How we measure
Every number, and where it comes from
SOSSRANK checks Google Maps, AI tools, your reviews and your website directly. Here is how each check works, so you can trust what you see.
Map Grid: your Google Maps position
Google Maps shows different businesses depending on where the searcher stands. So we check your search from many spots around your business, not just one.
- Where the data comes from
- A live Google Maps search for each point, run through DataForSEO, a search data provider. We read the top 20 businesses Google shows at that spot. Ads are left out.
- Where the points go
- An even grid centered on your business: 3 × 3 up to 9 × 9, and 11 × 11 or 13 × 13 on the Agency plan. You choose the spacing, from a fraction of a mile in a city to several miles in rural areas.
- How we match you
- First by your Google listing ID, then by your website, then by your exact name. A business with a similar name is never counted as you.
- How often
- Whenever you run a scan, plus any schedule you set (weekly or monthly). Each scan is saved, so you can compare it with the last one.
- How we score it
- Your grid average counts every point. Where you are not in the top 20, that point counts as 21. Top 3 coverage is the share of points where you are in the top three.
- Points we couldn't check
- If Google or the provider doesn't answer for a point, it shows grey and is left out of your averages. It is never counted as a low rank.
AI Visibility: whether AI tools name you
We ask AI tools the same kind of question your customers ask, such as who is the best roofer in your city, and record whether your business is named.
- Which tools
- ChatGPT (with web search), Perplexity, Gemini (with Google Search), Google AI Overviews and Google AI Mode.
- Which questions
- Up to four questions built from your business type and city, each asked three times per tool. Agency plans can add up to five of their own questions.
- Your location
- ChatGPT and Perplexity are told the city the question is about, so answers reflect your area.
- How we count a mention
- Your business name, or most of its words, has to appear in the answer. Each answer is saved with the sources the tool cited.
- Why we show a range
- AI tools give different answers each time. So next to your mention rate we show a likely range, the same way a poll does.
- When Google shows no AI answer
- Sometimes Google shows no AI answer for a question. That is marked as no answer and is not counted against you.
Reviews and your Google profile
Your review count, rating and replies come straight from your public Google listing.
- Where the data comes from
- Your public Google reviews, read through DataForSEO, and your Google Business Profile when you connect it.
- How often
- Once your reviews are synced, we look for new ones every day. A review of 3 stars or less is emailed to you once.
- Profile Watch (Agency)
- Regular checks of your public listing for changes to your name, phone, hours, website and more.
Site Audit
We visit your website the way a search engine does and list what holds it back, by importance.
- What we check
- Speed, page titles and descriptions, broken links, structured data, your business details on the site, and other technical basics.
- Your site stays as it is
- The audit only reads your pages. It changes nothing.
- How often
- Whenever you run it, plus a monthly re-check that emails you any new problems. You can turn the monthly re-check off.
- The score
- Out of 100. 80 or more is good, 60 to 79 needs work, under 60 needs attention.
Your own Google data
When you connect Google, we show your real numbers from your own accounts.
- Google Search Console
- Clicks, impressions and the searches people used to find your website.
- Google Analytics
- Website visitors, including visits that came from AI tools like ChatGPT.
- Read only
- We only read these accounts. You can disconnect them at any time in Settings.
What the labels mean
- Measured
- A number we checked directly, such as your Maps position at a point or a mention in an AI answer. Most numbers in SOSSRANK are measured.
- Estimate
- A few numbers are projections, such as those in the Near Me Map. These are always labeled as estimates next to the number.
- Couldn't check
- Shown in grey when a source didn't answer. These are left out of scores and averages.
Questions about a number? Email support@sossrank.com.