The six signals
| Signal | Why it counts |
|---|---|
| Answer first content | AI picks up the direct answer easily |
| Factual and concrete | Figures and definitions are quotable |
| Machine readable | Structured data clarifies your meaning |
| Crawlers allowed | Blocked AI bots won't quote you |
| Organic authority | AI relies on sources that Google already trusts |
| Current information | Outdated content is chosen less often |
What you can do
Start writing answer-first and make your meaning explicit with structured data and schema.org. You can read how to focus on AI visibility at Generative Engine Optimization (GEO); specifically for ChatGPT at be found in ChatGPT.
Our view
The great thing about these six signals is that none of them are AI-specific tricks: they're simply hallmarks of excellent content. Those who work on this will not only be cited more often by AI, but will also score better in Google. One effort, two worlds.
Start with a strong foundation
AI visibility follows organic strength, so the foundation remains an excellent what is SEO. Curious about how search is changing? Read ChatGPT vs Google.
How do you check each of the six signals?
Not by feel, but by looking. These six checks take half an hour together and give a clear yes or no per signal.
| Signal | How to check it | What you want to see |
|---|---|---|
| Answer-first content | Read the first sentence under each heading | An answer, not an introduction |
| Factual and concrete | Count the figures, dates and names on the page | At least a few verifiable facts |
| Machine readable | Test your page in Google's Rich Results Test | Valid structured data without errors |
| Crawlers allowed | Open your robots.txt and look for the bots you want to allow | No unintended block |
| Organic authority | Search your core topic in Google | Your page appears within the first two pages |
| Current information | Search your text for years and prices | Nothing from a previous year still reading as current |
Which crawlers do you allow, and what does that cost?
That is a choice with two sides. Allowing an AI crawler increases the chance of being mentioned, and at the same time means your content gets used without a guaranteed referral. Blocking protects your content and removes you from the answers.
For most service businesses visibility outweighs protection: your content is not the product but a way to be found. For publishers who live off their text, that balance is different. Make the choice deliberately and record it in your robots.txt, so it does not change by accident during a rebuild.