What counts as an AEO Answer Opportunity
An AEO Answer Opportunity is every measured answer, not only the answers that name a brand. An answer where no measured brand appears is still counted. It shows that every brand was absent from that answer, and Presence Rate is measured against that full set.How Mentioned identifies a Rival
Mentioned identifies a Rival by its website domain, not by its name. A competitor you add at onboarding and the same brand named in a measured answer are one Rival, counted together, as long as Mentioned can connect them to the one domain. This matters because a brand’s name in an AI answer does not always match the domain you typed. “McDonald’s” and “mcdonalds.com.au” are the same Rival. Resolving on the domain keeps a Rival’s Presence Count and Presence Rate whole, instead of splitting across two rows with different names.What is in the field
The field is your brand plus each Rival that appears often enough to count as visible in your category. A Rival must appear in a meaningful share of measured answers, and more than once, before it takes a place. The field is not limited to the competitors that you added. Rivals that measured answers reveal can also enter the field. A competitor that you track but that never appears has no place in the field. The number beside your rank is the size of the field.Metric availability
Competitive Ranking shows No data when there is no ranked field. It has no number and no green, amber, or red status in this state. A last-place result is measured data. It is not the same as No data.How to read it
- Read the position and field size together, for example 3rd of 40.
- A lower position number is better.
- Use Presence Rate to see how often each brand appeared.
- Read No data as an unavailable field, not as first or last place.
Competitive Ranking versus Answer Rank
Answer Rank is your position inside one list-style AI answer. It is a detail for that answer. Answer Rank does not feed Brand Health Score. Competitive Ranking measures your position across the visible field. It answers a different question from Answer Rank.Why it matters for AEO
Competitive Ranking shows whether your brand’s presence improves faster or slower than the other visible brands in the field. You can use the position and field size to explain the result.Competitive Ranking reflects the prompts, AI engines, competitors, and date range selected in your project. It does not measure the whole internet.