Say It So AI Gets It: Signal 7 – AI-Specific Signals
- Joy Morales
- Jul 31
- 4 min read
July 31, 2025
Quick Summary: How to Show Up in AI Tools
• AI search tools (like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity) pull from clear, structured content
• Vague websites, PDFs, and login-gated pages often get skipped
• Semantic language (not just keywords) improves your AI discoverability
• Content like FAQs, guides, schema, and summaries help AI “understand” you
• If AI can’t find it or read it — it won’t recommend your business
We all know the game of charades — a frantic series of gestures, guesses, and awkward eye contact. Fun at parties, not so fun for your AI visibility.
AI doesn’t play games. It needs your content to be clear, structured, and direct. If you’re hinting at what you do instead of spelling it out… AI won’t guess right.
According to Exploding Topics, nearly 1 billion people were already using AI chatbots by early 2025 — and in the U.S., one-third of adults had interacted with tools like ChatGPT in just the prior three months.
That means your next customer might never look at a search engine.
They’ll ask a chatbot — not click a link.
They’ll describe what they’re looking for — not type in keywords.
If your content doesn’t appear in those answers, you may be invisible to AI — and the future of business decisions by your customers.
Enter: AI-Specific Signals
Signal 7 in the Found First framework is all about visibility inside the tools your audience is already using — not just Google, but ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and more.
Most businesses missed their shot at page one on Google.
Some never even had a chance.
But AI is leveling the field — if you know how to signal properly.
This isn’t just about ranking higher.
It's about being chosen, cited, or summarized by the systems shaping tomorrow’s search results.
Where Are AI Tools Actually Looking?
AI doesn’t browse like we do.
It doesn’t fall into rabbit holes or open 10 tabs at once.
It's focused. Efficient. Pattern-seeking.
It pulls from:
Trusted sources – Wikipedia, .gov sites, brand directories, verified publications
Structured content – FAQs, step-by-step guides, schema, summaries
Crawlable, fast-loading pages – not PDFs, login walls, or vague service pages
The more your content matches what AI tools are trained to recognize, the more likely you are to be included in the answer.
And yes — that includes your business whether here in Colorado Springs, or anywhere you want to be found.
If your website content isn’t structured and accessible, AI tools won’t pick you.
Doesn’t matter if you’re a chiropractor, accountant, or bakery.
If AI can’t find it or understand it, it won’t recommend it.
How to Send Strong AI-Specific Signals
1. Use Answer Formats AI Can Parse
Structure is everything.
Instead of dense blocks of text, format your content with:
Q&A sections
How-to steps
Short definitions
Comparisons or pros/cons
Templates and examples
Short. Quick. To the point.
Exactly what AI — and humans — want.
You’re not oversimplifying.
You’re making it easier for AI to extract and deliver your expertise.
2. Add Schema and Structured Data
Yes, we’ve said it before — and we’ll keep saying it.
Schema markup is how you label your content for AI.
It tells the system:
“This is a testimonial.”
“This is a business location.”
“This is a product comparison chart.”
The clearer your structure, the stronger your signal.
3. Publish in Public, AI-Crawlable Places
If AI can’t find your content, it won’t use it.
Simple as that.
Make sure your content lives in:
A fast, mobile-optimized blog
Publicly indexed pages (no paywalls, no cookie walls)
Platforms AI tools crawl regularly (LinkedIn Articles, Medium, YouTube)
Some businesses block AI to “protect” content.
But if you want visibility, you need to open your door — and give AI a key.
Visibility Tip:
If your blog is behind a cookie wall, slow to load, or buried under vague language — AI will skip it.
Think fast, structured, and findable.
Bonus: Tools like Perplexity show their sources. You want to be one of them.
4. Use the Language of Semantic Search
Semantic search is how AI understands meaning — not just words.
It picks up on:
Context
Intent
Natural phrasing
Think of it like upgrading from a “word matcher” to a “meaning interpreter.”
So, write how people actually ask:
“How do I…”
“What’s the best way to…”
“Should I choose X or Y?”
If it sounds like something someone would say to their phone — it’s optimized for AI.
Why It Matters
AI is already the filter between your content and your customers.
If your business doesn’t speak AI’s language — or worse, doesn’t show up at all — you’re missing out on visibility where real decisions are being made.
This isn’t a passing tech trend.
It's a permanent shift in how people find answers.
And the small businesses who adapt early?
They’re going to be FoundFirst.
The Bottom Line
Signal 7 is your invitation to step into the next version of search.
Because it’s no longer just about clicks —
it’s about conversations.
And if you're not part of the conversation —
you can’t be the answer.
AI doesn’t guess.
If it can’t understand you — it moves on.
TL;DR – Signal 7: AI-Specific Signals
Over 1 billion people already use AI chat tools like ChatGPT — and they’re asking, not searching.
To show up, you need to optimize for how AI reads, not just how humans browse.
Focus on structured content: FAQs, how-tos, templates, comparisons.
Add schema markup to label your content clearly for AI extraction.
Post on public, crawlable platforms AI tools trust — like blogs, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Use real human phrasing — the kind people say aloud, not just type in a search box.
Signal 7 is about being part of the answer when AI is the interface — not just the search bar.
Sources
Exploding Topics – Chatbot Statistics 2025
👇 Want to Know If You Show Up in AI?
We built FoundFirst to help businesses like yours get discovered where it matters now — not where it used to.
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