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ChatGPT and Perplexity now send real visitors to the sites they cite. Here is how their crawlers work, what to allow in robots.txt and how to become a source they quote.
This guide shows how to get cited by ChatGPT and Perplexity, step by step. It is part of my AI search optimization guide.
Quick answer
To be cited in ChatGPT search, allow OpenAI’s OAI-SearchBot in robots.txt and make sure your pages are indexed and easy to quote. For Perplexity, allow PerplexityBot. Then publish clear, answer-first pages with specific facts, keep your brand consistent across the web, and earn mentions on the sites these tools already cite in your niche.
Step 1: Know the AI crawlers
| Bot | Company | Purpose | Allow it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAI-SearchBot | OpenAI | Surfaces sites in ChatGPT search | Yes, to appear in ChatGPT answers |
| GPTBot | OpenAI | Collects content that may train OpenAI models | Your choice; blocking it does not remove you from ChatGPT search |
| ChatGPT-User | OpenAI | Fetches a page when a user’s action asks for it | Usually yes |
| PerplexityBot | Perplexity | Surfaces and links sites in Perplexity results | Yes, to appear in Perplexity |
| Perplexity-User | Perplexity | Fetches a page to answer a user’s question | Usually yes |
| Bingbot | Microsoft | Bing index, used by Copilot and others | Yes |
OpenAI also notes that robots.txt changes can take about 24 hours to apply for search, and that sites should allow its published OAI-SearchBot IP ranges if a firewall or CDN blocks bots.
Step 2: Check your robots.txt and firewall
User-agent: OAI-SearchBot
Allow: /
User-agent: PerplexityBot
Allow: /Many sites block AI bots by accident through security plugins, Cloudflare bot rules or hosting firewalls. Test your file with the robots.txt tester or build one with the robots.txt generator.
Step 3: Get indexed in Bing too
Several AI assistants rely on Bing data. Verify your site in Bing Webmaster Tools, submit your sitemap and use IndexNow if your CMS supports it.
Step 4: Write pages AI tools can quote
- Use the real question as a heading.
- Answer it in 1 or 2 sentences right under the heading.
- Add specific facts: numbers, dates, named tools, steps.
- Keep each section self-contained, so it still makes sense when quoted alone.
- Show who wrote it and why they know: experience, case studies, credentials.
- Update it when facts change, and show the updated date.
Step 5: Earn mentions where AI looks
Generative tools often build answers from many sources and name the brands that appear repeatedly. In practice that means:
- Industry blogs and publications in your niche. See brand mentions.
- “Best X” and comparison articles that list providers.
- Reddit, Quora and niche forums with genuine, helpful answers. See Quora answers.
- Review platforms and marketplace profiles with real reviews.
- Guest posts on relevant sites with real traffic. See high DA guest posts.
Step 6: Make your brand a clear entity
Use the same name, description, logo and founder name everywhere. Add Organization or Person schema with sameAs links to your real profiles (LinkedIn, marketplace profiles, social accounts). This helps any system connect mentions across the web to you. Read schema markup guide.
Step 7: Measure citations and traffic
- In GA4, check referral sessions from chatgpt.com and perplexity.ai.
- Every month, ask each tool 20 to 30 questions your buyers ask and note which sources appear.
- Watch for your brand name in answers to “best [service] provider” questions.
Example
For a question like “How do I fix crawled currently not indexed?”, a page that names the Search Console report, lists the causes in a short table and gives numbered fixes is far easier to quote than a 2,000 word story with the answer hidden in paragraph nine. That is how I structured my crawled, currently not indexed guide.
Done for you
I optimise your site for AI Overviews, ChatGPT and Perplexity: answer-first content, entity and schema fixes, and brand mentions on sites AI tools cite.
Frequently asked questions
Does blocking GPTBot remove my site from ChatGPT?
No. GPTBot is for model training. ChatGPT search uses OAI-SearchBot. Allow OAI-SearchBot to stay eligible for ChatGPT search citations.
How does ChatGPT decide which sites to cite?
OpenAI has not published a full formula. Pages that are crawlable, relevant, clearly written, trusted and mentioned across the web are cited more often.
Can I pay to be cited by ChatGPT?
There is no paid placement for citations in ChatGPT answers. Visibility comes from being a strong, relevant source.
How long until ChatGPT cites my site?
After allowing OAI-SearchBot, robots.txt changes can take about 24 hours. Earning citations for competitive questions takes longer and depends on authority.
Does Perplexity respect robots.txt?
PerplexityBot follows robots.txt. Perplexity-User fetches pages for a user’s question and generally ignores robots.txt.
Sources
Facts checked against these official pages on 10 October 2026. Read my editorial policy.
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