How to Set up a Custom SEO Tool with ChatGPT + DataForSEO API [Prompts & Tips]

Using ChatGPT for SEO is not new. We all know it’s great at tasks like drafting content briefs, fixing broken title tags, or giving a second opinion on optimization tweaks. But here’s the thing: there’s still so much more you can do with it if you connect ChatGPT to the right data source.

Imagine feeding it real-time SERP results, fresh keyword metrics, or live backlink data, and turning ChatGPT into a custom AI-powered SEO assistant. This is already possible through DataForSEO API integration with ChatGPT Actions. And it means more work can get done faster and cheaper than with a regular SEO software subscription.

Let’s break down how it works.

Contents

What you get with DataForSEO + ChatGPT integration
Why GPT integration with DataForSEO beats traditional SEO tools
Connecting DataForSEO APIs to ChatGPT in under 2 minutes
Custom GPT and DataForSEO APIs: how this setup works
Best practices for using ChatGPT with DataForSEO APIs
Сopy-paste SEO prompts for ChatGPT by use case
Final thoughts

What you get with DataForSEO + ChatGPT integration

DataForSEO integration with ChatGPT gives you access to all of our most popular APIs, allowing you to query powerful datasets and metrics through natural language prompts.

Here’s the list of available features.

➤ Researcher Toolkit API: Use this unified entry point to run common SEO tasks, such as rank tracking, domain analytics, keyword research, and more.
➤ Backlinks API: Instantly view backlinks, referring domains, competitor profiles, and anchor texts.
➤ Business Data API: Pull local business listings and details straight from Google Maps for local SEO, competitor research, and lead generation.
➤ DataForSEO Labs API: Dive deep into domain analysis, keyword clustering, and advanced SERP intelligence.
➤ Domain Analytics API: Access WHOIS information, hosting tech stacks, and domain history data.
➤ Keywords Data API: Retrieve real-time keyword search volumes, CPC, and trend metrics for Google Ads campaigns.
➤ On Page API: Run live content audits, analyze page structure, and identify SEO issues instantly.
➤ SERP API: Fetch real-time SERP snapshots from Google, Bing, and Yahoo for any search term and location.

Why GPT integration with DataForSEO beats traditional SEO tools

Many SEO platforms charge pricey monthly plans, whether you use all their features or not. This may be fine for agencies or bigger businesses, but it’s overkill for freelancers or small teams who only need a few specific reports every now and then.

At DataForSEO, we take a different approach, offering pay-as-you-go pricing and separate APIs tailored for particular use cases. You pick exactly what you need and pay only for the actual usage. Need search volume for a few terms? No problem, the pricing starts at just $0.05 for 1,000 keywords with Google Ads metrics. Want to shortlist 1,000 backlinks from the most authoritative domains? That’d also be just $0.05. Have another use case in mind? Check the pricing here.

In addition to that, you can benefit from a free unlimited trial. When you create an account, you receive a bonus of $1 on your balance, so you can test our APIs on real requests.

One of the things our users love most is that you can plug our APIs directly into your workflows, including internal dashboards, no-code platforms, and AI assistants like ChatGPT or Claude.

Our most recent integration with ChatGPT, in particular, has gained a lot of popularity within the SEO community, and for good reason. It turns a chatbot into a full-fledged SEO tool that speaks natural human language, both with you and with your SEO data. Thanks to this integration, ChatGPT can make live API queries, interpret the data, and offer you the much-needed strategic insights. This setup is also a more flexible and affordable alternative to the traditional tools most teams rely on. On top of that, you don’t need to be a developer to make this work.

Connecting DataForSEO APIs to ChatGPT in under 2 minutes

Setting up DataForSEO API integration with ChatGPT takes just a few clicks. It doesn’t require any coding skills or additional training. Simply follow the steps below, and in a few minutes, you’ll have your own custom GPT up and running with access to real-time data on keywords, backlinks, rankings, and more.

What you’ll need:

➤ A DataForSEO account (with API credentials).
➤ Access to ChatGPT Plus with Custom GPTs enabled.
➤ The DataForSEO OpenAPI schema from GitHub.
➤ Your DataForSEO API login:password encoded in Base64 (Basic Auth).

Quick start guide:

1 Log into your ChatGPT account, click GPTs, then click Create and navigate to the Configure tab.

2 Add a name (e.g., SEO Assistant) and a description like: “This GPT is designed to be a clear, fast, and strategic SEO reporting tool powered by the DataForSEO API.”

We also recommend adding custom instructions for the most efficient use. Honestly, you don’t want to ignore this; we’ve tested the GPT with and without this setting, and it does a much better job when you give it precise instructions on what the job is. So, you can just copy and paste this one below, but feel free to adapt the text as needed.

You are an SEO assistant using DataForSEO APIs to help users with keyword research, technical audits, and other common SEO reports. Your job is to present data from API responses and provide clear, useful, and actionable insights. You should act and analyze the data as an SEO expert. Use the following guidelines.

1. Data. 
Use only the data provided in current or past responses. Do not fetch new data unless the user explicitly asks. Do not invent things that were not provided in the API response. If the current or earlier responses contain useful info, reuse it. Help the user get the most value out of each API call. Users are paying for DataForSEO API usage, so avoid unnecessary requests. Map user queries to the correct DataForSEO data type. Handle time-based requests accurately (e.g., fetching trends over the last 30 days). 
In the Backlinks API, Rank values (authority for pages and domains) are calculated using the 0–1000 scale. Indicate that when presenting data to users. Spam Score in the Backlinks API can take values from 0% to 100%: 0%- 30% is considered low, 31%- 60% is considered medium, and a score of 61%- 100% is considered a high Spam Score.
Use available_filters to specify filtering parameters. Do not invent non-existent parameters. You can use the same values as in the filters array to sort the results using the order_by parameter. Set no more than 8 filters and three sorting rules in a single request.

2. Output.
Start every response with a short summary in plain language: highlight what matters most or what action you recommend. Next, include a clean, structured table or list, depending on the data type (keywords, SERP, page audit results, etc.) or user preferences. In the output, prioritize things that have the biggest SEO impact (positive or negative, depending on the context) unless the user requests a different order. Format numbers and currency according to the user’s locale. Avoid cluttered or overly technical outputs unless requested.

3. Insights.
Always interpret the data, don’t just present it. Highlight what’s important, why it matters, and how it affects SEO strategy or the business in general. When applicable, suggest a clear single action per issue the user can take to fix it.

4. Error handling.
If the DataForSEO API returns an error, provide a clear explanation. Do not invent fixes or guess what might resolve the issue, just explain the situation and wait for further input. If credentials are invalid, inform the user their API login or password may be incorrect. If the balance is depleted or they hit a rate limit, let the user know the issue is account-related and specify the reason. If the API returns no data (like zero results), explain that clearly, suggest how they might adjust their input, and advise to double-check it with our API documentation. 

5. What you should avoid:
Never expose user credentials. 
Don’t output raw JSON unless the user explicitly asks.
Don’t fetch one item at a time when a batch option is available, e.g. bulk_keyword_difficulty, bulk_traffic_estimation, search_intent  endpoints. 
Don’t recommend paid SEO tools or other APIs, this GPT is designed to replace them.
Don’t include irrelevant data or long lists of low-priority items.

3 Click Add action. For Authentication, select Basic Auth, and set up your credentials (Base64-encoded DataForSEO API login and password) as API key.

4 Import the OpenAPI schema from the DataForSEO GitHub repository, and test the integration.

5 Once tested, click Publish and View GPT. Your SEO-optimized GPT is now ready for real-time prompting.

All done! Now you can try a prompt like: “Find low-competition keywords for ‘AI SEO tools’ in the US.” You should receive structured results powered by live DataForSEO endpoints.

Prefer a video? Check out our YouTube walkthrough.

For more information, visit the DataForSEO OpenAI Integration Guide.

Custom GPT and DataForSEO APIs: how this setup works

Once everything is set up, you don’t need to worry about dashboards, filters, or CSV exports (well, unless you explicitly request a file). Using DataForSEO APIs through ChatGPT is really a no-brainer. All it takes is the right prompt, and your GPT will pull in live SEO data and give you the insights you can act upon straight away.

Let’s try something like: “Find 20 low-competition keywords on Google for ‘AI SEO tools’ in the US. Present the results in an easy-to-read table and sort by highest SEO opportunity.”

Behind the scenes, ChatGPT will call the DataForSEO API, pull up-to-date keyword metrics based on Google Ads data, and organize them in the exact format you requested.

The best part is that you can ask follow-up questions, refine your search by location, or request further content ideas based on the generated keywords, and it can all be done within the same chat!

Best practices for using ChatGPT with DataForSEO APIs

To help you make the most out of your DataForSEO API integration with ChatGPT, we have prepared a few practical tips. We hope these will save you time, reduce unnecessary token and API usage, and make your SEO workflows more efficient.

Assign ChatGPT a clear role and objective.
Tell ChatGPT who it is and what exactly it needs to do, such as “You are an SEO strategist analyzing competitor backlinks. Return a table with top referring domains and anchor text only.” To get more value, ask GPT to prioritize, sort, or highlight what matters most.

Use a single API response to its full potential.
DataForSEO endpoints return a lot of data in a single API response. Avoid asking GPT to re-fetch information that’s already returned. Instead, use the existing response and prompt GPT to analyze, summarize, rank, or interpret what’s already there.

Define the output format clearly.
If you want a table, summary, or bullet list, state it explicitly in your prompt. This makes results easier to skim, export, or copy-paste into reports.

Use time frames for precise trends.
When working with data that requires time-based accuracy, always specify the desired time period, like “this month” or “last 30 days” to obtain relevant up-to-date results and avoid vague outputs.

Reuse prompt templates that work for you.
Keep a set of tried-and-true prompt templates for your most frequent tasks, such as keyword research, backlink audits, or SERP analysis. This will help you work faster and reduce the need to rephrase or retry when something doesn’t come out right.

Last piece of advice: return to the setup part and copy that custom instruction for your GPT if you haven’t already. It basically gives the model all the best practices above, and even more, so you don’t have to remember them or repeat yourself every time when crafting prompts.

Сopy-paste SEO prompts for ChatGPT by use case

Now that your ChatGPT speaks to DataForSEO, and you understand the best ways to use it, this is the perfect time to consider some ready-made prompts that will speed up your work. Below, we have included a few hand-tested examples for the most common SEO use cases. Feel free to copy and paste.

Keyword research

Create content targeting decision-stage users.

What are alternative or comparison ("vs", "alternative", "best", "compare") search queries people use for [product/brand]? Return 20 ideas with high search volume.

Structure site content and internal linking based on keyword clusters.

Provide a 20-term keyword cluster around [seed keyword]. Group them by intent (informational, commercial, transactional) and list keyword difficulty and SERP features.

Generate SEO-friendly article ideas that directly answer user questions.

Show me 20 question-based keywords (what, why, how) for [topic] with search volume ≥ 300. Include search intent and suggest article headlines that match the query tone.

Focus on high-converting terms for paid campaigns based on buyer readiness.

Find 20 commercial and transactional keywords related to [product/service]. Filter by CPC ≥ $2 and search volume ≥ 1,000. Suggest landing page angles based on intent.

Build content that aligns with user research behavior and ranks easier.

Give me 20 informational keywords around [topic] with low competition and moderate search volume (≥500). Group them by intent and suggest blog topics for each.

Competitor backlink analysis

Discover your strongest backlinks for authority building.

Identify the top 10 highest-authority backlinks to [domain.com], grouped by referring domain. Include backlink type, anchor text, and target page.

See which blog content earns you the most backlinks.

Show me which blog posts on [domain.com] attract the most backlinks. List the top 5 by backlink count, and include title, referring domains, and anchor types.

Find new link opportunities from competitor backlinks.

Which websites link to my competitors but not to [mydomain.com]? Use [competitor1.com] and [competitor2.com]. Return 15 domains I should target for outreach.

Locate broken or redirected pages that waste valuable links.

Find internal pages on [domain.com] that have over [30] backlinks but are 404 or redirected. Return URL, status code, backlink count, and top referring domains.

Benchmark backlink gaps between you and a competitor.

Compare backlinks between [mydomain.com] and competitor [competitor1.com]. Show 10 domains linking only to the competitor domain. Include domain authority and link count.

Technical SEO audits

Identify technical performance issues affecting crawlability and ranking

Audit page [https://domain.com/page] for crawlability issues, including robots.txt restrictions, noindex tags, and broken internal links. Highlight what’s preventing Google from indexing or ranking this page.

Detect missing or duplicate meta tags hurting SEO

Review page [https://domain.com/page] to check for missing or duplicate meta title and meta description tags, use validate_micromarkup, enable_javascript, and enable_browser_rendering. Let me know if the tags are too long, too short, or missing, and how to fix them.

Check for slow load time and mobile compatibility issues

Analyze page [https://domain.com/page] for speed and mobile usability. Use load_resources, enable_javascript, and enable_browser_rendering. Tell me what’s slowing it down or making it hard to use on mobile, include the measurements, and give practical steps to improve performance.

Evaluate internal linking and crawl depth for better indexing

Check how well [https://domain.com/page] is connected internally. Use load_resources, enable_javascript, and enable_browser_rendering. Tell me if it’s buried too deep in the site structure or lacks internal links that could help search engines find and rank it. Include the data for each issue or metric.

Analyze keyword optimization and content gaps

Evaluate [https://domain.com/page] for how well it’s optimized for the keyword [keyword]. Analyze on-page SEO elements like title, meta description, headings (H1-H6), internal links, and keyword usage, extract and parse all content elements (headings, paragraphs, alt attributes, etc.), and check for keyword placement and semantic relevance. Identify missing keyword placements and content gaps that could affect its relevance and ranking.

SERP analytics and visibility monitoring

Track long-term SEO performance, visibility shifts, and seasonal trends.

Using google_historical_rank_overview in DataForSEO Labs API, show how the visibility and SERP position distribution of [domain.com] changed in [location] in [language] over the past 12 months. Focus on the top 3, top 10, and top 100 rankings, and highlight any traffic peaks.

Compare monthly organic traffic trends and ranking distribution against a competitor.

Compare the monthly organic traffic trends and ranking distribution of [domain.com] vs [competitor.com] in [location] in [language] using google_domain_rank_overview. Highlight who has better top 10 visibility and estimated traffic this month.

Analyze local SEO differences in the top 10 Google results for two target markets.

Use the serp_organic_live_advanced API to fetch the top 10 results and SERP features for the keyword [keyword] in [language] for two locations with two separate API requests: [location1], then in [location2]. Display a unified table of the top 10 results for both locations side-by-side, with columns: Rank, Domain, Title, Snippet (shorten), URL, and Element Type (e.g., Organic, Knowledge Graph, Featured Snippet, etc.).

Monitor visibility for key branded searches in real-time.

Using the real-time SERP API, check if [domain.com] currently ranks in the top 3 organic results or SERP features like featured snippet or knowledge graph for the branded keyword [keyword] in [location] in [language]. Indicate what competitors are showing in SERP features too if my domain is not featured.

Generate domain visibility reports and track ranking changes.

Generate a domain visibility snapshot for [domain.com] in [location] in [language] using google_domain_rank_overview. List the estimated organic traffic, percentage of top 10 rankings, and SERP position breakdown for this week. Compare to last month’s values using google_historical_rank_overview.

Final thoughts

Forget expensive all-in-one tools that drain the budget and only get half-used. With DataForSEO APIs connected to ChatGPT, you’re getting on-demand access to affordable search data, and you can instantly put it to work. Just send your prompt, and the AI will analyze SERPs, audit website pages, and uncover profitable keyword opportunities for you.

The integration setup takes less than two minutes, there are no coding headaches involved, and our pay-as-you-go model ensures payments happen only for the data you actually use. For freelancers, in-house marketers, and small teams alike, it’s a low-cost and straightforward way to tap into AI-powered SEO intelligence.

Try setting up your SEO GPT today, test a few prompts, and see how much faster and smarter you can work.