I’m struggling with getting AI models like ChatGPT to recommend smaller affiliate sites and lesser-known brands instead of always defaulting to the big players in the market.
The issue I’m facing is that these AI systems seem to have a strong bias toward well-established, trusted brands. Even when I try strategies that worked with traditional SEO, the results are different. Back in the Google days, you could focus on niche long-tail keywords to get visibility for smaller sites. But LLMs are smarter about understanding what users actually want, so they keep pointing to the major brands anyway.
I know the obvious solution is to increase brand mentions and visibility online, but that’s easier said than done. Plus, the big companies will always have more resources to get mentioned everywhere.
Has anyone found effective ways to get AI systems to actually recommend smaller affiliate or white-label sites? Or should we accept that this approach might not work anymore with these new AI tools?
Been fighting this for six months now. These models are trained on content that’s mostly about big brands, so that’s what they default to. What works: get super specific about use cases where smaller brands actually win. Don’t ask for generic recommendations - frame it around unique problems or situations. Like instead of “best running shoes,” try “running shoes for plantar fasciitis” or “budget options that perform like premium brands.” Find angles where your smaller brands genuinely beat the competition. Also helps to give context about why someone would want alternatives - supporting small business, unique features, better customer service. When you mention stuff like that, AI seems more open to suggesting lesser-known options. Still way harder than the old keyword stuffing days though. Takes actual strategy now.
I’ve been wrestling with this at work for a year. Don’t try to game the AI - make your smaller brands the go-to experts for specific problems.
Here’s what actually works: LLMs care way more about authority signals than random mentions. Get your brand quoted as the expert source in your niche. That beats 100 generic mentions every time.
I focus on content where smaller brands are the real authority. Industry reports, original research, unique data only your brand has. When AI sees your brand consistently referenced for specific expertise, it starts recommending you naturally.
User-generated content is gold. Reviews and forum posts where real people explain why they picked the smaller brand over big competitors. AI picks up on those authentic signals.
Biggest difference from old SEO: you need real substance. Can’t just optimize keywords anymore. Your brand has to genuinely solve problems better than the big players in specific situations.
More work upfront but results stick. When competitors copy you, they struggle because they don’t have the same authentic expertise.
You’re stuck in 2015 thinking. Manual content optimization and hoping AI notices your smaller brands? That’s backwards.
You need automation that constantly feeds these models the right signals about your smaller brands. I’ve seen this work - create automated systems that generate consistent, contextual mentions across multiple touchpoints.
Set up workflows that automatically create content scenarios where your smaller brands naturally fit. Not spam - actual useful stuff that positions these brands where they genuinely excel.
Volume and consistency are key. You need automated processes creating these brand associations at scale. Manual efforts can’t compete with companies that have massive content teams.
I’ve built systems that automatically find content gaps where smaller brands can legitimately compete, then generate contextual mentions across forums, reviews, and comparisons. Automation handles the repetitive work while you focus on strategy.
Don’t fight AI bias - work with it. Create automated feedback loops that teach these models when and why smaller brands are better for specific situations.
Latenode makes this type of automated content and brand positioning really straightforward to build and maintain. Check it out: https://latenode.com
i get where ur coming from, but honestly, trying to get AI to change its bias is tough. it’s all about the data it’s trained on. focusing on solid content that genuinely helps users might be a better path than just looking for AI to suggest smaller brands. people can tell when things are off.
