Visibility answers: “Do we show up?”
Position answers: “Do we show up early enough to matter?”
Position answers: “Do we show up early enough to matter?”
Overview
AI answers often mention multiple brands. When you’re mentioned first, you’re more likely to be remembered, clicked, and chosen — especially in list-style recommendations (“Top tools for…”, “Best options for…”). Position helps you track:- Order of mention in list-style answers
- Whether you’re framed as a top pick vs “also-ran”
- How often you lead vs follow competitors
How position is measured
Pierview assigns a rank to each brand mention inside an answer:- Rank 1 = first brand mentioned
- Rank 2 = second brand mentioned
- etc.
Average Position
Where:- = your rank in a response where you’re mentioned
- = number of responses where your brand appears
Position is calculated only on responses where you appear. If you don’t appear, that’s a Visibility problem — not a Position problem.
How to interpret position
A simple rubric:- 1.0 – 1.5: You’re often the default recommendation 🏆
- 1.6 – 2.5: You’re competitive (in the top group)
- 2.6 – 4.0: You show up, but late (people may not reach you)
- 4.0+: You’re “honorable mention” territory
Good sign
Your position improves over time on high-intent prompts (e.g., “best X”, “X vs Y”).
Bad sign
You show up, but competitors consistently appear before you — even when your product fits the prompt.
Why position matters
Brand authority
A lower (better) position suggests AI models treat you as:- A more authoritative option for the topic
- A go-to choice in your category
- A strong match for the user intent
Competitive advantage
Better position usually means:- Users see you first → higher selection probability
- Your brand framing controls the comparison
- Competitors become the “alternatives” (not you)
Topic relevance
Position varies by topic and intent. This helps you find:- Topics where you’re already a leader
- Topics where your messaging/content needs work
- Prompt clusters where competitors dominate first mention
What drives position
Position is mostly influenced by:-
Prompt intent fit
If the prompt maps to a use case you own, you tend to rank earlier. -
Source strength
AI models often pull lists and comparisons from authoritative sources. If those sources lead with competitors, you’ll show up later. -
Clarity of differentiation
Brands with clear “best for X” positioning usually rank earlier. -
Comparison availability
If there are many “X vs Y” pages about competitors, they get “first mention momentum.”
How to improve position (action checklist)
Fast wins (this week)
- Add more high-intent prompts:
- “best [category] for [use case]”
- “[competitor] vs [your brand]”
- “alternatives to [competitor]”
- Tighten your positioning sentence everywhere:
- “Pierview is best for ___ teams who want ___ outcome.”
- Create a short comparison page for your top competitor.
Compounding wins (this month)
- Build content formats that commonly produce “ranked lists” in AI answers:
- “Best X” pages with criteria
- “Alternatives to X” pages
- Comparisons with structured sections (pricing, features, ideal user)
- Improve your presence on the sources AI relies on:
- directories, review sites, editorial roundups, communities
If you want to win position, don’t just “exist on the web” — exist on the pages that define the ranking.
Troubleshooting
We have good visibility but poor position
- You’re being mentioned, but not framed as a top recommendation
- Check whether competitors are described with stronger “best for” language
- Improve positioning and comparison content, then track position on the same prompt set
Position looks inconsistent across prompts
- That’s normal: some topics naturally favor competitors
- Group prompts into clusters (use cases) and optimize one cluster at a time
We’re ranked late even when we should be a top fit
- Look at the sources driving those answers
- If the top-used sources are missing you, you’ll rarely rank early
- Fix source presence first, then re-check position