Brand AI visibility index
A brand AI visibility index is a single score that blends several measures of how a brand shows up in AI answers into one number.
A brand AI visibility index is one number that tries to sum up how well a brand shows up in AI answers. It blends several measures into a single score, for example how often you're named, how prominently, and how much the questions that name you are worth to your business.
Single scores are popular because they fit on a slide. Before you report one, it's worth knowing what's inside it.
What usually goes in
Each tool builds its index its own way, and most don't publish the full recipe. Common ingredients are:
- How often answers name you
- Where you come in those answers
- How often your website is cited
- A weight for prompts that are closer to a purchase
The catch with one number
When an index moves, you can't tell why without taking it apart. Say your index drops from 62 to 55. Maybe you're named less often. Maybe you're named as often but lower down. Maybe the tool changed its weights. Each of those calls for a different fix, and the index alone can't tell you which happened.
Indexes also make it hard to compare tools, or even two reports from the same tool if the recipe has changed.
For example, Kestrel Roasters reports an index of 70 to its board. Fernhill Coffee reports a visibility of 35% and a position of 2.2. Fernhill's board can check those numbers against the answers. Kestrel's board has to take the 70 on trust.
What to look at instead
If you use an index, read the numbers it's made from next to it. The ones that matter most are your visibility, your share of voice, your position and your citations, each with how many answers it's based on.
In AnswerOrbit
We show those four as separate numbers on the Overview, each with how many answers it's based on, and you can click any of them to read the answers behind it. What the numbers mean explains how each is worked out.