AI search works differently from traditional keyword-based tracking, and we know many of you have questions about how to write search terms for the best results. This guide explains how AI engines interpret your inputs, what counts as a search term, and how to get meaningful, consistent insights without wasting credits.
đ¤ AI Prompts vs. Keywords: Whatâs the Difference?
In traditional SEO, you track keywords like "best streaming service".
In AI search (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Overviews), users typically enter longer, natural language prompts, like:
âWhat is the best movie streaming service in 2025?â
Even though both examples aim for the same intent, the AI engine doesnât treat them as identical strings - it interprets their semantic meaning.
đĄ What is âSemantic Meaningâ?
Semantic meaning refers to the underlying intent or idea behind a phrase, not just the exact words used. For example, âbest streaming serviceâ and âwhich streaming platform is the best?â use different words, but have the same semantic meaning - theyâre asking the same question.
AI engines focus on this meaning to understand and respond accurately, even when the phrasing changes.
đ§ How AI Engines Understand Search Terms
When you enter a search term into our AI Visibility tool, we send it exactly as written to the selected AI engine. Behind the scenes, the AI engine converts that prompt into a semantic vector, a mathematical representation of the meaning.
That means:
â Slight differences in phrasing usually still return similar answers
â ď¸ But not identical - AI is probabilistic, so results may vary slightly
đ Rewording a prompt can shift tone, depth, or which brands get mentioned
So yes, phrasing matters, but not every small change requires a new tracked term.
How Many Variations Should You Track?
Start with 1â2 well-phrased prompts (search terms) per topic or intent. Thatâs usually enough to get a reliable read on what the AI returns.
You may want to track additional variations if:
The topic has multiple interpretations
You want to compare commercial vs. informational tone
Youâre testing how changes in wording affect your brandâs presence
Example:
Prompt | Good for |
âWhat is the best project management software?â | General visibility |
âTop project management tools for remote teams in 2025â | Niche targeting |
âAsana vs. ClickUp: which is better?â | Competitor-specific tracking |
Keyword or Full Prompt? How Much Detail to Include
What happens if I just use a keyword instead of a full prompt?
You can enter just a keyword (like "best CRM software"), but keep in mind:
AI engines like ChatGPT and Gemini are designed to respond to natural language queries, not isolated keywords.
When you enter a short phrase, the AI has less context to go on, which can lead to vague or generic answers. In contrast, a full prompt like:
âWhat is the best CRM software for small businesses in 2025?â
gives the AI more to work with, leading to clearer, more targeted results.
Bottom line: You can use keywords, but we recommend using full prompts for better accuracy and visibility tracking.
Do longer prompts give better results than short ones?
Not necessarily longer for the sake of it, but more specific and natural prompts do help the AI produce better responses.
The sweet spot is:
Clear
Natural-sounding
Specific enough to reflect real user intent
Compare: "project management tools" vs. "What project management tools are best for remote teams in 2025?"
The second one is more likely to return results that reflect real competitive visibility, because it mimics how someone would actually search in an AI tool.
Tip: You donât need to overthink or write paragraphs. Just imagine how a user would ask the question out loud.
Final Notes
Our system evaluates the exact prompt you enter
If your brand or content is meaningfully mentioned in the AIâs response, it gets picked up
You donât need to add thousands of tiny prompt variations, focus on meaningful, distinct phrasing