Do Highly Linked Pages Increase AI Mentions?

As AI search tools like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity become increasingly influential in how users discover information, a new question has emerged: does being mentioned on highly linked web pages boost your brand’s visibility in these AI systems?

At Theia Media, we’ve been monitoring this shift closely. We’ve long known that links play a critical role in traditional SEO - but are they also shaping visibility in AI-generated search responses? We set out to explore the connection between link authority and AI mentions using fresh analysis and simplified, real-world examples you can apply.

What Do We Mean by “Highly Linked Pages”?

When we say “highly linked,” we’re referring to web pages that have been linked to by a large number of unique domains. In SEO, these are often seen as authoritative or valuable, because other site owners are citing them as a trusted source.

If your brand or business is mentioned on one of these pages - say, a popular industry roundup, an educational blog post, or a frequently referenced government or university site—you gain more than just SEO value. You may also boost your visibility in AI-generated responses.

The Connection: Visibility and Authority

Think of it this way: if your business is regularly cited on pages that hundreds of other sites have linked to, that page acts as a credibility amplifier. AI systems, especially those pulling from web data, are likely to weigh those mentions more heavily - even if indirectly.

For example, let’s say your company is cited in a well-regarded research article that’s been referenced by 500 other sites. That citation becomes a kind of digital “signal boost.” When AI tools scan for authoritative sources to include in overviews or summaries, they’re more likely to encounter your brand through that article.

What the Data Tells Us

According to recent analysis across the top 50 most mentioned websites in Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity:

• Google AI Overviews showed a strong correlation between mentions on highly linked pages and AI visibility.
• Perplexity displayed a moderate correlation, meaning it partially reflects this pattern.
• ChatGPT had a very weak correlation, possibly due to its reliance on licensed datasets or partnerships rather than open web indexing.

In other words, if you want to increase your brand’s visibility in Google’s AI search results, it’s smart to aim for mentions on highly linked pages. With ChatGPT, however, those mentions may have less immediate impact.

Why ChatGPT Behaves Differently

Unlike Google and Perplexity, ChatGPT doesn’t rely as heavily on live web crawling. Instead, it often pulls from curated training data, structured content, or sources it has explicit agreements with. That’s why visibility in traditional backlink-heavy pages doesn’t necessarily translate to increased mentions in ChatGPT responses - at least not yet.

What This Means for Your Brand Strategy

The takeaway is clear: links still matter, and perhaps even more so in the age of AI-assisted search.

Here are a few practical strategies we recommend for brands that want to be mentioned more frequently in AI-generated search results:

1. Earn Mentions on Authoritative Pages

Look for opportunities to get featured on resource lists, industry-leading blogs, and content that tends to get shared or cited frequently. Being part of an article that receives dozens - or hundreds - of backlinks helps position your brand as a reliable source.

2. Focus on Content That Gets Referenced

Produce evergreen content that others in your industry are likely to cite, such as:

• In-depth how-to guides
• Original research or data
• Industry glossaries or definitions
• Expert roundups or interviews

If your content becomes the go-to resource for a specific question or topic, it will naturally attract backlinks and potentially increase AI visibility.

3. Leverage Partnerships and Collaborations

While open web visibility helps with Google and Perplexity, ChatGPT still leans into its structured datasets. That means branded tools, strategic partnerships, or widely-distributed thought leadership content may be more effective at breaking into ChatGPT mentions.

Final Thoughts

Being mentioned on highly linked web pages doesn’t guarantee AI visibility - but the connection is becoming harder to ignore, especially within Google’s AI-powered search experience.

If you’re building a modern brand content strategy, links should no longer be seen as only an SEO signal. They’re increasingly an influence signal for AI.

The more visible your brand is across authoritative corners of the web, the more likely it is to show up - not just in search results, but in the very answers AI tools deliver to millions of users.