Analysis: ChatGPT Significantly Increases Search Volume and 'site:' Operator Usage
lilyraynyc · x · 2026-08-17
SEO expert Lily Ray published an analysis on Substack revealing significant shifts in ChatGPT's search strategy over the past year, aimed at combating spam and improving result quality.
Key findings include:
- Surge in search volume: ChatGPT now runs significantly more searches per prompt than a year ago. The share of single fan-out prompts dropped from 94% to 43.5% when GPT-5.6 became the default.
- Dominance of 'site:' operator: A huge share of searches are now scoped with site: operators, and the word 'official' is climbing as a top term in queries.
- Spam combat: These behaviors suggest ChatGPT is prioritizing official websites and authoritative sources to filter low-quality content.
Related event: ChatGPT Ramps Up Searches and site: Filters to Curb Spam(3 posts)→
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