Short answer: AI assistants cite pages they can crawl, understand and trust. Make sure AI crawlers are allowed, get indexed in Bing and Google, put a clear answer at the top of each page, add structured data, keep facts current and get mentioned on other trusted sites.
This is the same checklist I use on client sites and on this one. For the basics behind it, read What are AEO and GEO?.
1. Let AI crawlers read your site
Check your robots.txt. If it blocks bots like OAI-SearchBot, GPTBot, PerplexityBot or Google-Extended, those tools cannot use your pages. Most Framer sites allow them by default, but plugins and old settings on other platforms often block them.
Also make sure your content is in the HTML, not loaded later by JavaScript. Many AI crawlers do not run JavaScript. Framer publishes server-rendered pages, so this is covered.
2. Get indexed in Bing and Google
AI search tools lean on traditional search indexes to find pages. Submit your sitemap in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, and fix any pages marked as not indexed. If Bing cannot find a page, ChatGPT search is far less likely to cite it.
3. Put the answer first
AI tools quote short, direct answers. Start every important page and post with a two or three sentence answer to the main question, then explain. Use question headings like the ones people type: How much does it cost? How long does it take? Is it worth it?
4. Add structured data
Structured data (JSON-LD) tells machines what a page is: a service with a price, an article with a date, an FAQ, a person, a business. It removes guesswork. Every page on this site has it, which is part of my SEO, AEO and GEO setup.
5. Show facts, numbers and dates
Vague pages do not get quoted. Publish real prices, timelines, locations and results, and show when a page was last updated. AI tools prefer fresh, specific sources. Review key pages every 6 months and update the date when you do.
6. Get mentioned on other sites
AI answers draw on what the web says about you, not just what you say. Reviews on Clutch or Google, listings in directories like the Framer Experts directory, guest posts, podcast appearances and client case studies all add independent signals that you are a real, trusted business.
7. Check whether it is working
Ask ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Mode the questions your clients ask, like "best Framer designer for a SaaS website". Note who gets cited and what those pages have in common. Track referral traffic from chatgpt.com and perplexity.ai in your analytics.
Frequently asked questions
How does ChatGPT decide which websites to cite?
ChatGPT search finds pages through search indexes and its own crawler, then cites sources that answer the question clearly and look trustworthy. Clear answers, structured data and outside mentions all help.
Do I need an llms.txt file?
It can help AI tools understand your site, but it is optional and not a ranking factor. Crawler access, indexing and clear content matter far more.
Does blocking GPTBot stop ChatGPT from citing me?
Blocking OAI-SearchBot can keep your pages out of ChatGPT search results. GPTBot is used for training. Allow both if you want to be visible in ChatGPT.
How long does it take to get cited by AI tools?
Often a few weeks after pages are indexed, but there is no guarantee. Sites with clear answers and strong outside mentions get cited sooner.
Want your site ready for AI search?
Book a free 30-minute call or see my SEO, AEO and GEO service, from $1,800 one-time.
