Co-occurrence
When two names or terms keep appearing close together in text, so they become linked in the minds of readers and models.
Co-occurrence is when two names or terms keep appearing close together in text: in the same sentence, the same paragraph or the same answer. No link is needed. If articles about project management software often mention your brand next to the words small agencies, the two are said to co-occur.
Why it matters for AI answers
Language models learn from what's written, and much of what they learn is which words tend to appear together. Answer engines also read pages at the moment they answer. In both cases, a brand that's often written about alongside a topic, a use or a set of competitors is more likely to be named when someone asks about them.
That works in both directions. If your brand keeps appearing next to words like expensive or hard to cancel, answers can pick that up too.
For example, if most comparison articles in your market put you next to the same two competitors, answers to "What are the alternatives to Kestrel Roasters?" are likely to name you, because the platforms have seen you in that group so often.
How it differs from co-citation
Co-citation is about being cited or linked by the same source. Co-occurrence only needs the words to sit near each other.
In AnswerOrbit
The Suggested tab in Competitors shows the brands the platforms name next to you that you don't track yet, which is co-occurrence you can see. The Ranking on the Overview lists every brand the answers name. Perception shows the qualities the platforms tie you to, and where you stand on each against other brands. See Competitors and Perception.