Questions, answered directly
One question per heading, one straight answer underneath — the exact format we tell clients to use.
What exactly is the Authority Index™?
A score from 0 to 100 that measures how confidently AI platforms can understand and recommend your business. It is calculated from seven weighted factors: citation consistency (20%), schema markup (15%), FAQ optimization (15%), authority signals (15%), content quality (15%), lead capture infrastructure (10%), and chatbot engagement (10%).
Is this just SEO with a new name?
No. SEO optimizes for ranking position on a results page. AEO optimizes for machine confidence — whether an assistant can describe your business accurately enough to name it as the answer. Good SEO helps but does not get you there on its own, because ranking and being quoted are different decisions made by different systems.
What does the free AI Visibility Snapshot include?
Your current Authority Index™ score, a factor-by-factor breakdown showing where points are being lost, and the specific fixes ranked by how many points each is worth. It is delivered by email within two business days. There is no card required and no obligation to hire us.
How is the snapshot different from the interactive demo?
The demo scores your own answers to seven questions and takes about a minute. The snapshot is an audit of your live web presence — your actual citations, structured data, content, and authority signals — plus checks on how AI platforms currently answer questions in your category.
How long does it take to improve a score?
Citation and schema corrections typically register within a few weeks. Content depth and authority signals compound over about a quarter. Ninety days is a realistic window for a meaningful move; anyone promising an overnight jump is describing something that does not exist.
What score should I be aiming for?
Above 70. Most businesses score between 20 and 40 before any optimization. At 61-80 AI can recommend you in most contexts; at 81-100 your digital footprint is optimized across every factor we measure.
Which AI platforms do you measure against?
The major consumer assistants and answer engines people use to find local services, including ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI-generated answers in general search. The methodology is platform-agnostic because the underlying requirement — verifiable, consistent, machine-readable information — is the same everywhere.
Do I have to hire you to fix the gaps?
No. The snapshot report is yours to keep and act on however you like. The recommendations are specific enough to hand to your existing web developer or marketing team.
Do you work with businesses outside Buffalo?
Yes. We are based in Buffalo, New York and started with Western New York service businesses, but the methodology is not regional and we work with clients nationally.
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