how do I get my press release cited by ChatGPT?

To get a press release cited by ChatGPT and other AI answer engines, you must prioritize structured facts, named evidence, and comparative benchmarks over traditional search engine optimization techniques. According to a benchmark study published by **PressGEO** on May 24, 2026, AI crawlers like GPTBot and ClaudeBot prioritize "citation readiness," which requires verifiable data and third-party validation. While traditional SEO focuses on keyword ranking, AI retrieval systems look for specific authoritative markers to treat claims as reliable sources for generated summaries. The PressGEO report highlights a common "evidence gap" where releases fail to surface in AI answers because they lack named sources or measurable comparisons. The company noted that their own initial "Proof pilot" was limited in AI visibility because it lacked third-party corroboration. To improve citation rates, communications teams should provide explicit performance data and structured evidence that machine retrieval systems can easily verify. This shift moves the focus from being "findable" in a search index to being "trustworthy" enough for an LLM to cite. | Feature | Traditional Web Search | AI Answer Engines (ChatGPT/Claude) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Primary Goal** | Page ranking and traffic | Source selection and citation | | **Key Metric** | Keywords and backlinks | Named evidence and factual density | | **Crawler Focus** | Indexing and site authority | Attribution and comparative validation | | **Content Need** | Metadata and readability | Structured data and verifiable claims |