In the past few months, I’ve had six marketers ask me this one question: “How do we get more visible on ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews?” It's a telling sign of the times. We’re not just optimizing for search engines anymore—we’re optimizing for machine-generated answers. And in 2025, that means adapting to the unique DNA of AI platforms.
Here’s what every modern marketer needs to know.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All: AI Platforms Prioritize Differently
If you’ve been approaching AI visibility like traditional SEO—uniform content syndication, a few press hits, a solid blog—stop now. The top-cited sources vary dramatically by platform. Each AI engine has its own information diet, and you must feed it accordingly.
Let’s break it down:
Perplexity: The Reddit-Centric Engine
Perplexity.ai is the new darling of context-rich search, and it’s reshaping how consumers discover answers. According to the study, a staggering 46.7% of citations on Perplexity come from Reddit. That’s nearly half. YouTube follows at a distant second with 13.9%.
What this means: If your brand isn’t embedded in Reddit culture, you’re invisible here. This isn’t about running ads—it’s about organic, community-driven presence.
How to win:
Join conversations in niche subreddits (or better, start them).
Encourage your community team to answer questions with expertise and subtle brand integration.
Repurpose content into YouTube Shorts, behind-the-scenes vlogs, and 10-minute explainers that Perplexity’s engine can latch onto.
Reddit is not just a content source here—it’s the foundation.
ChatGPT: The Wikipedia & Traditional Media Hybrid
When it comes to ChatGPT, you might expect tech blogs or influencer posts to lead. But the data says otherwise: Wikipedia accounts for 47.9% of ChatGPT citations, followed by Reddit (11.3%), with G2, Forbes, and TechRadar rounding out the top tier.
Implication: ChatGPT heavily favors structured, verifiable, and high-authority sources. It’s drawing from what we’d consider the digital canon.
Action steps:
Audit your brand’s Wikipedia presence. Is it accurate? Up to date? Cited properly?
Get your PR team focused on securing features in respected publications—both general media and niche tech titles.
Reinforce your brand’s presence on G2 if you're in SaaS or software—those reviews do influence ChatGPT.
Google AI Overviews: A Balanced, Social-Driven Engine
Google’s AI Overviews present a more balanced source distribution:
Reddit: 21%
YouTube: 18.8%
Quora: 14.3%
LinkedIn: 13%
No single source dominates. That means diversification is key.
How to get ahead:
Create thought leadership content on LinkedIn—not fluff, but real expertise.
Turn employees into advocates through EGC (employee-generated content).
Get your brand’s expertise answering high-value questions on Quora.
Continue investing in YouTube with a mix of educational and brand storytelling.
The AI engines clearly value communities where real people discuss real things.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
We’re entering an era where AI platforms are not just tools—they are gatekeepers. Increasingly, users are bypassing Google Search altogether, turning to AI summaries, chatbots, and voice interfaces to get their answers. If your brand isn’t in the answer layer, you’re missing out on the next generation of visibility.
More importantly, these AI engines aren’t just reflecting search behavior—they’re shaping it. They decide what people read, trust, and remember. In this world, traditional SEO is only one piece of the puzzle. AI visibility is the new frontier.
Final Thought: It’s Not About Gaming the System—It’s About Earning Trust at Scale
The platforms may differ, but the underlying principle is the same: the AI chooses sources that appear trusted, relevant, and human. That’s not something you can fake. Whether it’s a subreddit post, a G2 review, a Wikipedia edit, or a LinkedIn article—your brand’s influence in AI responses is built on real signals of credibility.
So if you’re still asking, “How do we show up in AI answers?”—the real question is: Where are the conversations happening, and how can we add genuine value to them?
The future of marketing isn’t just search-based. It’s AI-shaped. Time to start showing up where the algorithms are listening.
For more insights on winning in the AI era, follow Suraj Nambiar—the author behind these strategies—and stay ahead of the curve. CXO India is the best destination for actionable insights, thought leadership, and exclusive events. Discover more insightful content tailored for Indian CXOs. Reach out to us at info@cxo-india.com
