ChatGPT vs. Perplexity vs. Google AI Overviews: Where Should You Optimize First?
ChatGPT vs. Perplexity vs. Google AI Overviews: Where Should You Optimize First?
You have limited resources. You can’t optimize for every AI engine at once. So where do you place your bets?
While they all fall under the “AI Search” umbrella, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews (AIO) function very differently. They rely on different data sources, serve different user intents, and require distinct optimization strategies.
Here is the breakdown to help you prioritize.
The Platform Breakdown
| Feature | Google AI Overviews | Perplexity | ChatGPT Search |
|---|---|---|---|
| User Base | 5B+ monthly (all Google users) | 100M+ monthly | 200M+ weekly actives |
| Primary Data Source | Google Index + Knowledge Graph | Real-time web index + RAG | Training data + Bing integration |
| User Intent | Mainstream, quick answers (“how to”, “what is”) | Deep research, source validation | Creative, conversational, advice |
| Citation Style | Hidden (users click “Sources” button) | Prominent footnote links | Inline links (search mode) |
| Update Frequency | Slower (cached from Google index) | Real-time (live crawl) | Training data dependent |
| Top Ranking Factor | Traditional SEO + Topic Authority | Citation authority + Recency | Brand entity strength |
| Typical Query Type | “Best running shoes for flat feet” | “Comparative analysis of CRM tools” | “How do I plan a trip to Japan?” |
1. Google AI Overviews: The “Defensive” Play (Protect Your Existing Equity)
Who It’s For
Brands that already rely heavily on organic search traffic and need to protect it.
Why Optimize Here
It’s unavoidable. Google is still the default. Google AI Overviews now appear for 13.14% of all queries (doubled from 6.49% in January 2025). If you lose visibility here, you lose the mass market.
What’s at stake: When AI Overviews appear, CTR drops 47% (15% → 8%). If you’re not cited, you’re invisible AND losing click traffic.
Optimization Tactic: Featured Snippet 2.0
Google AI Overviews function very similarly to Featured Snippets (the box at the top of Google results). If you dominated Featured Snippets in 2024, you’ll dominate AI Overviews in 2025.
Best practices:
-
[ ] Structure for direct answers
- H2 = Question (e.g., “What are the best running shoes for flat feet?”)
- Paragraph below = 40-60 word answer
- Add 2-3 bullet points with supporting info
-
Example:
## Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet The best shoes for flat feet offer arch support and stability. Look for shoes with a "motion control" or "stability" rating. Top picks: - New Balance 990v5 (maximum support) - Brooks Adrenaline (affordable stability) - ASICS Gel-Kayano (cushioning + support)
- Use FAQPage Schema (40% higher citation rate)
- Google favors content with clear Q&A structure
- Convert top 5 questions about your product/service to FAQPage
- Optimize for “People Also Ask” queries
- Use tools like Answer The Public or SEMrush to see what people ask
- Create sections addressing these sub-questions
- Example: If someone asks “Best CRM,” they’ll also ask “Most affordable CRM,” “CRM for nonprofits,” etc.
- Focus on informational keywords (80-90% of AI Overviews)
- Avoid optimizing AI Overviews for transactional keywords
- AI doesn’t synthesize “where to buy” or “sign up here” queries
- Stick to: how-to, what-is, best-for, comparison queries
Metric to Track
Featured Snippet Share: How often does Google show your content in the “featured snippet” position? This is a leading indicator of AI Overview visibility.
2. Perplexity: The “B2B/Research” Play (Build Thought Leadership)
Who It’s For
SaaS, Tech, B2B services, research-heavy industries where decision-makers evaluate solutions.
Why Optimize Here
Perplexity users are power users—early adopters, researchers, and decision-makers. They actively click citations more than Google users. This is where informed B2B buyers go to compare options.
User behavior: Perplexity explicitly shows sources with footnote links. Users expect to dive deeper. If you’re cited, there’s a 15-20% chance they’ll click.
Optimization Tactic: Citation Engineering
You need to be mentioned in sources Perplexity trusts (Tier 1 media, academic papers, reputable niche blogs). Perplexity loves data-backed claims.
Best practices:
- Get mentioned in high-authority sources
- Tier 1: Forbes, TechCrunch, HubSpot Blog, Search Engine Journal
- Tier 2: Industry publications (SaaS Weekly, G2 Blog, etc.)
- Tier 3: Respected niche blogs (with high domain authority)
- Goal: Get featured in at least 1 Tier 1 + 2 Tier 2 publications per quarter
- Publish data-backed research
- Perplexity loves citing original statistics
- Example: “76% of agencies still don’t track AI visibility” (from your research)
- When someone asks “How many agencies optimize for GEO?” Perplexity cites YOUR data
- Optimize for deep-dive queries
- Perplexity users ask longer, more complex questions than Google users
- Example: “Explain the difference between entity authority and domain authority in the context of GEO”
- Create comprehensive articles (1500-2000 words) that answer multi-faceted questions
- Use Perplexity’s API or submit to their database (if available)
- Some content platforms allow direct submission to Perplexity
- Ensure your site has clean
robots.txt(allow Perplexity crawlers)
- Create “Source Bait” Content
- Write content specifically designed to be cited as a source
- Example: “The Complete 2025 GEO Benchmark Report” (original research)
- Pitch it to media as: “Original data that journalists will want to cite”
Platform-Specific Optimization Checklist for Perplexity:
- Title includes power words: “Complete,” “Definitive,” “2025 Research”
- First 100 words state a surprising statistic or finding
- Include original data/research
- Citations within content point to reputable sources
- Content is comprehensive (1500+ words for competitive keywords)
- Use tables, charts, data visualization (Perplexity extracts these)
- Include expert quotes (attributed clearly)
Metric to Track
Citation Frequency on Perplexity: How many times per month does Perplexity cite your brand in answers to your target keywords?
3. ChatGPT: The “Brand Awareness” Play (Mindshare)
Who It’s For
Consumer brands, Lifestyle, Travel, Software. Any brand with a B2C audience.
Why Optimize Here
ChatGPT has the massive user base (200M+ weekly active users). It’s where people go for advice and planning. Even if CTR is lower, sheer volume = huge reach.
User behavior: ChatGPT users are less likely to click links (they’re getting advice, not looking for sources). But being recommended = massive brand awareness signal.
Optimization Tactic: Entity & Sentiment Management
ChatGPT leans heavily on its training data and Bing search integration. Ensure your brand has a strong, positive footprint everywhere.
Best practices:
- Dominate aggregator lists
- G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, ProductHunt, and similar review platforms
- AI training data includes these heavily
- Your goal: Rank in “Top 10 SaaS Tools” lists on these platforms
- Get at least 4.5+ stars on each major platform
- Respond to every review (positive and negative)
- Build a strong, consistent brand presence
- LinkedIn (company page + founder profiles)
- Twitter/X (thought leadership)
- Company blog (regular, quality content)
- Official website (clear value proposition)
- Wikipedia (if qualified) or Wikidata
- AI training data is based on what’s publicly said about you
- Optimize for “Top 10” queries
- Many people ask ChatGPT: “What are the top 10 tools for X?”
- If you appear in “Top CRM Software” lists online, you’ll appear in ChatGPT’s answer
- Strategy: Get featured in Forbes, G2, Capterra “Best Of” lists
- Create “Best Of” content yourself
- Publish: “Top 10 GEO Tools,” “Best Project Management Software,” etc.
- When people ask ChatGPT, it may cite YOUR list as a source of competitive landscape
- Manage sentiment
- Monitor: Are reviews positive or negative?
- Monitor: How are you talked about on Reddit, Twitter, industry forums?
- The AI learns sentiment from these sources
- High positive sentiment = higher recommendation likelihood
Platform-Specific Optimization Checklist for ChatGPT:
- G2/Capterra rating: 4.5+ stars
- 50+ verified reviews on major platforms
- Founder/CEO has active LinkedIn (10K+ followers)
- Company appears in “Top 10” lists (Forbes, industry publications)
- Positive brand mentions on Reddit, Twitter (search “[Your Brand]” and monitor sentiment)
- Consistent messaging across all platforms
- Regular company blog (shows activity, engagement)
Metric to Track
Sentiment Score: Using tools like Mention or Brand24, track what % of mentions are positive vs. negative. Goal: 75%+ positive sentiment.
Our Recommendation: Prioritization Framework
If You’re a B2B SaaS Company:
- Start with Perplexity (30 days)
- Easiest to influence with high-quality content + PR
- High-intent users (decision-makers)
- Faster results
- Then expand to Google AI Overviews + ChatGPT
- Then Google AI Overviews (60 days)
- Larger audience, but slower to see impact
- Protect existing SEO traffic
- Use your already-published content
- Finally ChatGPT (90 days)
- Brand awareness play
- Requires reputation management (G2, reviews, founder presence)
- Long-term play
If You’re a B2C/Consumer Brand:
- Start with ChatGPT (30 days)
- Larger user base
- Brand awareness priority
- Focus on aggregator lists + sentiment
- Then Google AI Overviews (60 days)
- Protect local/transactional traffic
- Optimize for featured snippets
- Skip or defer Perplexity (unless you have highly technical audience)
The Data-Driven Approach: Measure Before You Optimize
Don’t guess—measure.
- Baseline audit (Week 1):
- Manually check: Do you appear on ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI for your top 20 keywords?
- Use Geolify’s AI Visibility Tracker to auto-generate this report
- Log your baseline (yes/no, position, sentiment)
- Pick your priority (Week 2):
- Based on where your customers actually search
- Based on where you’re losing visibility
- Execute 30-day sprint (Weeks 3-6):
- Implement top 3 tactics for that platform
- Measure again at day 30
- Double down or pivot (Week 7+):
- If it’s working, scale it
- If not, move to next platform
Conclusion: Start Somewhere, Not Everywhere
You don’t need to optimize all three platforms at once. Pick one. Win there. Then expand.
The biggest mistake: Trying to be everywhere and succeeding nowhere.
Pick your platform based on where your customers are and what intent they have. Then double down. In 90 days, you’ll have proof points that will make expanding to other platforms obvious.
Start today.
