What is the CitePulse Visibility Index?
The CitePulse Visibility Index (CVI) is our proprietary scoring methodology that measures how visible and recommended your brand is within AI-generated responses. Unlike traditional SEO metrics that track rankings on a list of blue links, CVI measures something fundamentally different: how often and how favorably AI systems mention your brand when answering user questions.
CVI is calculated on a scale of 0-100, where:
- 0-20: Low visibility - rarely mentioned by AI systems
- 21-40: Emerging - occasional mentions but not recommended
- 41-60: Moderate - regularly mentioned, sometimes recommended
- 61-80: Strong - frequently cited with positive sentiment
- 81-100: Dominant - top-of-mind for AI in your category
How We Measure AI Visibility
Unlike competitors who estimate visibility based on crawl data or sampling, CitePulse queries real AI models with actual user prompts. We send thousands of queries across 16+ AI engines including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Copilot, and more.
Real Queries, Real Results
Every CVI score comes from actual API calls to production AI models. We don't scrape cached pages or estimate based on web presence - we ask the same questions your customers ask and measure the real responses.
For each query, we analyze the full response to determine:
- Whether your brand was mentioned at all
- Where in the response you appeared (first, middle, last)
- How strongly you were recommended vs. just mentioned
- What E-E-A-T signals the AI associated with your brand
- How you were positioned relative to competitors
The Four Pillars of CVI Scoring
Position-Weighted Visibility
25% of total CVI score
Being mentioned first in an AI response is worth more than being mentioned last. Our algorithm applies logarithmic decay to weight earlier mentions higher - reflecting how users actually read AI responses (most stop after the first few recommendations).
First mention: 100% weight → Second: 70% → Third: 50% → decreases logarithmicallyRecommendation Intensity
30% of total CVI score
We analyze the language AI uses when mentioning your brand. Strong endorsements like "best choice," "highly recommend," or "industry leader" score higher than passive mentions or neutral references like "one option is" or "you could also try."
E-E-A-T Signal Detection
25% of total CVI score
We scan AI responses for signals that indicate Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness - the same signals AI models use to determine citation confidence. When AI mentions your credentials, awards, or expertise, your E-E-A-T score increases.
Industry recognition, citations, awards
Technical depth, specialization signals
Transparency, accuracy, reliability mentions
First-hand knowledge, case studies, results
Competitive Context Scoring
20% of total CVI score
Your score factors in how you're positioned relative to competitors. Being mentioned alone is good, but being recommended over competitors is better. We track share of voice within competitive responses.
Confidence-Adjusted Scoring
Every CVI score includes a confidence level based on sample size and data quality. This transparency ensures you're making decisions based on reliable metrics, not guesswork.
Confidence Levels
Scores with low confidence are flagged in the dashboard so you know when more scans are needed for statistical significance. We recommend running at least 50 queries per brand/query combination for reliable trend analysis.
Interpreting Your CVI Score
Your CVI score tells you where you stand in AI visibility, but context matters. Here's how to interpret your scores:
CVI 80+: Dominant
You're the go-to recommendation in your category. Focus on maintaining position and expanding to adjacent queries.
CVI 60-79: Strong
You're frequently cited with positive sentiment. Optimize for recommendation intensity to break into the top tier.
CVI 40-59: Moderate
You appear regularly but aren't the top choice. Focus on E-E-A-T signals and authority building.
CVI <40: Needs Work
AI systems don't recognize you as an authority yet. Start with foundational GEO and entity establishment.
Strategies to Improve Your CVI
Build Entity Authority
Ensure your brand is defined consistently across Wikipedia, Crunchbase, LinkedIn, and industry databases. AI models cross-reference these sources.
Create Citation-Worthy Content
Publish original research, proprietary data, and expert perspectives that AI cannot generate itself. Back claims with primary sources.
Implement Structured Data
Use Schema.org markup for Organization, Person, Product, and FAQ entities. This gives AI verifiable data to cite.
Monitor Competitor Positioning
Track where you appear relative to competitors. If they consistently rank above you, analyze what they are doing differently.