Software company Ahrefs published a study on 12 December 2025 covering 75,000 brands. Mentions on YouTube show the strongest correlation with visibility in ChatGPT, AI Mode and AI Overviews.
The study looked at the factors that determine whether AI systems mention a brand in their answers. Publishing large numbers of web pages has almost no impact on your AI visibility.
Key figures from the study:
- Mentions on YouTube show the strongest correlation (0.737).
- Brand mentions on the web also score highly (0.66 to 0.71).
- The number of pages on a website has almost no relationship with AI visibility (0.194).
Say you run an estate agency in The Hague. If third-party blogs, news outlets or YouTube videos mention your agency, that increases the chance that AI models mention your business.
Differences between ChatGPT and AI Mode
Not every AI system selects brands in the same way. Google’s AI Mode focuses heavily on existing authority and branded search volume, making it tougher for emerging companies to gain ground.
ChatGPT shows the weakest correlation with traditional authority metrics. It relies less on brand dominance and offers quicker opportunities for smaller businesses.
A correlation does not imply direct causation, however. A strong pattern indicates a trend, but changing a single factor will not automatically lead to greater AI visibility.
Practical steps for your online approach
AI systems use YouTube transcripts and web content as training data and sources. Focus your efforts on broad brand awareness:
- Ask network partners or industry publications to mention your brand name.
- Ensure your brand features in YouTube videos—such as in spoken content, titles or descriptions.
- If your brand awareness is limited, focus on building visibility within ChatGPT first.
- Stop creating massive numbers of additional pages purely for content volume.
Which step will you take first to get your brand mentioned across the web?
Source: Ahrefs
