Ranking in Google used to be the end goal. Today, it’s only half the game. Search behavior has shifted dramatically, and Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Bing Copilot have become new “discovery engines.” Users find answers inside AI summaries before even clicking a website. To stay visible, your brand must rank in Google and be trusted, cited, and surfaced by AI systems.
This guide breaks down how ranking works in both worlds—traditional search engines and LLM-powered platforms—so your content remains discoverable everywhere audiences search.
As a Digital Marketing Consultant and Best SEO Expert in US, I’ve spent 15+ years helping brands grow through Digital Marketing Strategy, On-page SEO Optimization, Technical SEO Optimization, Content Marketing Services, and advanced AI-driven SEO. What you’ll learn here is not theory. These are the same frameworks I use for clients who need to build organic visibility across Google and AI ecosystems.
Why Ranking in Both Google and LLMs Matters Today
Search behavior is splintered. Users don’t rely on one platform—they bounce between:
- Google AI Overviews
- ChatGPT
- Perplexity AI
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Instagram search
- Niche LLM chatbots
The result?
You can no longer depend on a single search engine to generate sustainable traffic.
Traditional SEO still matters, but today’s winning strategy requires:
- SEO that ranks in Google
- SEO that is easily referenced and cited by LLMs
- Content built for multi-platform discovery
- Entity authority strong enough for AI systems to trust
If you want your business to grow through organic visibility, you must learn how to rank in both.
What “Ranking in LLMs” Really Means
When someone asks ChatGPT a question like:
- “Best ecommerce SEO strategies”
- “How to optimize Shopify for SEO?”
- “Is restaurant SEO important?”
- “Top travel SEO tips”
LLMs don’t guess the answer—they retrieve, read, summarize, and cite trusted sources.
To rank inside these AI-generated summaries, your site must:
- Be easy for AI engines to understand
- Present structured, quotable information
- Maintain freshness and expert-level clarity
- Have strong entity authority (Google, Bing, and LLMs must know who you are)
- Be validated by third-party mentions, reviews, and authoritative references
This is exactly how LLMs decide which sources to display in AI Overview citation boxes.
How Google and LLMs Read and Rank Content Differently
Understanding the difference is critical.
How Google Ranks Pages
- Crawls HTML content
- Indexes based on structure and metadata
- Ranks based on relevance, authority, links, UX, and freshness
How LLMs Rank Sources
- Pulls data via retrieval systems (RAG)
- Synthesizes insights across multiple sources
- Rewards information that is:
- Easy to quote
- Clearly attributed
- Freshly updated
- Entity-rich
- Reduces visibility of outdated, vague, or generic content
Google values ranking signals.
LLMs value clarity, structure, and trust.
If your content doesn’t satisfy both, you lose both audiences.
SEO Basics Every Brand Must Master to Rank in Google and LLMs
Below is the complete framework you should follow—this is the same process I use in my Digital Marketing Consultation programs.
Understand How Search Engines and LLMs Discover Content
Search engines still rely on three steps:
- Crawling
- Indexing
- Ranking
LLMs use something different:
- Retrieval (fetches information)
- Summarization
- Citation
- Synthesis
What this means for your SEO:
You must optimize your site for both workflows. That requires:
- Clear HTML
- Strong internal linking
- Fast site speed
- Well-structured pages
- Defined entities with schema markup
- Content that leads with answers
This is also foundational for Travel SEO Expert, Restaurant SEO, and industry-specific ranking goals.
Keyword Research for Google and LLMs
Traditional keyword research still matters. But for AI search, you need two additional layers:
1. Long-form, question-based queries
LLMs prefer “natural language” questions like:
- how
- why
- what is
- best way to
- tools for
- strategies for
These should be integrated through your content and FAQ sections.
2. Entity-based keywords
LLMs rank brands they understand.
Keywords like:
- “Best Digital Marketing Expert”
- “Google Ads Expert”
- “Social Media Marketing Expert”
- “Best SEO Expert in US”
- “Digital Marketing Consultant”
- “Performance Marketer”
strengthen your entity footprint across platforms.
3. Action-focused keywords
These boost commercial value:
- PPC advertising services in US
- WordPress SEO Optimization
- Shopify SEO Optimization
- Local SEO Optimization
- On-page SEO Optimization
- Off-page SEO Optimization
- Technical SEO Optimization
- Best Ecommerce SEO Expert in US
These also create natural internal linking opportunities.
On-Page SEO Optimization to Rank in Both Google and LLMs
Ranking depends on your content being fast, clear, helpful, and structured.
What Google Rewards
- Title tags with primary keywords
- Clean headings
- Strong internal linking
- Optimized images
- Clear copy aligned with search intent
- Mobile-first layout
What LLMs Reward
- First-paragraph summaries
- Declarative answers (easy to copy into AI responses)
- FAQ sections
- Structured data (schema)
- Lists, steps, frameworks
- Definitions and examples
- Consistent entity mentions
If your page is not “citable,” AI will skip you.
Technical SEO for Google and AI Crawlers
Robust technical SEO dramatically increases your ranking ability.
Key elements include:
- Fast hosting
- Compressed images
- Server-side rendering (important for AI crawlers)
- Strong Core Web Vitals
- Clear, canonical URLs
- XML sitemaps
- Robots.txt hygiene
- HTTPS
- Clean JavaScript
Technical excellence builds trust with Google and LLMs.
Off-Page SEO to Strengthen Brand Trust
LLMs heavily depend on authority signals outside your website.
You need:
- High-authority backlinks
- Strong brand mentions
- Press coverage
- Social proof
- Reviews
- Thought leadership
- Mentions in niche communities (Reddit, Quora)
- Activity on discovery platforms (YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram)
Remember:
What LLMs cannot find, they cannot cite.
How to Build Entity Authority for LLMs
Entities are the foundation of AI-driven search.
Your brand must exist as a recognized “entity” across the web.
That requires:
- A robust About page
- Expert author bios
- Organization schema
- Consistent brand name usage
- External references pointing to the same entity
- Social profiles that confirm your identity
- Listings in major directories
This improves your presence on:
- ChatGPT
- Google AI Overviews
- Perplexity
- Bing Copilot
- Gemini
Without entity strength, LLMs won’t trust you.
Content Built for Google vs. Content Built for LLMs
Google Content Priorities:
- Keyword targeting
- Topical depth
- Internal linking
- E-E-A-T
- UX
LLM Content Priorities:
- Clarity
- Quoted sections
- Step-by-step breakdowns
- Definitions
- Fact-based writing
- Updated data
- Easy-to-parse content patterns
Your content must satisfy both worlds.
Local SEO Optimization for Google and LLMs
If your target audience includes local customers in the US:
- Optimize Google Business Profile
- Use local citations
- Build location landing pages
- Use local intent keywords
- Collect reviews consistently
This matters for service businesses including:
- Restaurants (Restaurant SEO)
- Travel agencies (Travel SEO Expert)
- Local service companies
- Ecommerce stores with US-based locations
AI systems often reference local listings when producing answers for location-based prompts.
The Rise of Multi-Platform Discovery
Gen Z uses TikTok and Instagram as search engines.
LLMs reference:
- YouTube
- Product reviews
- Social proof
- Author expertise
- Community discussions
Your brand must be visible wherever your audience discovers solutions—social, search, and AI.
This is why many brands hire Digital Marketing Experts, Social Media Marketing Professionals, and Online Marketing Consultants to manage multi-platform presence.
How To Create an SEO Strategy That Ranks in Both Google and LLMs
Here is the hybrid framework I use in my consultation programs:
1. Keyword Strategy
Target keywords for:
- LLM-style queries
- Entities
- Commercial intent
2. Content Strategy
Publish:
- Guides
- Comparison posts
- FAQs
- Frameworks
- Tools
- Processes your competitors cannot replicate
3. Technical Excellence
Fix Core Web Vitals
Clean HTML
Indexation hygiene
4. AI-Friendly Formatting
- TL;DR summaries
- Bullet frameworks
- Easy-to-quote lines
- Clear definitions
5. Authority Building
- Press
- Backlinks
- Case studies
- Testimonials
- Social signals
6. Multi-Platform Distribution
- YouTube
- Reddit expertise
- LinkedIn thought leadership
- Blogs
- Podcasts
7. Continuous Optimization
SEO and LLM ranking demand regular updates.
Your content must stay current, cited, and trusted.
The Future: Ranking Beyond Google
In 2026 and beyond, search evolves into a multi-platform, multi-agent ecosystem.
You will rank everywhere if:
- Your expertise is clear
- Your content is helpful and unique
- Your brand is trusted
- Your technical structure is strong
- Your entity signals are recognized
- Your authority exists across the web
This is the new playing field.
And brands embracing this reality will win.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does it mean to rank in LLMs?
It means appearing as a cited source or referenced answer in AI-generated responses from systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. LLMs pull information from trusted pages, so your content must be structured, clear, fresh, and authoritative.
How is ranking in Google different from ranking in an LLM?
Google ranks based on traditional signals like links, keywords, and UX.
LLMs rank based on clarity, quotability, freshness, structure, and entity authority.
Why is entity authority important for LLM ranking?
LLMs need to identify your brand as a trustworthy source. Strong entity signals make your content more likely to be cited by AI systems.
Does technical SEO affect AI visibility?
Yes. AI models struggle with slow pages, heavy JavaScript, missing content, or blocked resources. Clean, fast, structured pages help LLMs retrieve your content easily.
How can small businesses rank in both Google and LLM results?
By focusing on clear content, structured FAQs, optimized Google Business Profiles, strong local SEO, consistent reviews, and publishing expert-led content that AI systems can quote.