We Tested 100 Prompts: Who Does ChatGPT Cite Most?

Research conducted by the GeoSEO team in August 2025

We analyzed 100 diverse prompts across 10 industries to understand which websites ChatGPT cites most frequently. The results reveal clear patterns that can inform your content strategy and GEO optimization efforts.

Research Methodology

Study Parameters

• Sample size: 100 prompts across 10 industries
• Time period: August 1-15, 2025
• ChatGPT version: GPT-4 (latest available)
• Industries analyzed: Technology, Healthcare, Finance, Marketing, Education, Legal, Real Estate, Travel, Food, and Entertainment

Prompt Categories

• Factual questions: "What is the average conversion rate for e-commerce websites?"
• How-to queries: "How do I optimize my website for mobile users?"
• Comparison requests: "Compare the top email marketing platforms"
• Statistical inquiries: "What are the latest social media usage statistics?"
• Best practices: "What are SEO best practices for 2025?"

Key Findings

Most Cited Website Categories

1. Government and Educational Institutions (32%)

   • .gov and .edu domains dominated citations
   • High trust and authority scores
   • Frequently updated, official data

2. Established Media Outlets (28%)

   • Major news organizations and trade publications
   • Strong editorial standards and fact-checking
   • Regular content updates

3. Industry Research Organizations (18%)

   • Companies like Pew Research, Statista, McKinsey
   • Original research and data collection
   • Peer-reviewed methodologies

4. Technology Documentation Sites (12%)

   • Official product documentation
   • Developer resources and guides
   • Technical specifications

5. Professional Associations (10%)

   • Industry-specific organizations
   • Standards and best practices
   • Certification bodies

Top Individual Websites Cited

Content Characteristics of Highly Cited Sources

1. Data-Rich Content

What works:

• Original research and surveys
• Statistical analysis and trends
• Peer-reviewed studies
• Annual reports and benchmarks

Example: HubSpot's "State of Marketing" report was cited 6 times across different prompts, always for specific statistics and trend data.

2. Authoritative Authorship

Citation patterns showed preference for:

• Content by recognized experts
• Authors with relevant credentials
• Institutional backing
• Clear author attribution

3. Structured Information Architecture

Highly cited content featured:

• Clear headings and subheadings
• Bullet points and numbered lists
• Summary sections
• FAQ formats

4. Recency and Updates

Time-sensitive factors:

• Content published within the last 2 years
• Regular updates and revisions
• Current data and statistics
• Acknowledgment of recent changes

Industry-Specific Citation Patterns

Technology Sector

• Most cited: Official documentation (40%)
• Key sources: GitHub, Stack Overflow, vendor docs
• Content type: Technical guides, API references

Healthcare

• Most cited: Medical institutions (65%)
• Key sources: CDC, Mayo Clinic, medical journals
• Content type: Clinical studies, health guidelines

Marketing

• Most cited: Industry reports (45%)
• Key sources: HubSpot, Salesforce, Google
• Content type: Research reports, case studies

Finance

• Most cited: Government agencies (55%)
• Key sources: Federal Reserve, SEC, financial institutions
• Content type: Economic data, regulatory information

Actionable Insights for Content Creators

1. Invest in Original Research

• Conduct surveys and studies in your industry
• Publish annual reports and benchmarks
• Share proprietary data and insights
• Use rigorous methodologies

2. Build Institutional Authority

• Establish thought leadership
• Get quoted by major publications
• Participate in industry associations
• Publish in peer-reviewed venues

3. Optimize Content Structure

• Use clear, descriptive headings
• Include executive summaries
• Add FAQ sections
• Implement proper schema markup

4. Maintain Content Freshness

• Update statistics regularly
• Revise outdated information
• Add publication and update dates
• Monitor industry changes

The Citation Formula

Based on our analysis, the most cited content follows this pattern:

Authority + Recency + Structure + Data = High Citation Probability

Authority Factors (40% weight)

• Domain reputation
• Author expertise
• Institutional backing
• Editorial standards

Recency Factors (25% weight)

• Publication date
• Last updated date
• Current relevance
• Trending topics

Structure Factors (20% weight)

• Clear organization
• Scannable format
• Logical flow
• Summary sections

Data Factors (15% weight)

• Original research
• Specific statistics
• Verifiable claims
• Cited sources

Implications for GEO Strategy

Short-term Actions (0-3 months)

1. Audit existing content for citation-worthy elements
2. Add FAQ sections to high-traffic pages
3. Update statistics and data points
4. Implement schema markup for key content

Medium-term Strategy (3-12 months)

1. Develop original research initiatives
2. Build author authority through thought leadership
3. Create comprehensive guides on core topics
4. Establish content update schedules

Long-term Vision (12+ months)

1. Become the go-to source in your industry
2. Build institutional partnerships
3. Develop proprietary data sets
4. Create citation-worthy resources

Limitations and Future Research

Study Limitations

• Limited to English-language content
• Single AI model tested (ChatGPT)
• Snapshot in time (August 2025)
• Prompt selection bias possible

Future Research Directions

• Comparison across multiple AI models
• Longitudinal citation tracking
• Industry-specific deep dives
• Impact of content format on citations

Conclusion

Our research reveals that ChatGPT strongly favors authoritative, data-rich content from established institutions and recognized experts. While this might seem to favor large organizations, smaller publishers can compete by focusing on original research, expert authorship, and structured content presentation.

The key takeaway: Quality and authority matter more than quantity. Focus on creating fewer, higher-quality pieces that establish your expertise and provide unique value to your audience.

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Want to analyze how your content stacks up against the most cited sources? Use our GeoSEO Checker to get detailed insights into your content's citation potential and optimization opportunities.

Methodology Note: Full research data and methodology details are available upon request. Contact our research team at [email protected] for access to the complete dataset.