Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about SourceRank, AEO, AI visibility tracking, pricing, and technical setup.
General Questions
What is SourceRank?
SourceRank is the first dedicated platform for AI Engine Optimization (AEO). We help you understand and improve how AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini perceive, cite, and describe your website.
What is AEO?
AEO (AI Engine Optimization) is the practice of optimizing your website so AI systems understand it better, cite it more often, and describe it accurately. Think of it as SEO for AI answer engines.
How is this different from SEO?
SEO focuses on ranking in search engine results. AEO focuses on being mentioned and cited when AI systems answer questions. Both are important—they serve different user behaviors.
| SEO | AEO |
|---|---|
| Rank in search results | Get cited in AI answers |
| Optimize for keywords | Optimize for questions |
| Measure rankings | Measure mentions |
| Target Google/Bing | Target ChatGPT/Claude/Perplexity |
Why should I care about AI visibility?
Over 100 million people use ChatGPT weekly. Millions more use Perplexity, Claude, and Google’s AI features. When these users ask about your industry, being mentioned—or not—directly impacts your brand visibility and potential business.
Scanning & Scoring
How does the AEO scan work?
Our scanner:
- Crawls your website
- Analyzes content structure and quality
- Checks technical AEO factors (schema, llms.txt, etc.)
- Evaluates how AI engines perceive your content
- Generates an AEO score with recommendations
What does my AEO score mean?
Your score (0-100) indicates AI engine optimization:
- 80-100: Excellent - Well optimized
- 60-79: Good - Some improvements needed
- 40-59: Fair - Significant opportunities
- 0-39: Poor - Major work needed
How often should I scan?
- After changes: Always rescan after updates
- Active optimization: Weekly
- Maintenance: Monthly
Paid plans include automated scanning on your schedule.
Is the free scan actually free?
Yes! You can scan any website without creating an account or paying. We offer unlimited free scans.
Can I scan competitors?
Yes, you can scan any public website. Use this to benchmark against competitors and learn from high-scoring sites.
AI Visibility Tracking
What is AI Visibility tracking?
AI Visibility monitors when and how AI engines mention your brand. We query AI systems with relevant keywords and track whether you’re cited, how you’re described, and the sentiment of mentions.
Which AI engines do you track?
- ChatGPT (OpenAI)
- Claude (Anthropic)
- Perplexity
- Gemini (Google)
Why aren’t I getting any mentions?
Common reasons:
- New or niche site: AI engines may not have learned about you yet
- Limited content: More comprehensive content = more citations
- Technical issues: Missing llms.txt or schema markup
- Low authority: Build credibility through backlinks and quality content
How can I improve my AI visibility?
- Implement llms.txt
- Add structured data (schema markup)
- Create question-answer content
- Build topic authority with comprehensive coverage
- Keep content accurate and updated
Pricing & Plans
What’s included in the free plan?
- 1 domain
- Manual scanning (no automation)
- 7-day history
- Basic AEO scoring and recommendations
What do paid plans add?
- More domains
- Automated scanning
- AI Visibility tracking
- Keyword monitoring
- Longer history
- Team collaboration
- Email alerts
Can I change plans anytime?
Yes! Upgrade immediately (prorated) or downgrade at your next billing cycle.
Do you offer refunds?
Yes, within 7 days of purchase if you’re not satisfied. Email support@sourcerank.app.
Is there a free trial?
We offer a trial through our referral program. Ask a current customer for an invite, or start with our free plan to explore the platform.
Technical Questions
What is llms.txt?
llms.txt is a file (like robots.txt) that helps AI crawlers understand your website. It describes your site, lists important pages, and provides context for AI systems.
Do I need technical skills to use SourceRank?
Not for basic features! Running scans and viewing results requires no technical knowledge. Implementing recommendations (like llms.txt or schema) may need some technical help.
How does SourceRank access AI engines?
We use official APIs where available and follow each engine’s terms of service. We query engines the same way users would, then analyze responses for mentions of your brand.
Is my data secure?
Yes. We use encryption in transit and at rest, don’t store sensitive website credentials, and follow security best practices. We never share your data with third parties.
Can SourceRank affect my website?
No. SourceRank only reads publicly available information. We never modify your website or submit content on your behalf.
Account & Billing
How do I cancel my subscription?
Go to Dashboard → Billing → Cancel Subscription. You keep access until the end of your billing period.
What happens to my data if I cancel?
Your account and data remain accessible on the Free plan. Historical data beyond Free limits becomes inaccessible (not deleted). You can resubscribe anytime to restore full access.
Can I export my data?
Historical scan data and reports can be viewed in your dashboard. Contact support@sourcerank.app for bulk export requests.
How do I change my email address?
Go to Settings → Profile to update your email.
How do I delete my account?
Email support@sourcerank.app with your request. We’ll delete your account and associated data within 30 days.
Troubleshooting
My scan is taking too long
Scans typically take 30-60 seconds. If longer:
- Large sites take more time
- Check if your site is accessible
- Try again in a few minutes
My score seems wrong
Scores are objective but not perfect. If something seems off:
- Review the detailed breakdown
- Check for technical issues we detected
- Contact support if you believe there’s an error
I’m not receiving emails
- Check spam/junk folder
- Add noreply@sourcerank.app to contacts
- Verify your email in Settings
- Check notification preferences
The dashboard isn’t loading
Try:
- Refresh the page
- Clear browser cache
- Try a different browser
- Check status.sourcerank.app for outages
Still Have Questions?
- Email: support@sourcerank.app
- Response time: Within 24 hours (business days)
- Help Center: Browse all articles at /help
We’re here to help you succeed with AEO!