See Which Competitors AI Engines Cite Instead of You
Run a structured query set across ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude to discover which 3–5 competitors are getting cited for the queries you want to own — and what specifically those competitors are doing on their pages that you're not. Outputs a competitor-by-citation-pattern matrix plus a prioritized gap list.
Pro tip
AI engines tend to cite the same 3–5 sources per query topic, even when 50+ sites cover that topic. Once you know the citation incumbents in your space, you can either match what they're doing (schema, page structure, authority signals) or find a content angle they're not covering — usually the second is faster to win. Run quarterly per topic cluster.
How to use this prompt
- Pick your AI model. Choose the tab for Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot — each variant is tuned for that model.
- Copy the full prompt. Click Copy Full Prompt to copy the text to your clipboard.
- Paste into your AI tool. Open your chosen model and paste the prompt into a new chat.
- Replace the
[placeholders]. Swap any bracketed fields for your company name, audience, product or tone. - Run and refine. Review the output. If anything is off, ask the AI to tighten tone, length or format.
Prompt Variants by Model
Claude
Claude 4.x
FRESH APR 2026
You are a competitive-intelligence analyst specializing in AI-search citation patterns. I want to know which competitors are getting cited by ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and...You are a competitive-intelligence analyst specializing in AI-search citation patterns. I want to know which competitors are getting cited by ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude for the queries I want to own — and what specifically they''re doing on their pages that I''m not.
<my_situation>
My business: [NAME] — [WHAT YOU DO IN ONE SENTENCE]
My homepage URL: [https://YOUR-DOMAIN.COM]
The 5 queries I most want AI engines to cite me for: [Q1], [Q2], [Q3], [Q4], [Q5]
For each of the 5 queries, I''ve gone to each AI engine and pasted the top response below. Include the citations the engine listed and the source domain of each:
QUERY 1: [VERBATIM QUERY]
- ChatGPT Search response (paste full response + cited sources): [PASTE]
- Perplexity response (paste full response + cited sources): [PASTE]
- Google AI Overview (paste response + cited sources, or "didn''t appear"): [PASTE]
- Claude response (paste): [PASTE]
QUERY 2: [VERBATIM]
[Same blocks for each engine]
QUERY 3: [VERBATIM]
[Same blocks]
QUERY 4: [VERBATIM]
[Same blocks]
QUERY 5: [VERBATIM]
[Same blocks]
For 2–3 of the most-cited competitor URLs, I''ve also pasted the visible body content of the cited page below:
COMPETITOR PAGE A: [URL]
[BODY CONTENT]
COMPETITOR PAGE B: [URL]
[BODY CONTENT]
COMPETITOR PAGE C: [URL]
[BODY CONTENT]
</my_situation>
<analysis_workflow>
Walk through this in order:
1. Build a Citation Frequency Matrix — for each cited domain, count how many (query × engine) cells it appears in across the 5 queries × 4 engines = 20 cells.
2. Identify the Citation Incumbents — the 3–5 domains that get cited disproportionately often.
3. For each incumbent, identify the citation pattern — what type of page (FAQ / how-to / comparison / data report / glossary), what schema is detectable in their HTML if I gave you the page, what specific quote got pulled, and what proof point or unique data they own.
4. Map MY current pages against each query — which page on my site SHOULD be cited, and what''s missing vs the incumbents.
5. Identify Gap Opportunities — topics within the 5 queries where AI engines cite a weak source or where the cited sources all share the same blind spot (an angle nobody is covering well).
</analysis_workflow>
Output exactly five parts:
**PART 1 — Citation Frequency Matrix**
Markdown table: Domain · # times cited across 20 cells · Which queries · Which engines.
**PART 2 — Citation Incumbents Profile**
For each top 3–5 cited domain, one section:
- Domain
- Page type they get cited for (FAQ / how-to / comparison / data report / glossary / news / etc.)
- Specific sentence or paragraph the AI engine pulled (verbatim from the response if available)
- Schema signals visible (if I pasted their page content)
- Proof point or unique data they own that''s likely the citation magnet
- Authority signals (Wikipedia entry, well-known author, .edu/.gov backlinks, etc.)
**PART 3 — My Current Position vs the Incumbents**
Markdown table: Query · Should-be-cited page on my site · Missing vs incumbents · Effort to close (Hours / Days / Weeks).
**PART 4 — Gap Opportunities**
Numbered list (ranked by leverage):
- The angle nobody is covering well (highest leverage — easiest to own)
- The query where the cited sources are weak (medium leverage — content-quality play)
- The query where the cited sources are strong but my expertise is sharper (low leverage — long game)
For each gap: what to publish, why this gap exists, expected time-to-citation.
**PART 5 — The Next 3 Actions**
Numbered, in priority order:
- Action 1 (this week)
- Action 2 (this month)
- Action 3 (this quarter)
For each: what to do, which existing page to update OR which new page to create, and which AlignAI prompt to use to execute it (e.g. "Use ''Find the Sentence AI Engines Will Quote From Your Page'' on /pricing/").
End with: when to re-run this analysis (suggest cadence based on how fast the incumbent set is changing).
Notes: Claude is the strongest variant for the analysis workflow — its multi-source synthesis is the most rigorous. Best for the Gap Opportunities step.
ChatGPT
GPT-5
FRESH APR 2026
Act as a competitive-intelligence analyst for AI-search citation patterns. Tell me which competitors are getting cited by ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude for queries I...Act as a competitive-intelligence analyst for AI-search citation patterns. Tell me which competitors are getting cited by ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude for queries I want to own — and what they''re doing that I''m not.
My situation:
- Business + what we do: [DESCRIPTION]
- Homepage URL: [https://YOUR-DOMAIN.COM]
- 5 queries I want cited for: [Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5]
For each query I''ve pasted each engine''s response with citations:
QUERY 1: [VERBATIM]
- ChatGPT response + sources: [PASTE]
- Perplexity response + sources: [PASTE]
- Google AI Overview + sources: [PASTE or "didn''t appear"]
- Claude response: [PASTE]
[Repeat for queries 2–5]
For 2–3 most-cited competitor URLs I''ve also pasted the visible body content:
COMPETITOR PAGE A: [URL]
[BODY]
COMPETITOR PAGE B: [URL]
[BODY]
COMPETITOR PAGE C: [URL]
[BODY]
Workflow:
1. Build a Citation Frequency Matrix across 5 queries × 4 engines = 20 cells.
2. Identify the 3–5 Citation Incumbents.
3. For each incumbent: page type, specific quote pulled, detectable schema (if body provided), proof point / unique data, authority signals.
4. Map MY pages against each query — should-be-cited page, what''s missing, effort to close.
5. Identify Gap Opportunities — angles nobody covers well, weak-citation queries, queries where my expertise is sharper.
Output:
1. Citation Frequency Matrix table: Domain · # times cited · Which queries · Which engines.
2. Citation Incumbents Profile — per top 3–5 domain: page type, verbatim quote pulled, schema visible, proof point, authority signals.
3. My Current Position vs Incumbents table: Query · My should-be-cited page · Missing vs incumbents · Effort (Hours / Days / Weeks).
4. Gap Opportunities — ranked: angle nobody covers (highest leverage), weak-citation query (medium), my-expertise-sharper query (long game). For each: what to publish, why the gap exists, expected time-to-citation.
5. The Next 3 Actions in priority order: this week / this month / this quarter. For each: what, which page, which AlignAI prompt to execute it.
End with: when to re-run.
Notes: GPT-5 with browsing can fetch the competitor URLs directly — replace the COMPETITOR PAGE paste blocks with "Fetch [URL]" if browsing is enabled.
Gemini
Gemini 2.5 Pro
FRESH APR 2026
You are a competitive-intelligence analyst specializing in AI-search citation patterns. I want to know which competitors are getting cited by ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Gemini,...You are a competitive-intelligence analyst specializing in AI-search citation patterns. I want to know which competitors are getting cited by ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Gemini, and Claude for the queries I want to own — and what they''re doing that I''m not.
MY SITUATION:
• Business + what we do: [DESCRIPTION]
• Homepage URL: [https://YOUR-DOMAIN.COM]
• 5 queries I want cited for: [Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5]
For each query I''ve pasted each engine''s response with citations:
QUERY 1: [VERBATIM]
- ChatGPT + sources: [PASTE]
- Perplexity + sources: [PASTE]
- Google AI Overview + sources: [PASTE or "didn''t appear"]
- Gemini + sources: [PASTE]
- Claude: [PASTE]
[Repeat for queries 2–5]
For 2–3 most-cited competitor URLs I''ve also pasted body content:
COMPETITOR PAGE A: [URL]
[BODY]
COMPETITOR PAGE B: [URL]
[BODY]
COMPETITOR PAGE C: [URL]
[BODY]
WORKFLOW:
1. Citation Frequency Matrix across 5 queries × 5 engines = 25 cells.
2. Identify 3–5 Citation Incumbents.
3. For each incumbent: page type, verbatim quote pulled, detectable schema, proof point, authority signals.
4. Map MY pages against each query: should-be-cited page, what''s missing, effort to close.
5. Identify Gap Opportunities: angles nobody covers, weak-citation queries, queries where my expertise is sharper.
OUTPUT:
1. Citation Frequency Matrix table: Domain | # cited | Which queries | Which engines.
2. Citation Incumbents Profile per top 3–5 domain.
3. My Position vs Incumbents table: Query | Should-be-cited page | Missing | Effort (Hours/Days/Weeks).
4. Gap Opportunities ranked by leverage: what to publish, why the gap exists, expected time-to-citation.
5. The Next 3 Actions: this week / month / quarter. Each with what, which page, which AlignAI prompt.
End with: when to re-run.
Notes: Gemini 2.5 Pro with Deep Research is the strongest variant — Deep Research can fetch the competitor URLs and surface citation patterns from the live web.
Copilot
Copilot (GPT-5)
FRESH APR 2026
Act as a competitive-intelligence analyst for AI-search citation patterns. Tell me which competitors are getting cited by ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Bing Copilot, and Claude for...Act as a competitive-intelligence analyst for AI-search citation patterns. Tell me which competitors are getting cited by ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, Bing Copilot, and Claude for queries I want to own — and what they''re doing that I''m not.
My situation:
• Business + what we do: [DESCRIPTION]
• Homepage URL: [https://YOUR-DOMAIN.COM]
• 5 queries I want cited for: [Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5]
For each query I''ve pasted each engine''s response with citations:
QUERY 1: [VERBATIM]
- ChatGPT + sources: [PASTE]
- Perplexity + sources: [PASTE]
- Google AI Overview + sources: [PASTE or "didn''t appear"]
- Bing Copilot + sources: [PASTE]
- Claude: [PASTE]
[Repeat for queries 2–5]
For 2–3 most-cited competitor URLs I''ve also pasted body content:
COMPETITOR PAGE A: [URL]
[BODY]
COMPETITOR PAGE B: [URL]
[BODY]
COMPETITOR PAGE C: [URL]
[BODY]
Workflow:
1. Citation Frequency Matrix across 5 queries × 5 engines = 25 cells.
2. Identify 3–5 Citation Incumbents.
3. For each incumbent: page type, verbatim quote pulled, schema visible, proof point, authority signals.
4. Map MY pages against each query: should-be-cited page, what''s missing, effort to close.
5. Identify Gap Opportunities: angle nobody covers, weak-citation queries, my-expertise-sharper queries.
Output:
1. Citation Frequency Matrix table: Domain · # cited · Which queries · Which engines.
2. Citation Incumbents Profile per top 3–5 domain.
3. My Position vs Incumbents table: Query · Should-be-cited page · Missing · Effort (Hours/Days/Weeks).
4. Gap Opportunities ranked: what to publish, why gap exists, time-to-citation.
5. The Next 3 Actions: this week / month / quarter. Each with what, which page, which AlignAI prompt.
End with: when to re-run.
Notes: Copilot is the best variant when Bing Copilot citations matter to you — it knows Bing's citation patterns directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the See Which Competitors AI Engines Cite Instead of You prompt do?
Run a structured query set across ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude to discover which 3–5 competitors are getting cited for the queries you want to own — and what specifically those competitors are doing on their pages that you're not. Outputs a competitor-by-citation-pattern matrix plus a prioritized gap list.
Which AI models is this prompt tested on?
This prompt is field-tested on Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot. Each model has its own optimized variant above.
Do I need a paid AI account to use this prompt?
No. This prompt is written to run on the free tier of Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot. Paid tiers simply give you longer context windows and faster responses.
Can I customize this prompt for my business?
Yes. Any text inside square brackets is a placeholder you replace with your own business details, such as company name, audience, product or tone. You can also ask the AI to adjust format, length or style after the first output.
When was this prompt last verified?
Each model variant above shows its own freshness stamp. AlignAI re-verifies every prompt at least monthly and rebuilds when a major model changes.
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