Domain Authority May Be the Key to Getting Cited in AI Search

Why Domain Authority Matters for AI Search Visibility

SEMrush recently ran a study to see how fast new content appears in AI-powered search results. They tested both Google’s AI Mode and ChatGPT Search to understand how quickly each platform recognizes fresh content. The results pointed to one simple truth: trusted websites get noticed first.

What They Tested

The SEMrush team published 81 new FAQ-style pages on their blog, which already has a strong authority score of 84. That score signals high domain trust and quality, giving the test pages an ideal starting point.

After publishing, they tracked both AI tools for 30 days to see when (and if) their pages appeared as cited sources.

What Happened

Google’s AI Mode was fast out of the gate.

• In the first 24 hours, 29 of the 81 pages were cited.

• By the end of the first week, more than half were mentioned.

• By day 30, citations dropped back to 21 pages.
  
  

ChatGPT Search took longer.

• Eight pages were cited right after publishing.

• That number grew steadily to 34 pages by day 30.
  
  

So while Google picks up content quickly, it also changes sources frequently. ChatGPT takes its time, but once it cites something, those references tend to stay.

Why Domain Authority Made the Difference

The team at SEMrush believes their high domain authority helped them get picked up so quickly. Google’s AI systems already trust their website, and that trust likely carries over into AI Mode’s selection process.

This idea aligns with traditional SEO. Sites that have stronger authority are crawled more often, indexed faster, and seen as more reliable. AI search seems to follow that same pattern.

If Google already trusts your website, its AI is more likely to include you as a reference when generating answers.

What This Means for Your SEO Strategy

AI search is changing how visibility works, but the fundamentals remain the same. Whether you’re aiming for a featured spot in Google’s AI Mode or a citation in ChatGPT, authority and consistency still lead the way.

To increase your chances of being referenced by AI search tools:

• Publish helpful, well-structured content that answers real questions.

• Strengthen your domain authority through credible backlinks and trusted citations.

• Keep your website technically sound and easy to crawl.

• Maintain an up-to-date Google Business Profile for local signals.
  
  

If your site is smaller or newer, it may take time to earn that trust. Continuous improvement and regular content updates send positive signals that help both search engines and AI platforms recognize your expertise.

To see where your domain stands and how to strengthen it, get a FREE audit from Local Howl. 

The Bottom Line

Google’s AI Mode moves quickly but relies heavily on established authority. ChatGPT is slower to respond but holds onto the sources it trusts. In both cases, domain authority is the common thread.

If your goal is to appear in AI-generated results, focus on building trust. The stronger your reputation online, the more likely AI systems will see your business as a reliable source of information.