Depth of mention
Depth of mention is how much an AI answer says about your brand when it names you, from a passing name in a list to a full recommendation.
Depth of mention is how much an AI answer says about your brand when it names you. At the shallow end, you're one name in a list of seven. At the deep end, the answer explains what you do, who you suit and why it recommends you.
Both count as one mention in most metrics. They aren't worth the same. A reader skims past a name in a list. A paragraph that recommends you with a reason is what makes someone visit your site.
From a name to a recommendation
A rough scale helps when you read answers:
- Named in a list, with nothing else
- Named with a short description, like "a specialty roaster in Leeds"
- Named with a reason to choose you, like "good for offices because of weekly delivery"
- The answer's main recommendation, with reasons
For example, two answers both name Fernhill. One ends "Other options include Kestrel, Fernhill and Harrow & Pine." The other says "For a small office, Fernhill is a strong choice: it delivers weekly, plans start at £12 per person, and it offers a free grinder." Both count as one mention, and only the second gives a reader a reason to pick Fernhill.
Making mentions deeper
Answers can only say what they find. If the pages the platforms read about you say little, the mention stays shallow. Give them something to say: clear facts about what you do, who you're for and what makes you different, on your own site and on the sites that write about you.
There's no standard formula for depth yet, so read your answers, and watch whether the descriptions get longer and more specific over time.
In AnswerOrbit
Position shows where you're named in each answer, and Answers lets you read every one with the brands it named marked. In Perception, What's said in the Sentiment tab lists the things the answers say about you, with their tone and how often they're said, and Qualities shows which qualities the platforms tie to you.