Does Ranking in Google Guarantee Visibility in ChatGPT?

A new study reveals a surprising truth for digital marketers: ranking on Google doesn’t guarantee visibility in ChatGPT results.

According to research by Chatoptic, which analyzed 15 brands across five industries, there is only a 62% overlap between Google rankings and ChatGPT answers. In other words, even if a brand dominates Google’s first page, it may not be mentioned at all in AI-driven responses.

Why It Matters

For years, many SEOs assumed that strong Google rankings would naturally translate into visibility on generative AI platforms like ChatGPT. However, the findings highlight that Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) requires its own strategy. Traditional SEO alone isn’t enough to secure mentions in AI answers.

Key Findings from the Study

• 62% overlap: Brands ranking on Google’s first page were mentioned in ChatGPT answers only 62% of the time.
• Weak correlation (0.034): Even when brands appeared in both Google and ChatGPT, their ranking position on Google had little impact on their placement in AI answers.
• Browsing boost was minimal: Enabling browsing in ChatGPT only increased alignment with Google by 1%.
• High overlap performers: Coursera (86–87%) and GoDaddy (83%).
• Low overlap performers: Hostinger (32–34%) and edX (47–48%).
• By industry: Online courses showed the highest alignment (65%), while hotel booking categories showed the lowest (58%).
• Query intent: Whether users were exploring, comparing features, or seeking brands, overlap hovered at 61–63%—showing intent had little effect.

Search engines and generative AI are not interchangeable. Winning in Google search results doesn’t guarantee visibility in ChatGPT. This is the space where GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is emerging as the next big challenge for digital marketers.

At Earn SEO, our team of SEO experts in NYC understands that ranking on Google is no longer the only goal—visibility in generative AI platforms like ChatGPT matters too. We help businesses adapt with forward-looking strategies, blending traditional SEO with emerging Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) techniques. If you’re ready to future-proof your digital presence and stay ahead of AI-driven search, reach out to us today for customized solutions.