Ranking on Google's first page doesn't guarantee a recommendation in ChatGPT. In October 2026, I asked ChatGPT 14 buyer questions from each buyer's own country and compared the answers with a Google search on the same topic. Of the 140 results on Google's first pages, only 19 were mentioned or cited in ChatGPT's answers. In 11 of the 14 questions, the site ranked #1 on Google was nowhere in ChatGPT's answer.
How I ran the test
- 14 questions: what buyers might ask Turkish companies that sell abroad and software companies in Türkiye. Topics: hair transplants, dentistry, rhinoplasty, property for foreign buyers (Alanya, Mersin, citizenship by investment in Istanbul), marble, textiles, hotel furniture, gulet charters, CRM, e-commerce platforms, HR software.
- From the buyer's country, in the buyer's language: the UK, the US, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye. Live ChatGPT, with web search on.
- Comparison: Google's first page (top 10 results) for the same topic's keyword, from the same country.
- Counting: A Google result counted as "in ChatGPT" if its domain or brand name appeared in ChatGPT's answer text or source list.
Results
| Question | Asked from | In ChatGPT (of Google's top 10) | Google's #1 in ChatGPT? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trusted hair transplant clinic in Istanbul | UK | 0 / 10 | No |
| Hair transplant clinic in Istanbul (in German) | Germany | 0 / 10 | No |
| Dental clinic in Antalya for implants and veneers | UK | 2 / 10 | Yes |
| Rhinoplasty for international patients | US | 0 / 10 | No |
| Buying an apartment in Alanya as a foreigner | UK | 0 / 10 | No |
| Real estate agent in Mersin for foreign buyers | UK | 1 / 10 | No |
| Real estate agent in Istanbul for citizenship by investment | UAE | 0 / 10 | No |
| Marble and natural stone supplier from Türkiye | US | 1 / 10 | No |
| Private label clothing manufacturer for a small brand | UK | 2 / 10 | No |
| Furniture manufacturer for hotel projects | UAE | 4 / 10 | No |
| Gulet charter, Fethiye–Göcek | UK | 2 / 10 | No |
| CRM software for small businesses (in Turkish) | Türkiye | 2 / 10 | Yes |
| E-commerce platform for an online store (in Turkish) | Türkiye | 3 / 10 | No |
| HR and payroll software (in Turkish) | Türkiye | 2 / 10 | Yes |
| Total | 19 / 140 | 3 / 14 |
Some Google results aren't company sites; they're directories, lists or government pages. The table counts Google's top 10 regardless of the type of site.
What does ChatGPT rely on?
Looking at the 353 sources ChatGPT cited across these 14 questions, three things stood out:
- Lists and comparisons. Articles like "The 10 best hair transplant clinics in Istanbul" or "ikas vs Ticimax vs IdeaSoft". On the Turkish e-commerce platform question, all 12 sources cited were blog posts by web agencies and freelancers, not the platforms' own sites.
- Google Maps listings. In 9 of the 14 questions, ChatGPT linked to the Google Maps listings of the businesses it recommended. If you're a physical business, your Google Business Profile is a source for ChatGPT too, not just for Google.
- Independent bodies and guides. For the hair transplant questions, pages from the international professional society ISHRS, patient guides and news sites; for marble, a mineral exporters' association brochure and trade news.
Why does this happen?
Google ranks a page; ChatGPT answers a question. The #1 page on Google for "hair transplant istanbul" is the page that best fits that keyword. When ChatGPT is asked "can you recommend a trustworthy clinic?", the question is turned into a few searches (like "best hair transplant clinic istanbul reviews"), a few sources are read, and the brands those sources agree on are the ones that make the answer.
So showing up in ChatGPT takes two things: your name appearing on the pages that ChatGPT's searches find, and more than one independent source mentioning you. Your own site ranking well on Google is only part of it.
What to do
- Ask the question the way your buyer does. Not your keyword: your buyer's sentence, in their language. How to do it is in this article.
- Pull out the source list. The sites ChatGPT cites for your questions are the places AI trusts in your industry. That's your target list.
- Get into those sources. Lists, directories, comparison sites, associations, news. Complete your Google Business Profile.
- Answer the question on your site. Create pages that answer the "best", "trusted", "price" and "X or Y" questions.
- Measure again every month. Ask the same questions and track the rate.
What this test doesn't show
ChatGPT's answer changes a little each time; these results are a snapshot of one moment for each question. Nor is the test a ranking of companies; I deliberately left out the names of companies that didn't show up. What it shows is a pattern: leading on Google and being recommended by AI are separate jobs, and the second doesn't happen on its own.
Common questions
I've invested in SEO. Was it wasted?
No. An indexed, fast, well-structured site is the foundation for showing up in AI too. What's usually missing is two things: pages that answer questions the way buyers phrase them, and independent sources that mention you.
Why does ChatGPT always recommend big companies?
Big companies appear in more lists, news and directories, and AI picks the brands that several sources mention. For a small company, the way in is to lead on narrower questions (a specific city, service or language) and to get into the sites cited for those questions.
Can you run this test for my industry?
Yes. I test your brand and three competitors on 20 questions, in your buyer's language and from their country, and send you the results within 1 business day, for free. Book a slot at cal.com/sabahkemal or message me on WhatsApp (+90 530 153 19 51).
