> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.pierview.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Position

> Position measures **where your brand ranks when it appears in AI-generated answers**, first, second, third, etc.

<Info>
  Visibility answers: “Do we show up?”\
  Position answers: “Do we show up *early enough to matter*?”
</Info>

***

## 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.

Then Pierview aggregates across your selected timeframe:

### Average Position

$$
AvgPosition = \frac{\sum Rank_{brand}}{N}
$$

Where:

* $Rank_{brand}$ = your rank in a response where you’re mentioned
* $N$ = number of responses where your brand appears

<Info>
  Position is calculated only on responses where you appear. If you don’t appear, that’s a Visibility problem, not a Position problem.
</Info>

***

## 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

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Good sign" icon="circle-check">
    Your position improves over time on high-intent prompts (e.g., “best X”, “X vs Y”).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Bad sign" icon="triangle-exclamation">
    You show up, but competitors consistently appear before you, even when your product fits the prompt.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## 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:

1. **Prompt intent fit**\
   If the prompt maps to a use case you own, you tend to rank earlier.

2. **Source strength**\
   AI models often pull lists and comparisons from authoritative sources. If those sources lead with competitors, you’ll show up later.

3. **Clarity of differentiation**\
   Brands with clear “best for X” positioning usually rank earlier.

4. **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

<Info>
  If you want to win position, don’t just “exist on the web”, exist on the *pages that define the ranking*.
</Info>

***

## 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

***

## Related metrics

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Visibility" icon="eye" href="/main-metrics/visibility">
    How often you show up in AI answers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Sentiment" icon="heart" href="/main-metrics/sentiment">
    How AI describes you when you’re mentioned.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Citations" icon="link" href="/core-features/analysis/citations">
    Whether your mentions are backed by credible sources.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>