You can post the most valuable content, optimize all your pages, and keep your technical SEO under control, but still have low domain authority and rankings. Why? This mostly happens when websites ignore off-page SEO.
That’s why in today’s guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know:
Broadly speaking, search engine optimization consists of on-page, off-page optimization and technical SEO. While technical and on-page SEO are what you optimize on your website, off-page SEO is everything you do outside of it.
Now, this might sound counterintuitive to many beginners. How can this seemingly external effort help you improve your rankings and authority?
You see, most of the websites on the internet are interconnected. And the more of those “connections” you have with others, the more trust your website gains. These connections are backlinks, brand mentions, references, and citations. Generally, you get them through:
So, whether you’re heavily investing in PR, using a backlink service, or Use paid channels, to gain more visibility, you can improve your off-site SEO. But of course, some tactics are more effective than others. And that’s what we’ll cover today.
If you’ve been doing SEO for some time, you already know that quality link building improves your domain authority. And this, as a result, boosts your rankings. All this is still true even in 2026. Backlinks are still the only way to raise your DA/DR/AS.
But now, there is also another element: AI visibility.
Today, all those external links work not only for SEO, but also for GEO. In fact, on average, only 12% of links cited by AI appear in Google’s top 10 results for the same prompt. This means that AI systems don’t care much about rankings.
What do they care about, then? Your overall brand’s visibility (aka off-page SEO).
A screenshot of the backlinks to HubSpot’s blog post, “Sales Automation for Small Business: How to Get Started in 2026,” in Ahrefs’ Backlink Checker.
Image source: Ahrefs
Listicles of the best tools, services, products, etc., have become a popular source of information for AI systems. If you think about it, that makes a lot of sense because they need some kind of benchmark to assess your brand and “position” it against others in your niche.
So, appearing in several listicles is one of the most effective off-page SEO strategies for gaining more visibility in both Google and ChatGPT. It shows that other brands trust you and see you as one of the best solutions on the market in your category.
Again, you don’t have to take our word for it. Let’s simply google “best CRM for small business” and check the AI Overview sources. Most of the results are those “top” and “best” listicles, or YouTube videos featuring the same selection of top tools.
A screenshot of the AI Overview for the search query “best CRM for small business.”
Image source: Google Search.
The important thing, though, is that you have to be selective here. The idea isn’t to get listed on any random website. They have to be relevant to your niche and have good SEO metrics to matter enough for AI to cite them.
As we’ve already mentioned, search engine optimization is changing because of AI search. And in the case of off-page SEO, that’s actually a good thing. Before, backlinks were the main factor that helped you become more visible. And we all know that getting quality links takes time and usually requires a big budget.
But now, unlinked mentions and citations also count for your Online visibility. So yes, almost any digital presence you have can strengthen your visibility in AI search.
There’s a lot of speculation around what counts and what doesn’t. So what we recommend is checking the most cited sources in AI search and LLMs, and making sure your company is repeatedly mentioned there.
A screenshot of the Local Pack for the search query “SEO agency Zurich.”
Image source: Google Search.
With all that said, traditional link building isn’t going anywhere because guest posting and press releases still work for both your authority and overall visibility.
If you go back to the graph of the most cited sources, you’ll see PR Newswire there. And as for guest blogging, it’s still one of the most reliable tactics for gaining quality backlinks.
Even though unlinked mentions also matter for AI systems, you can’t ignore traditional SEO. Most people still use Google Search, not ChatGPT or Perplexity.
So, whatever you’ve been doing for your link building so far, keep it up. And then simply add other types of mentions as well.
How popular AI platforms compare to Google in terms of search demand.
Image source: Neil Patel
When it comes to the unlinked mentions, you don’t need to stress much about where they’re coming from. But low-quality links can really damage your website’s authority. So, you have to be very selective and consider these off-page factors in SEO:
Now, you know the most effective off-page techniques in SEO. The only thing left is to build a clear step-by-step plan and stick to it. Consistency and time are two key elements of real success in SEO.
And if you don’t know where to start, we at agent-agency.ch, an SEO agency based in Zurich, can help you build a tailored off-site SEO strategy to make your business more visible in both Google and LLMs.
At Agent AGENTUR, my passion for managing web and marketing projects takes on a whole new dimension. With the motto: "Innovation & creativity at heart, digitalization in sight", I meet every challenge and use the creative and dynamic environment of the agency to push boundaries.
In addition to my digital vocation, I draw energy and inspiration from my deep connection to nature and my involvement in intense sport. This balance allows me to transfer the vibrancy of the real world into the digital world.
I approach each project individually and with a keen eye for hidden potential, I always focus on creativity, strategy and structure - my personal credo is to always act "007 instead of 08/15".