Arrow Choose the surfaces your buyers actually use and document their separate behavior. Consumer ChatGPT, a provider API, Perplexity search and Google's AI experiences are not interchangeable tests. Record surface, model when visible, search mode, language, market and time so a change in setup does not masquerade as progress.
Name the product surface, not just the company
Gemini Apps, Google Search AI features and a search-grounded Gemini API experiment are different surfaces. Likewise, a ChatGPT consumer conversation and a provider API call can use different tools and context. Label each dataset with the experience actually observed.
Choose a maintainable panel
Use the channels that matter to your audience and that you can observe consistently. Keep brand identity checks separate from non-branded selection questions. Record an unavailable channel as unmeasured rather than substituting a different interface.
A small panel with complete response evidence is easier to interpret than a broad score with hidden gaps. Extend coverage when the collection and review process can support it.
What to check
- Choose a small set of platforms relevant to your audience and separate branded questions from non-branded buying questions.
- For each observation, record the interface, visible model, search mode, language, market and date.
- Keep unavailable surfaces marked as unmeasured. Do not fill gaps with results from a different API or model.
A practical example
An OpenAI API response and a response in the ChatGPT consumer interface are separate observations. Even if both mention the brand, they cannot be combined as evidence of the same search position.
Sources and further reading
- Google AI for Developers: grounding with Google Search
- OpenAI: ChatGPT Search and citations
- Arrow: AI citation tracking methodology
These steps are Arrow AI's implementation guidance. The example is illustrative; it is not a measured customer result. Publication and source access do not guarantee an AI recommendation.
Apply this to your website
Identify the source gaps and decide what to improve with Arrow's free audit. Review what Arrow GEO measures before choosing a reporting scope.