.
  

The more your content feels authoritative — both in substance and in structure — the more likely AI will treat it that way.

8. Focus on Review Platforms for Increased Credibility

AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Mode often pull data from review platforms like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot when answering product-related queries. 

Having a strong, consistent presence on these platforms directly increases your chances of being mentioned in AI-generated answers.

But it’s not just about having reviews — it’s about what those reviews say. If multiple users highlight the same strengths or use cases, AI starts associating those traits with your brand. 

So, keep your profiles updated, encourage authentic reviews, and make sure the narrative reflects your positioning. 

It’s one of the most scalable ways to build trust — not just with humans, but with models too.

9. Build a presence on Reddit and other discussion forums

ChatGPT and other AI platforms take a massive amount of training data from Reddit, Quora, and other public discussion platforms. That’s why building a real and authoritative presence on these platforms—and getting genuine, repeated mentions of your brand—is necessary if you want to be picked up in AI-generated answers.

But here’s the catch: most brands do this the wrong way.

They jump in with excessive self-promotion, fake reviews, or spammy tactics—and end up damaging their reputation more than helping it. Yes, AI learns from these platforms, but so does your audience. So if you’re going to build a presence here, do it with authenticity and moderation.

Here are a few tips to get it right:

• Create a real profile and be transparent that it’s from your brand (no fake accounts or sockpuppets).
  
• Answer questions in a helpful, non-promotional way. Prioritize value first; if your product is a fit, mention it subtly.
  
• Engage with threads that are already ranking in Google or generating lots of discussion — these are more likely to be seen (and scraped) by AI tools.
  
• Use your GEO prompts to find threads AI is already referencing for your target queries, and join those discussions.
  
• Build long-term credibility and trust by consistently providing thoughtful responses — not just dropping links.
  

What not to do:

• Don’t pretend to be a customer just to say good things about your product.
  
• Don’t spam your brand in every comment or thread.
  
• Don’t ignore forum rules or community guidelines — it can get you banned, and leave a bad trace in public archives.
  

The goal is to become a trusted voice in your niche — a brand that people (and AI) recognize as helpful, knowledgeable, and relevant.

10. Regularly post on your own social media channel

While Reddit and Quora are great for third-party credibility, your own social media channels play a key role in shaping how AI understands and talks about your brand.

AI tools like ChatGPT don’t just learn from articles and blogs—they also absorb data from public social media profiles, especially on platforms like Twitter (X), LinkedIn, and YouTube, where thought leadership and product insights are often shared openly. 

So if your brand is active and consistent on these platforms, it increases the chances of being included in AI-generated responses.

But again, consistency and authenticity are key.

Here’s what to do:

• Post regularly about your product, features, industry trends, customer use cases, and helpful tips — don’t just push announcements or salesy content.
  
• Use long-tail keywords and industry phrases naturally in your posts. For example, instead of saying “New update live!” say “We just launched a new update for our AI writing tool that helps eCommerce founders scale blog content faster.”
  
• Engage in relevant threads and conversations — especially on X and LinkedIn. These platforms are often indexed or referenced by AI tools.
  
• Encourage resharing and discussion so that your content gets circulated beyond your follower base.
  

Also, try to make your brand’s positioning, value props, and target audience obvious through your posts. This gives AI clear, repeated signals about who you are, what you do, and who you serve.

Remember: your social presence isn’t just for people — it’s for models, too. The more high-quality, keyword-rich, and contextually relevant your public social content is, the more AI models will associate your brand with the right queries.

11. Optimize for Bing (Yes, Really)

When we talk about showing up in AI-generated responses, it’s not just about Google anymore.

Microsoft’s Bing plays a central role in powering several generative AI experiences — including ChatGPT’s browsing mode, Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bing Chat), and other third-party AI apps that use Bing as their default search layer. 

In fact, whenever a model like ChatGPT browses the internet for up-to-date content, it’s usually pulling from Bing.

So if you’re only optimizing for Google, you’re missing out on a big chunk of real-time, AI-influenced visibility.

And here’s the thing: Bing SEO works a bit differently from Google SEO. If you want to increase your AI visibility, you’ll need to tailor your strategy accordingly.

Here’s how to optimize for Bing effectively:

• Use exact-match keywords more generously.

While Google is excellent at interpreting semantics and search intent, Bing still prefers direct keyword matches. So don’t shy away from repeating your primary keywords in headers, meta descriptions, and body copy — especially for key landing pages.

• Leverage schema markup across your entire site.

Bing is more reliant on structured data to interpret context. Use detailed schema types — like Product, Article, Review, FAQPage, and Organization — to help Bing understand what your page is about and associate it with specific entities.

• Claim and optimize your Bing Places listing.

If you’re a local business, don’t forget Bing Places (their version of Google Business Profile). It’s a surprisingly underutilized feature that can get your brand featured in AI answers with location context.

• Use social signals to your advantage.

Unlike Google, Bing openly factors in social media presence. Make sure your posts, tweets, and shares link back to your domain — and that your social handles are consistent across platforms.

• Submit your sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools.

Don’t assume Google Search Console is enough. Use Bing’s Webmaster Tools to upload your sitemap, identify crawl errors, and get clarity on how Bing is indexing your site.

• Prioritize clean HTML and lightweight site structure.

Bing’s crawler has more difficulty with dynamic content and JavaScript-heavy pages than Google. Keep your templates simple, avoid cloaking, and ensure all critical content is available in raw HTML.

• Improve click-through rates with punchy titles and descriptions.

Bing tends to display slightly longer titles and meta descriptions. Use this space to your advantage with compelling copy and targeted keywords — and avoid truncation issues.

• Optimize for Microsoft Edge and desktop UX.

Bing traffic leans desktop-heavy (thanks to being the default on Edge). Make sure your layout, CTAs, and readability are optimized for larger screens, not just mobile-first formats.

By aligning your content and technical setup with Bing’s priorities, you increase the odds of getting surfaced in ChatGPT’s live browsing queries and Copilot’s real-time citations. It’s not just a traditional search play — it’s a foundational part of your generative engine optimization strategy.

Final thoughts: Getting Brand Mentions in AI isn’t Luck — It’s Strategy

Brand mentions in AI tools like ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, and Perplexity aren’t random. They’re the result of strategic visibility, consistent messaging, and being in the right places with the right content.

But let’s be real: doing all of this manually is time-consuming and overwhelming—especially if you’re managing multiple products, content types, or marketing channels.

That’s where Writesonic’s Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) tool comes in.

With our GEO tool, you can:

• Track how different AI platforms currently perceive your brand
  
• Monitor which sources (internal and external) are influencing AI output
  
• Identify gaps, misrepresentations, or missed opportunities
  
• Get smart recommendations to fix, rewrite, or pitch the right content
  
• Run topic-based prompts across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and more—automatically
  

If you’re serious about future-proofing your SEO and making your brand AI-visible, GEO gives you the system, data, and insights to do it at scale.

FAQs on How to Get Brand Mentions in AI

1. Can I pay to get my brand mentioned in ChatGPT or Google’s AI Overviews?

No, you can’t directly pay to get your brand mentioned in AI responses. Unlike ads or sponsored placements, AI-generated answers are based on learned patterns, citations, and context. 

Your best bet is to influence those patterns by creating high-quality, relevant, and widely-referenced content across trusted sources.

2. How long does it take to start seeing AI tools mention my brand?

It depends. If your content is already well-optimized and you’re mentioned on authoritative third-party sites, changes might reflect in a few weeks. 

But if you’re starting from scratch, it can take several months of consistent content, external mentions, and topic authority building before AI platforms start picking up your brand organically.

3. Does blocking AI crawlers in my robots.txt prevent all AI mentions?

Not entirely — but it significantly reduces your chances. If you block AI crawlers like GPTBot or Google-Extended, your site won’t be used in training or real-time AI referencing. 

That means AI can learn about your brand only from other websites resulting in fewer chances to appear in AI-generated responses. If visibility in AI is a goal, make sure your content is open and accessible.

4. How to get brand mentions in ChatGPT?

ChatGPT’s answers come from its training data or live web results via Bing (in Search mode). To get mentioned, ensure your brand appears in high-authority sources Bing indexes — like blogs, news sites, and forums. Focus on clear, consistent mentions across these channels.

Niyati Mahale

Niyati Mahale is a Content Writer @Writesonic. She specializes in artificial intelligence and B2B, with a flair for combining effective storytelling and SEO best practices to create impactful content.