How we measure AI visibility

This page explains the method we use to check if AI tools name a business: a fixed list of customer questions, the same AI tools each time, a three level score, and a regular schedule.

Why measure

AI tools change their answers often. A site that AI tools could read in March can be blocked by July, and no one sees it from the inside. A regular, fixed test shows these changes. It also shows which other businesses the AI tools name for the same questions.

The method in six steps

• Step 1. Write the question list. Pick 10 to 25 questions that real customers ask. Use plain words. Include questions that name your city and questions that do not.
• Step 2. Lock the list. Do not change the questions during a test period. If you must add a question, add it at the end and mark the date.
• Step 3. Choose the AI tools. We ask the same questions in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI answers where they are available to us. We note when a tool is blocked or refuses to answer.
• Step 4. Ask by hand in a browser. We type each question in a new session and read the full answer. We do not use a tool that calls the AI from code, because that can give different answers from what a customer sees.
• Step 5. Score each answer. We write NAMED, CITED or NO, and we write the names of the other businesses in the answer.
• Step 6. Repeat on a fixed schedule. Monthly tracking for clients uses the same list each month. We compare each month with the one before.

The three scores

• NAMED. The answer says the name of your business.
• CITED. The answer links to your website as a source.
• NO. The answer does neither.

An answer can be NAMED and CITED. The share of questions with a NAMED or CITED score is your AI Share of Voice.

What this method cannot tell you

AI answers can differ between two people who ask the same question. One test is a sample, not a fact. So we look at the trend over several months, and we never say that one change caused one result. We do not promise any score. We tell you what we find.

How it fits with an audit

The audit checks if AI crawlers can read your site and if your facts are clear. The measurement shows what the AI tools say after that. You need both. See what we do on the page GEO agency in New York. For a short version you can run alone, read How to check if AI tools mention your business. For a seven step plan to improve your score, read How to get recommended by ChatGPT.

What is AI visibility?

AI visibility is how often an AI search tool names your business, or links to your website, when it answers a question your customers ask.

How do you score an answer?

Each answer gets one of three scores. NAMED means the answer says the name of the business. CITED means the answer links to the business website as a source. NO means the answer does neither.

Why do you use the same questions each time?

A fixed list of questions makes results comparable. If the questions change, you cannot tell if a change in the score came from your business or from the new questions.

Can I run this method myself?

Yes. The steps are on this page. You need a list of questions, a note sheet and a few hours each month. Our page on how to check if AI mentions your business gives a shorter version.