When someone asks ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity a question, they get a conversational answer — not a list of links. AI search is fundamentally different from Google:
| Traditional Search | AI Search |
|---|
| 10 blue links | Conversational recommendations |
| Click to visit sites | AI synthesizes information for you |
| Rankings based on SEO | Recommendations based on AI’s understanding |
| Measure clicks and impressions | Measure mentions, position, and sentiment |
The four metrics
| Metric | What it measures |
|---|
| Share of Voice | Your market share in AI conversations — the most important metric |
| Citations | How often AI references your pages as sources |
| Avg Position | Where you appear in AI’s list of recommendations |
| Sentiment | How positively AI describes you (0-100) |
How they work together
These metrics paint a complete picture:
- High SoV + High Position + Positive Sentiment = You’re winning AI search
- High SoV + Low Sentiment = You’re visible but not well-received
- Low SoV + Any other metrics = Visibility problem to solve first
All metrics are tracked across AI platforms (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, etc.) and can be filtered by time period
Dig deeper
Each metric has its own page with detailed explanations, benchmarks, and strategies for improvement:
