I just got a new subscriber from ChatGPT
Here's what no one tells you about AI search engine optimization.
There’s a quiet shift happening right now.
While most creators are still chasing social media algorithms, AI platforms are becoming the new search engines. And no one is paying attention.
Tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude are no longer just “AI assistants.”
They’re where people start their research. They’re where readers find answers. They’re where your future audience is already looking for content like yours.
And if you position yourself correctly, you can start pulling traffic, and subscribers, from these AI platforms without playing the social media game.
Let’s break down exactly how.
Why AI Platforms Matter for Discovery
When people used to have a question, they went to Google.
Now?
They open ChatGPT.
They ask Perplexity.
They use AI tools as their personal researcher.
AI is the new front page of the internet.
But here’s what most creators miss:
AI doesn’t create knowledge from thin air. It pulls from existing, published content. It references credible sources. It points users toward helpful resources.
If you become one of those sources, AI tools can start recommending you.
That means:
More traffic
More readers
More subscribers
And ultimately more buyers.
Without chasing algorithms or running ads.
But you need to give the AI a reason to find you.
How to Make Your Content AI-Friendly
AI tools rely on public, indexed, high-quality content. Here’s how you can position your work to get pulled in:
1. Publish on Open, Indexable Platforms
Your content needs to be somewhere AI can crawl it.
Substack (public posts, not behind paywall)
Medium
Personal blogs
Public PDFs or Notion pages
Public podcasts and YouTube videos
If your best work lives only behind a paywall or closed platform, AI can’t access it.
On Substack, it will read the SEO metadata, which is still something.
On Medium? Now that’s tricky.
Last time I checked, Medium had blocked AI from crawling all content, not just paywalled. I remember I used to ask ChatGPT and Google Gemini to read my articles and they returned an answer that they’re blocked.
Today I checked again, and guess what? ChatGPT reads my paywalled article, at least the free part of it. And when I tested with a non-paywalled article, it was able to read it entirely. Proof: it reproduced my CTA word by word:
And here’s the exact CTA from my article:
So yes, Medium is in the game as well.
2. Write for Questions, Not Just Keywords
AI tools respond to questions.
They summarize, explain, and synthesize answers.
So structure your content like you’re answering someone directly.
Use clear headlines and subheadings that match real user questions.
Write explainer-style articles, tutorials, or how-to guides.
Cover narrow, specific problems your audience searches for.
Think:
“How to grow a paid Substack newsletter”
vs
“7 ways to audience growth”
The more you write answers, the more likely AI will find you when users search.
3. Use Clear, Authoritative Language
AI looks for confidence signals.
Write with clarity.
Avoid hedging (“maybe,” “possibly,” “sort of”).
State what you know, based on your expertise.
The stronger your statements, the more AI models view your content as credible when generating answers.
How AI Can Drive Subscribers (Not Just Traffic)
Traffic is nice. Subscribers are better.
Here’s how to turn AI-discovered readers into email subscribers:
1. Build Public “Entry Point” Content
Your goal is to have some content fully public — your best educational, problem-solving pieces that AI can reference.
Inside those pieces, link strategically to:
Free email courses
Lead magnets (PDFs, templates, cheat sheets)
Evergreen newsletters with CTAs
You’re giving AI (and the reader) a clear next step.
I created a 10 Day free email course on how to grow on Substack and I use it in almost every free article I publish.
2. Use Reader-Focused CTAs
Don’t just say:
“Subscribe to my newsletter.”
Instead:
“Get my 5-part guide to growing your newsletter — free for new subscribers.”
You’re solving a problem. That’s what AI users are looking for.
3. Make Your Expertise Obvious
AI favors people who showcase expertise, not just sound like experts.
Include author bios.
Share your experience, add proof.
Reference your own frameworks or systems.
Position yourself as an authority, so when AI tools pull your content, they frame it as credible.
The Early Mover Advantage
Most creators haven’t figured this out yet.
They’re still chasing Instagram trends. They’re still writing for Google’s old SEO playbook.
But AI discovery is moving fast. The tools are getting smarter. The recommendation engines are evolving.
If you position yourself early, you get indexed early.
And once you’re inside the dataset, you stay there for a long time.
What No One Will Tell You About AI SEO
All of the above is also valid for Google (and other search engines) SEO.
But what can you do to make sure you get noticed by AI as well?
The million-dollar question, right?!
Here’s what no one will tell you:
Breaking News: You need to use AI.
I can’t stress this enough. You won’t be replaced by AI, you will be replaced by people using AI.
If you’re in the AI, it will be able to actually get to know you. This gives you a huge advantage in front of everyone else who’s still hesitating to touch AI.
I’m now at the point where I can start a conversation with ChatGPT and it behaves as if I’ve trained a custom GPT. It already knows a lot about me. It’s because I use it every day for my content, for more than an year. And I use it the right way. I’ve got a free course about how you can do that too.
No search engine can do that for you.
Quick Recap
First and foremost, use AI (the right way)
Publish on public, indexable platforms
Write content that answers real user questions
Use clear, confident, educational language
Build bridges to your email list with specific offers
Establish yourself as an authority AI can trust
This isn’t theory. It’s already happening.
And if you want to future-proof your audience growth, start writing for humans who use AI — not just for search engines or social media feeds.
This is the next big opportunity for creators who know how to write.
Stay Unplugged!
Yana
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You did not! Wow. I’m not even sure what that means but of course I want it.
This is mind blowing! I'm eager to start experimenting with this!