{"id":14576,"date":"2025-11-07T18:45:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T18:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/llm-sources-shifted-80-in-2-months-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T18:45:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T18:45:17","slug":"llm-sources-shifted-80-in-2-months-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/llm-sources-shifted-80-in-2-months-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic\/","title":{"rendered":"LLM Sources Shifted 80% in 2 Months. Here\u2019s Why You Shouldn\u2019t Panic"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>AI search is still moving. What\u2019s cited today across Google (AI Mode + AI Overviews) and ChatGPT might look different in a month.<\/p>\n<p>But there\u2019s no need to scramble.<\/p>\n<p>For example, a dip in Reddit citations isn\u2019t a reason to abandon conversational marketing or rebuild your plan from scratch.<\/p>\n<p>(Plus, it\u2019s likely things aren\u2019t always what they seem, like this speculation from <a title=\"John-Henry Scherck - Growth Plays LLC | LinkedIn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jhtscherck\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John-Henry Scherck<\/a> about Reddit and ChatGPT.)<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"LinkedIn \u2013 Jhtscherck \u2013 Reddit in ChatGPT\" alt=\"LinkedIn \u2013 Jhtscherck \u2013 Reddit in ChatGPT\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.80307692307692\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/linkedin-jhtscherck-reddit-in-chatgpt.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Instead, stick to doing the basics \u2014 getting mentioned by the major players in your industry as well as hyper-relevant\/niche ones \u2014 while keeping tabs on macro changes that should impact your go-forward strategy.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/llm-sources-shifted-80-in-2-months-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic\/#LLM_Sources_Arent_Set_in_Stone\" >LLM Sources Aren\u2019t Set in Stone<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/llm-sources-shifted-80-in-2-months-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic\/#What_This_Means_for_Marketers\" >What This Means for Marketers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/llm-sources-shifted-80-in-2-months-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic\/#Tip_1_Check_ChatGPT_Sources_Monthly_for_Target_Prompts\" >Tip #1: Check ChatGPT Sources Monthly for Target Prompts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/llm-sources-shifted-80-in-2-months-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic\/#Tip_2_Still_Perform_Backlink_Competitive_Analyses_to_Identify_Where_Else_Competitors_Are_Being_Cited\" >Tip #2: Still Perform Backlink Competitive Analyses to Identify Where Else Competitors Are Being Cited<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/llm-sources-shifted-80-in-2-months-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic\/#Tip_3_Refresh_Audience_Research_to_Learn_Which_Publications_Sites_and_Podcasts_Your_Buyers_Trust\" >Tip #3: Refresh Audience Research to Learn Which Publications, Sites, and Podcasts Your Buyers Trust<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/llm-sources-shifted-80-in-2-months-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic\/#Tip_4_Continue_Focusing_on_Providing_Net-New_Value_Via_Content\" >Tip #4: Continue Focusing on Providing Net-New Value Via Content<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/07\/llm-sources-shifted-80-in-2-months-heres-why-you-shouldnt-panic\/#Aim_Where_Trust_Already_Lives_And_Models_Look\" >Aim Where Trust Already Lives (And Models Look)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"LLM_Sources_Arent_Set_in_Stone\"><\/span>LLM Sources Aren\u2019t Set in Stone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The \u201cwho gets cited\u201d list keeps changing, especially in ChatGPT.<\/p>\n<p>Just comparing August 2025 to October 2025, <a title=\"Who Rules AI Search? What 3 Months of AI Visibility Data Tells Us\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/blog\/ai-visibility-index-trend-update\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ChatGPT increased the number of sources it uses<\/a> by ~80%, signaling a push toward more diverse evidence in each answer.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"ChatGPT \u2013 Source Diversity Change\" alt=\"ChatGPT \u2013 Source Diversity Change\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.62285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/chatgpt-source-diversity-change.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>This is a dramatic shift in just a couple of months.<\/p>\n<p>But if you\u2019re an SEO, semi-regular algorithm shifts should sound very familiar.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, <a title=\"Google algorithm updates: The complete history\" href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/library\/platforms\/google\/google-algorithm-updates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google has made thousands upon thousands of changes<\/a> to how it finds and ranks pages.<\/p>\n<p>AI will be no different. LLMs will want to continuously improve its output and user experience.<\/p>\n<p>In SEO, we say to stick to the basics in light of algorithm updates, so there\u2019s no need to treat AI SEO differently.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_This_Means_for_Marketers\"><\/span>What This Means for Marketers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When sources are in flux, you win by doubling down on durable authority and adding a light, recurring layer of measurement to stay apprised of changes.<\/p>\n<p>The goal should be to keep your foundation strong. Google\u2019s <a title=\"AI Features and Your Website | Google Search Central | Documentation\" href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/appearance\/ai-features?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">own guidance<\/a> for AI features emphasizes usefulness, experience, clear structure, and trust signals.<\/p>\n<p>Those are the same qualities humans respond to and the same signals LLMs can verify.<\/p>\n<p>But, while working on the fundamentals, it\u2019s good to keep an eye on LLM trends.<\/p>\n<p>Below we\u2019ll share four tips that will help you sustainably optimize for LLM answers and citations while simultaneously tracking significant, noteworthy shifts in LLM behavior.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tip_1_Check_ChatGPT_Sources_Monthly_for_Target_Prompts\"><\/span>Tip #1: Check ChatGPT Sources Monthly for Target Prompts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As we\u2019ve seen, ChatGPT\u2019s citations change. Sometimes quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than seeing this as a race, consider it an opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>Every time an LLM adds new sources into the mix, they\u2019re providing new ideas for where you can earn media and build brand visibility and authority.<\/p>\n<p>And you don\u2019t need a complex dashboard to track the changes. You just need a simple spreadsheet that shows which domains it\u2019s using for your money prompts.<\/p>\n<p>Start by choosing prompts that map to your funnel.<\/p>\n<p>For example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cWhat is ___?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cBest ___ for \u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201c vs ___\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cHow to set up ___\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cPricing for ___\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Perplexity \u2013 What are the best SEO blogs\" alt=\"Perplexity \u2013 What are the best SEO blogs\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.94428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/perplexity-what-are-the-best-seo-blogs.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Run them in an LLM the same way a buyer would. Note the sources. Track in a shared living document month over month.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re looking for two things: new entrants and rising domains. Both provide ideas on where to place your best evidence next.<\/p>\n<p>So, what does this look like in practice?<\/p>\n<p>Create a one-page tracker and update it every 30 days:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Prompts:<\/strong> 25-100 that reflect real buyer questions<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sources:<\/strong> Every domain cited, in order of appearance<\/li>\n<li><strong>Changes:<\/strong> New, up, down, gone<\/li>\n<li><strong>Action:<\/strong> One line per change (\u201cPitch reviewer X,\u201d \u201cAdd methodology to pricing guide,\u201d \u201cPublish teardown with benchmarks\u201d)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Again, the goal is to identify broader trends and not worry about every little change.<\/p>\n<p>After a few months of this type of tracking, you may notice similarities in the types of sites or content being prioritized. Those are the ones worth adding to your strategy.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tip_2_Still_Perform_Backlink_Competitive_Analyses_to_Identify_Where_Else_Competitors_Are_Being_Cited\"><\/span>Tip #2: Still Perform Backlink Competitive Analyses to Identify Where Else Competitors Are Being Cited<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>LLMs lean on trusted third-party sites. Some of those sites already vouch for your competitors.<\/p>\n<p>Backlinks show where that trust lives.<\/p>\n<p>Use traditional backlink gap analyses to find new ideas as to where you can earn external authority signals. You can also gain insight about the type of content that\u2019s worth citing.<\/p>\n<p>Start simple. Pick 5\u201310 competitors and pull their new referring domains from the last 3-6 months.<\/p>\n<p>For example, using Semrush\u2019s Backlink Gap tool, we compared Backlinko\u2019s backlinks to leading SEO tools and noticed they have links from VistaPrint while Backlinko doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Backlink Gap \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Vistaprint\" alt=\"Backlink Gap \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Vistaprint\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.69\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/backlink-gap-backlinko-vistaprint.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>So we checked out the content and the page they linked to, which in this example turned out to be an informational blog post about the marketing funnel.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Semrush blog \u2013 Marketing funnel\" alt=\"Semrush blog \u2013 Marketing funnel\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.96857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/semrush-blog-marketing-funnel.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>When we put this URL into Semrush\u2019s Backlink Analytics tool, we found that this specific page has 344 referring domains pointing to it.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the linking pages are informational about marketing and are relying on Semrush\u2019s expertise to support their own articles.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Backlink Analytics \u2013 Marketing funnel backlinks\" alt=\"Backlink Analytics \u2013 Marketing funnel backlinks\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.92\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/backlink-analytics-marketing-funnel-backlinks.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>This indicates the piece of content is strong and worth evaluating for insight into what makes it high quality.<\/p>\n<p>As it turns out, the page is very robust with a lot of visual appeal. It\u2019s full of useful graphics, screenshots, and actionable takeaways that make what can be a convoluted topic into something straightforward.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"ToFu, MoFu and BoFu\" alt=\"ToFu, MoFu and BoFu\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.61857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tofu-mofu-and-bofu.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>In this example, we\u2019ve learned some sites that talk about marketing fundamentals and may be worth targeting (VistaPrint, GoDaddy, etc.), and we\u2019ve gained inspiration as to what makes that content appealing to link to.<\/p>\n<p>When doing this kind of analysis yourself, look for patterns:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Formats that win links:<\/strong> Research studies, graphics, benchmarks, calculators, templates, product docs, API guides, teardown posts, expert Q&amp;As.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Topics that attract citations:<\/strong> \u201cHow it works,\u201d \u201ccosts and trade-offs,\u201d \u201csetup steps,\u201d \u201ccommon mistakes,\u201d \u201ccomparison X vs Y.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Mid-tier niche outlets often outperform top-tier media for earning durable, evergreen citations. They publish faster, go deeper, and link more generously when you bring real substance.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tip_3_Refresh_Audience_Research_to_Learn_Which_Publications_Sites_and_Podcasts_Your_Buyers_Trust\"><\/span>Tip #3: Refresh Audience Research to Learn Which Publications, Sites, and Podcasts Your Buyers Trust<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Models evolve. People move faster.<\/p>\n<p>If your buyers shifted from big media to niche reviewers or podcasts, your distribution plan has to follow.<\/p>\n<p>Ask recent customers one question: \u201cWhat did you read, watch, or listen to before choosing a tool like ours?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Keep it lightweight. Add it to onboarding and to quarterly interviews. Log their responses and share with the PR and content teams to plan how to achieve earned media in those locations.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s online research you can do, too.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"SparkToro\" href=\"https:\/\/sparktoro.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SparkToro<\/a>, for example, reveals where your audience consumes content, giving you a great head-start on putting a pitch list together.<\/p>\n<p>For example, with the free account (which gives you five searches per month), we wanted to explore where else folks who visit Backlinko.com get their information.<\/p>\n<p>SparkToro then provides a list of websites, social networks, AI tools, YouTube channels, podcasts, and more that your audience tends to visit.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Sparktoro \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 YouTube &amp; Podcasts\" alt=\"Sparktoro \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 YouTube &amp; Podcasts\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.4585714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sparktoro-backlinko-youtube-podcasts.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>No matter your preferred method for audience research, if the last time it was updated was over six months ago, it\u2019s time for a refresh.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Further reading:<\/strong> <a title=\"Audience Research: Stop Guessing What Your Buyers Care About\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/audience-research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Audience Research: Stop Guessing What Your Buyers Care About<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tip_4_Continue_Focusing_on_Providing_Net-New_Value_Via_Content\"><\/span>Tip #4: Continue Focusing on Providing Net-New Value Via Content<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You know what\u2019s always necessary for building third-party authority signals on a regular basis?<\/p>\n<p>Content. Search engines, LLMs, social sites, YouTube, etc. all need content to surface.<\/p>\n<p>But \u201cbetter\u201d content isn\u2019t enough. You need something new to compete. Data no one else has. Tests no one else ran. Explanations that resolve the question completely.<\/p>\n<p>This kind of content gives LLM models something concrete to ground on and editors something worth linking to.<\/p>\n<p>What does this look like in practice?<\/p>\n<p>Try shipping one high-value asset per month:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Original data with a simple method and limits<\/li>\n<li>Comparative testing with screenshots, timings, and results<\/li>\n<li>Expert explainers with named practitioners and sources<\/li>\n<li>Product docs or setup guides that others reference to get the job done<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Comprehensive guides can still perform, too. Take an example from our own site, <a title=\"Google RankBrain: The Definitive Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/google-rankbrain-seo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google RankBrain: The Definitive Guide<\/a>, which is often a primary source for LLMs on relevant queries.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Perplexity \u2013 RankBrain \u2013 Backlinko source\" alt=\"Perplexity \u2013 RankBrain \u2013 Backlinko source\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.57428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/perplexity-rankbrain-backlinko-source.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>When you create something better than anything else out there, that\u2019s when it becomes a primary reference. It can even get mentioned on the MIT site in <a title=\"Exploring the shift from traditional to generative AI | Open Learning\" href=\"https:\/\/openlearning.mit.edu\/news\/exploring-shift-traditional-generative-ai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an article<\/a> about the shift to generative AI.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"MIT \u2013 Backlinko RankBrain post backlink\" alt=\"MIT \u2013 Backlinko RankBrain post backlink\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.67857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/mit-backlinko-rankbrain-post-backlink.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Ultimately, if you\u2019re providing the best answer that satisfies a curiosity, you\u2019re building a solid foundation for driving authority signals.<\/p>\n<p>Once you create the content, close the loop. Pitch those assets to the outlets from Tips 2 and 3.<\/p>\n<p>If they\u2019re published on a third-party site, implement your typical distribution process to get as much traction as possible.<\/p>\n<p>Then track if they start showing up in your monthly ChatGPT check.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Aim_Where_Trust_Already_Lives_And_Models_Look\"><\/span>Aim Where Trust Already Lives (And Models Look)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>AI search will keep shifting. Your fundamentals shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>Stay focused on building durable authority. Track what matters, earn trust where your audience already looks, and create work worth citing. You\u2019ll stay adaptable no matter what comes next.<\/p>\n<p>Tracking your LLM visibility can be tedious, especially as it\u2019s a relatively new addition to your monthly reporting.<\/p>\n<p>For high-level directional data about your industry as a first pass, bookmark and download <a title=\"Semrush \u2013 AI Visibility Index\" href=\"https:\/\/ai-visibility-index.semrush.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Semrush\u2019s AI Visibility Index<\/a>. It\u2019s updated monthly, saving you that first layer of research.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/llm-sources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LLM Sources Shifted 80% in 2 Months. Here\u2019s Why You Shouldn\u2019t Panic<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Backlinko<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AI search is still moving. What\u2019s cited today across Google (AI Mode + AI Overviews) and ChatGPT might look different in a month. But there\u2019s no need to scramble. For example, a dip in Reddit citations isn\u2019t a reason to abandon conversational marketing or rebuild your plan from scratch. (Plus, it\u2019s likely things aren\u2019t always what they seem, like this speculation from John-Henry Scherck about Reddit and ChatGPT.) Instead, stick to doing the basics \u2014 getting mentioned by the major players in your industry as well [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14577,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backlinko"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/linkedin-jhtscherck-reddit-in-chatgpt-J9pgQc-600x400.png","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/linkedin-jhtscherck-reddit-in-chatgpt-J9pgQc-600x600.png","author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/craig\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14576"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14576\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}