How to Rank in ChatGPT (GEO Optimization)
The next frontier in search is emerging, with generative engine optimization (GEO) within LMM platforms poised to become crucial for boosting visibility.
Start a new chat in ChatGPT or Gemini and type in “home inspectors near me.” Are you on that list? Do you know how anyone got on it in the first place? Gartner projects search traffic to drop by 25% by 2026, which means building rank for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) will be critical over the next decade for home inspectors of every size. Inspectors who understand how to rank within these LLM platforms will gain a major edge in market share.
GEO is essentially SEO on steroids. Unlike Google, where potential clients can scroll through dozens of inspectors, ChatGPT will only display a few options, maybe with some details about each company. As more people move away from sponsored results on Google, they are turning to ChatGPT and Gemini for recommendations, and home inspectors are not exempt.
ChatGPT shows sources for its results and pulls from multiple backlinks to form a reasonable answer. It doesn’t just pull from your website, but also from Yelp, Nextdoor, the Better Business Bureau, MapQuest, Facebook, Trustpilot, and other sites. This makes it crucial to build listings on every platform that allows a business page.
Gemini, Google’s version of ChatGPT, will likely weigh Google reviews heavily, along with other ranking factors, making Google reviews and your overall Google rank primary drivers for GEO. To boost your rank, create business listings anywhere you can, including Yelp and Trustpilot, and collect as many reviews as possible. Not only will this help with GEO ranking, it will also improve your visibility in traditional search results. Outside of referral networks, this is one of the best ways to attract new business.