What is Position?
Position measures where your brand appears in the order of recommendations when AI assistants mention multiple options. Being mentioned first is better than being mentioned last. When ChatGPT lists “the best CRM tools”, does your product come first, third, or tenth? Position tracking tells you.How Position is Calculated
Position Score
Position is tracked as a numerical ranking:- Position 1: Mentioned first
- Position 2: Mentioned second
- Position 3: Mentioned third
- And so on…
Average Position
We calculate your average position across all mentions: Average Position = Sum of all positions / Number of mentions A lower average position is better (being mentioned earlier is good).| Average Position | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 1.0 - 2.0 | Excellent - Usually first or second |
| 2.0 - 3.0 | Good - Top three |
| 3.0 - 5.0 | Average - Mid-pack |
| 5.0+ | Low - Often mentioned late |
Position Dashboard
Overview
The position overview shows:- Average position: Your overall ranking average
- Position distribution: How often you’re 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.
- Trend: Whether your position is improving
Position by Platform
Position can vary significantly by AI platform:- Some platforms may favor different sources
- Training data differences affect rankings
- Real-time platforms (like Perplexity) may show different patterns
Position by Prompt
See how your position varies by prompt type:- Category questions: “Best [category] tools”
- Comparison questions: “[Your brand] vs [competitor]”
- Use case questions: “Best tool for [specific need]“
Position vs Visibility
Position and visibility are related but distinct:| Scenario | Visibility | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Mentioned first in every response | High | Excellent (1.0) |
| Mentioned last in every response | High | Poor (varies) |
| Mentioned first but rarely | Low | Excellent (1.0) |
| Never mentioned | Zero | N/A |
Factors Affecting Position
Perceived Market Leadership
AI models often reflect perceived market standing:- Market share and popularity
- Brand recognition
- Industry awards and recognition
Content Quality and Quantity
More comprehensive content can improve position:- Detailed feature documentation
- Use case examples
- Comparison pages
- Educational content
Recency and Relevance
For AI with real-time data:- Recent news and updates
- Fresh reviews and testimonials
- Current pricing and features
Authority Signals
Signals that indicate expertise and trust:- Expert content and thought leadership
- Backlinks from authoritative sources
- Industry analyst mentions
- User community size
Improving Position
1. Establish Category Leadership
Position yourself as a leader:- Create comprehensive category content
- Publish thought leadership
- Win industry awards
- Grow market presence
2. Optimize for Comparisons
AI often compares options. Ensure you compare favorably:- Create comparison pages
- Highlight unique differentiators
- Address common objections
- Provide clear use case fit
3. Build Authority
Authority signals can improve position:- Get mentioned by industry experts
- Earn coverage in industry publications
- Grow user reviews and testimonials
- Participate in industry events
4. Monitor Competitor Positions
Understand why competitors rank higher:- What content do they have that you don’t?
- What authority signals are they building?
- What differentiators are they emphasizing?
Position and Visibility Together
The ideal outcome is high visibility with excellent position. Track both metrics together:Best Case
- High visibility (mentioned often)
- Good position (mentioned early)
- Positive sentiment (mentioned favorably)
Areas to Improve
| Visibility | Position | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Any | Increase visibility first |
| High | Poor | Improve position through authority |
| High | Good | Maintain and optimize |