What is prompt tracking?
Prompt tracking is asking AI assistants the same questions repeatedly over time to observe which brands get named and which sources get cited. It is the measurement method behind most AI visibility tools and produces trends instead of a single snapshot.
A tracking tool stores a list of questions, sends them to one or more systems at set intervals and analyzes the answers. Typical outputs are the share of answers that name the brand, the position of the mention and the shares of competitors.
How much the numbers mean depends on three things. First, the questions: storing mostly questions that contain your own brand name produces high visibility that does not apply to real customers. Second, the number of runs per question, since answers vary. Third, whether questions go through the API or the consumer interface, because the two can answer differently.
Few vendors disclose how many runs they use and how large the uncertainty of their numbers is. Without that, a week-to-week change cannot be told apart from chance.
What it means for your website
When using or buying prompt tracking, read the question list yourself, know the number of runs and ask to see the answers word for word. A sensible list mixes category, comparison and location questions without your own brand name. Individual spikes only become a signal when they persist across several measurements.
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Sources
This entry contains no figures and relies on generally documented terms.
Terms help you understand. Whether AI crawlers can reach your site is something you measure.
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