Source: SEO – Practical Ecommerce by Ann Smarty. Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Understanding ChatGPT’s Fan-Out Queries with New SEO Tools
Large language models like ChatGPT generate answers by performing multiple related searches called fan-out queries. Two new Chrome tools—The SEO Pub bookmarklet and the Fan-out Helper extension—allow users to view and extract these underlying searches and reasoning. These insights help publishers, marketers, and developers better understand ChatGPT’s content priorities and improve SEO strategies.
Optimixed’s Overview: Unlocking ChatGPT’s Hidden Search Queries to Enhance Content Strategy
What Are Fan-Out Queries?
Fan-out queries refer to the additional, related search queries that ChatGPT performs beyond the initial user prompt. These queries gather comprehensive, up-to-date information to provide a well-rounded response. For example, when asked about the “best headphones for running,” ChatGPT might search for terms like “sweatproof running headphones 2025” or “headphones running comfort review.”
Introducing Tools to Reveal Fan-Out Queries
- The SEO Pub Bookmarklet: A free Chrome bookmarklet created by SEO expert Mike Friedman that extracts and displays ChatGPT’s fan-out searches and its reasoning for including them. Users can install it by creating a new bookmark and inserting the provided code as the URL. When used alongside ChatGPT’s web search feature, it opens a readable page showing the queries and rationale.
- Fan-out Helper Chrome Extension: Another free tool that captures ChatGPT’s fan-out queries along with source URLs, titles, and descriptions, allowing SEO professionals to trace the origin of information used in responses.
Why These Tools Matter for SEO and Content Marketing
Understanding the fan-out queries enables content creators and marketers to:
- Align content with actual user intent as interpreted by ChatGPT’s search patterns.
- Identify trending or relevant keywords embedded in ChatGPT’s expanded search process.
- Develop content strategies that target the same up-to-date product models, features, or comparison points prioritized by AI.
By leveraging these insights, publishers can better tailor their SEO efforts to match how AI platforms synthesize and prioritize information.
