Giant language fashions akin to Google’s AI Mode, ChatGPT, and Perplexity anticipate seemingly follow-ups to an preliminary question and supply the mixed data in a single reply. Google known as it “fan out” outcomes when saying the follow in a March 2025 weblog put up. Therefore we now use the time period for all generative AI platforms.
In “search engine optimisation for Google’s AI Fan-Out Outcomes,” I addressed the fundamentals. The platforms sometimes clarify their fan-out reasoning, or we will deduce it from the response. For instance, solutions typically embody security precautions, choice standards, and extra sources for knowledgeable choices.
Search optimizers more and more goal fan-out queries for on-page optimization ways, akin to publishing an FAQ part for seemingly fan-out solutions to extend the location’s possibilities of being cited.
It’s a legitimate technique, however there’s rather more to fan-out optimization.
Place Merchandise
Fan-out responses are unpredictable. Gemini can fan out in another way for a similar immediate. But all fan-out outcomes determine areas to focus on.
For a immediate of “finest natural skincare manufacturers to attempt,” Gemini would seemingly fan out to incorporate distinguished manufacturers, “manufacturers for delicate Pores and skin,” most inexpensive manufacturers, and “distinctive specialties,” akin to “plant-powered formulation,” cruelty-free manufacturers, and types that use pure components for make-up colours.
Prompting Gemini once more with the identical question might produce fan-out outcomes for official certifications for natural merchandise. One other would possibly embody consumer rankings and evaluations.
Collectively, all fan-out angles can assist place merchandise.
Goal Sources
Generative AI platforms differ in subject experience. For instance, prompting “finest trainers” in ChatGPT sometimes contains fan-out outcomes from Runner’s World, owing to its thorough comparisons and lists for runner-related merchandise.
Understanding these oft-cited publications can impression retailers’ product positioning. Immediate a number of platforms, akin to ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini, and notice the citations.
Third-party instruments can assist by working the prompts and producing quotation reviews. For instance, Otterly.ai creates a consolidated report of “most cited domains” based mostly in your tracked prompts. The report exhibits outcomes from ChatGPT, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, and Google’s AI Overviews, revealing the overlapping citations.
From there, retailers can solicit these editors and writers on social media and elsewhere to discover visibility ways akin to contributing a column or turning into an editorial supply.
Otterly.ai’s report lists probably the most cited URLs on main giant language fashions for a given immediate. Click on picture to enlarge.
Reveal Journeys
Customers begin shopping for journeys in another way. Some search area of interest phrases, whereas others search options to particular wants. All require distinctive touchdown pages and content material to interact with a model.
Understanding potential fan-out questions can refine buyer acquisition. Begin with a Gemini immediate, for instance:
What fan-out queries does Gemini or AI Mode use for “finest natural skincare manufacturers to attempt”?
In my testing, Gemini responded with choices:
- What are the advantages of natural skincare? You can begin with completely different well-known ache factors of non-organic skincare to draw individuals researching these to your model, for instance: What are parabens? What skincare components may cause breakouts? What components ought to I keep away from for delicate pores and skin? Do widespread skincare preservatives trigger allergy symptoms?
- What’s the distinction between “pure” and “natural” skincare? (You’ll be able to goal audiences researching “pure” skincare by explaining how natural skincare could also be what they’re searching for)
- What widespread components in non-organic skincare must be averted?
Addressing these questions on-site can drive citations in fan-out responses and thus entice new prospects, akin to these unaware of an natural possibility.
