{"id":15623,"date":"2026-04-30T20:47:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T20:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T20:47:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T20:47:03","slug":"how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Calculate Share of Voice (+ Why it Matters for SEO)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Your analytics dashboard tracks clicks, but it doesn\u2019t convey the complete picture.<\/p>\n<p>When a buyer reads an AI answer that mentions your competitor, or scrolls through a Reddit thread where your brand doesn\u2019t appear, that\u2019s lost visibility. And it won\u2019t show up anywhere in your traffic data.<\/p>\n<p>Share of voice (SoV) captures what traffic metrics can\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>It measures your brand\u2019s visibility against competitors across channels where buyers actually research and make decisions.<\/p>\n<p>While SoV spans social, PR, and paid media, search is where most brands should start. It\u2019s the channel where buyers with the strongest purchase intent show up, and it\u2019s the easiest to measure competitively. That\u2019s what this guide focuses on.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll walk you through four steps to measure your share of voice in organic and AI search. Then, I\u2019ll show you how to turn that data into decisions that move the needle where it matters.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#What_Is_Share_of_Voice\" >What Is Share of Voice?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#What_Counts_as_a_%E2%80%9CGood%E2%80%9D_Share_of_Voice\" >What Counts as a \u201cGood\u201d Share of Voice?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#How_SoV_Works_in_Traditional_vs_AI_Search\" >How SoV Works in Traditional vs AI Search<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Why_Is_Share_of_Voice_So_Important_Especially_Now\" >Why Is Share of Voice So Important, Especially Now?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Track_Visibility_Beyond_Traditional_Traffic_Data\" >Track Visibility Beyond Traditional Traffic Data<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Work_Toward_One_North_Star_Metric\" >Work Toward One North Star Metric<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#How_to_Measure_Share_of_Voice_in_4_Steps\" >How to Measure Share of Voice in 4 Steps<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Step_1_Define_Your_Industry_Landscape\" >Step 1: Define Your Industry Landscape<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Step_2_Build_Your_Keyword_Prompt_Libraries\" >Step 2: Build Your Keyword &amp; Prompt Libraries<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Pull_SEO_Data_First\" >Pull SEO Data First<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Layer_in_Competitor_Intelligence\" >Layer in Competitor Intelligence<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Build_Your_AI_Prompt_Library\" >Build Your AI Prompt Library<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Document_Your_Metadata\" >Document Your Metadata<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Step_3_Calculate_Your_SoV\" >Step 3: Calculate Your SoV<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Calculate_SEO_Share_of_Voice\" >Calculate SEO Share of Voice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Calculate_AI_Share_of_Voice\" >Calculate AI Share of Voice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Interpreting_SEO_vs_AI_Share_of_Voice\" >Interpreting SEO vs AI Share of Voice<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Step_4_Establish_Your_Baseline_and_Track_Trends\" >Step 4: Establish Your Baseline and Track Trends<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#How_to_Improve_Share_of_Voice\" >How to Improve Share of Voice<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#1_Close_Visibility_Gaps\" >1. Close Visibility Gaps<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Potential_Solutions\" >Potential Solutions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#2_Solve_Efficiency_Problems\" >2. Solve Efficiency Problems<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Potential_Solutions-2\" >Potential Solutions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#3_Address_Competitive_Threats\" >3. Address Competitive Threats<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Prioritize_Based_on_Effort_vs_Impact\" >Prioritize Based on Effort vs. Impact<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/30\/how-to-calculate-share-of-voice-why-it-matters-for-seo\/#Making_SoV_Your_2026_North_Star\" >Making SoV Your 2026 North Star<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Share_of_Voice\"><\/span>What Is Share of Voice?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Share of voice measures your brand\u2019s visibility relative to competitors across multiple marketing channels.<\/p>\n<p>That includes organic and <a title=\"How to Rank in AI Search (New Strategy &amp; Framework)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/ai-search-strategy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI search<\/a>, social media, review sites, communities, and more.<\/p>\n<p>Traditionally, brands used SoV to track their share of ad spend in a market.<\/p>\n<p>Now it\u2019s evolved into something even more valuable. It can measure your brand\u2019s presence across every touchpoint where buyers research and make decisions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In simple terms:<\/strong> SoV tells you what percentage of the conversation you own in your category, compared to competitors.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Share of Voice\" alt=\"Share of Voice\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.84142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/share-of-voice.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>This guide focuses on search SoV \u2014 both organic and AI \u2014 because that\u2019s where buyer discovery is shifting fastest and where the measurement tools have matured enough to give you actionable data.<\/p>\n<p>I find that search SoV also tends to be the foundation: once you understand your visibility in organic and AI results, layering in other channels becomes much simpler.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Counts_as_a_%E2%80%9CGood%E2%80%9D_Share_of_Voice\"><\/span>What Counts as a \u201cGood\u201d Share of Voice?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While there\u2019s no universal benchmark for SoV, establishing one for your brand comes down to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Market position:<\/strong> Market leaders have a higher share of voice since they own the conversation. Challengers aim for a mid-range SoV when competing against players with decades of brand equity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Competitive context:<\/strong> In a fragmented market with 20+ active competitors, 8% SoV could put you in the top five. But in a three-player market, anything below 30% could mean you\u2019re behind the leader.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"What counts as good share of voice\" alt=\"What counts as good share of voice\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.68428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/what-counts-as-goodshare-of-voice.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Beyond these two factors, look at the broader market shifts within your category.<\/p>\n<p>High SoV in a declining market can be a vanity metric. The real win is growing your share as the category grows.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_SoV_Works_in_Traditional_vs_AI_Search\"><\/span>How SoV Works in Traditional vs AI Search<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Both SEO and AI SoV answer the same question: <em>What percentage of category demand does your brand own?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>But they measure different search contexts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SEO SoV<\/strong> calculates your slice of traditional <a title=\"Organic Traffic: What It Is &amp; How to Increase It (6 Ways)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/organic-traffic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organic search traffic<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You track 100 target keywords. Those keywords generate 50,000 total monthly visits across all ranking sites. You capture 15,000 of those visits.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s 30% organic share of voice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>AI SoV<\/strong> measures brand mentions in LLM responses from ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Mode, and similar tools.<\/p>\n<p>For example, you test 100 category-related prompts. Your brand is mentioned in 45 responses and cited in 15. Your competitor shows up in 30 responses with 10 mentions.<\/p>\n<p>An <a title=\"5 AI Visibility Tools to Track Your Brand Across LLMs\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/llm-tracking-tools\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI visibility tool<\/a> can calculate your weighted AI SoV based on mentions and citations.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Share of voice: Two different games\" alt=\"Share of voice: Two different games\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.0442857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/share-of-voice-two-different-games.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/icon-remember-v2.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Try now:<\/strong> Curious to know how often your brand shows up in AI responses? Try our <a title=\"Free AI Brand Visibility Checker | See If AI Recommends You\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/tools\/ai-visibility-checker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free AI visibility checker<\/a> to find out.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/icon-remember-v2.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Is_Share_of_Voice_So_Important_Especially_Now\"><\/span>Why Is Share of Voice So Important, Especially Now?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Here are three reasons why share of voice should be your core KPI when visibility is scattered across platforms.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Track_Visibility_Beyond_Traditional_Traffic_Data\"><\/span>Track Visibility Beyond Traditional Traffic Data<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Your <a title=\"Free Website Traffic Checker (2026 Data)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/tools\/website-traffic-checker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organic traffic<\/a> data reveals only half the story.<\/p>\n<p>And with zero-click searches on the rise, that half is shrinking fast.<\/p>\n<p>When users get their answers directly from AI Overviews and featured snippets, a huge chunk of your visibility is never captured in Google Analytics.<\/p>\n<p>This makes traffic a lagging indicator of visibility.<\/p>\n<p>Share of voice is a better metric because it measures how visible you are in the consideration set, even when users don\u2019t click your site.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Traffic vs share of voice iceberg\" alt=\"Traffic vs share of voice iceberg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.93428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/traffic-vs-share-of-voice-iceberg.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Think of it this way:<\/p>\n<p>A user searches for the \u201cbest project management software for remote teams.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They see an AI Overview listing five tools, including yours. The user reads it, takes no action, and later signs up for a product demo on your site.<\/p>\n<p>Traditional traffic data would show this as \u201cdirect traffic\u201d since the person went straight to the website. It wouldn\u2019t capture the discovery that occurred in Google.<\/p>\n<p>But SoV reveals that your brand appeared in the consideration set for this high-intent query.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Work_Toward_One_North_Star_Metric\"><\/span>Work Toward One North Star Metric<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Your marketing team might be operating in silos.<\/p>\n<p>The SEO team wants more website visits. PR wants more media mentions. The social team wants better engagement.<\/p>\n<p>Each team tracks its own KPIs and optimizes for different outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>But the long-term power of SoV is that it can become the one metric every team rallies around.<\/p>\n<p>When everyone sees how their work contributes to the same visibility percentage, it changes how teams collaborate.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what this looks like in practice:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>SEO team targets specific keywords to <a title=\"28 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Website\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/increase-website-traffic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">boost traffic<\/a> and visibility via content<\/li>\n<li>PR secures features in industry publications through expert quotes<\/li>\n<li>Social drives brand conversations on Reddit and LinkedIn<\/li>\n<li>Product wins better reviews on G2 and Capterra<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Share of voice as a north star metric\" alt=\"Share of voice as a north star metric\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.59142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/share-of-voice-as-a-north-star-metric.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>This full picture takes time to build.<\/p>\n<p>Start with the foundation by measuring your SoV in organic and AI search.<\/p>\n<p>Once you have that baseline, you can layer in other channels over time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a title=\"How to Rank Higher (&amp; Get More Visibility) on Google\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/rank-high-on-google\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Rank Higher (&amp; Get More Visibility) on Google in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Measure_Share_of_Voice_in_4_Steps\"><\/span>How to Measure Share of Voice in 4 Steps<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s see how you can strategically calculate share of voice in four steps.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll use a fictional project management software example to show how each step translates into business insights.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_1_Define_Your_Industry_Landscape\"><\/span>Step 1: Define Your Industry Landscape<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Start by outlining the specific competitors and keywords you\u2019ll track for SoV.<\/p>\n<p>Without clear boundaries, you\u2019ll either miss critical gaps or drown in too much noise.<\/p>\n<p>To map your competitive terrain, pick <a title=\"Topic Clusters 101: How to Level Up Your SEO (with Examples)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/topic-clusters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">topic clusters<\/a> tied to revenue.<\/p>\n<p>For a project management software, I picked these clusters:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Category fundamentals<\/strong> (like \u201cproject management 101\u201d and \u201cproject management for freelancers\u201d)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use cases<\/strong> (like \u201cagile project management\u201d and \u201cremote team collaboration\u201d)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Industry-specific<\/strong> (like \u201cconstruction project management\u201d and \u201cmarketing project management\u201d)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Don\u2019t pick these topics solely based on search volume. Choose clusters where gaining visibility directly impacts your bottom line.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>One way to assess a topic\u2019s revenue potential is to map it to funnel stages.<\/p>\n<p>Categorize your clusters into three stages:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Awareness:<\/strong> Where people are learning and researching, like how to manage projects<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consideration:<\/strong> Where they\u2019re exploring solutions, like the best project management software<\/li>\n<li><strong>Decision:<\/strong> Where they\u2019re comparing options and ready to buy, like Software A vs Software B<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your SoV at each stage tells you where you\u2019re winning and losing in the buyer journey.<\/p>\n<p>This allows you to allocate resources for maximum business impact.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Map share of voice to buyer journey\" alt=\"Map share of voice to buyer journey\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.82428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/map-share-of-voice-to-buyer-journey.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Let\u2019s say this project management software segments the SoV by funnel stage.<\/p>\n<p>It reveals that most of the brand\u2019s visibility is concentrated at the top with almost none at the decision stage.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a problem.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re educating the market, but invisible when prospects are actually comparing options and reaching for their wallets.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Strategic takeaway:<\/strong> They need to prioritize comparison pages and case studies to shift visibility toward the decision stage.<\/p>\n<p>Now, define who you\u2019re measuring against.<\/p>\n<p>In search, you\u2019re competing for visibility against two key players:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Direct competitors:<\/strong> Companies selling similar solutions like Asana, ClickUp, Notion, and Trello<\/li>\n<li><strong>Indirect competitors:<\/strong> Review sites capturing the voice of the customer like G2 and industry publishers ranking for your keywords but not competing for customers like HubSpot and Zoho<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Tracking them gives you the complete picture of who controls visibility in your market and where you can break through.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_2_Build_Your_Keyword_Prompt_Libraries\"><\/span>Step 2: Build Your Keyword &amp; Prompt Libraries<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Create a library of 200-500 queries that capture how people search in your category.<\/p>\n<p>You need both keywords (what people search) and prompts (what people ask LLMs). Together, they reveal your <a title=\"What Is Search Engine Visibility? And How to Increase It\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/visibility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">search visibility<\/a> spectrum.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pull_SEO_Data_First\"><\/span>Pull SEO Data First<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Collect queries where you\u2019re already visible to your audience.<\/p>\n<p>Google Search Console (GSC) is a good starting point for this since it captures actual visibility through impressions.<\/p>\n<p>Impressions show every time your brand appears in results, even when users don\u2019t click.<\/p>\n<p>Go to the \u201c<strong>Queries<\/strong>\u201d tab in the \u201c<strong>Performance<\/strong>\u201d report.<\/p>\n<p>Click the \u201c<strong>Impressions<\/strong>\u201d column header to sort in descending order, and export this list of keywords.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GSC \u2013 Performance \u2013 Queries \u2013 Impressions\" alt=\"GSC \u2013 Performance \u2013 Queries \u2013 Impressions\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.0457142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/gsc-performance-queries-impressions.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>And if you\u2019re running Google Ads, export your PPC keyword list and filter for terms with conversions or high CTR.<\/p>\n<p>You can also repeat this process with tools like Semrush.<\/p>\n<p>Open your <a title=\"Position Tracking: Keyword Rank Tracker Tool\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/position-tracking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Semrush Position Tracking<\/a> project (or create one for your domain).<\/p>\n<p>Scroll down to the \u201c<strong>Top Keywords<\/strong>\u201d section and click the \u201c<strong>View all<\/strong>\u201d button.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Overview \u2013 Top keywords\" alt=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Overview \u2013 Top keywords\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.94428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/position-tracking-overview-top-keywords.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Adjust the timeline to your preferred range before clicking \u201c<strong>Export<\/strong>\u201d to download the full keyword list.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Export keywords\" alt=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Export keywords\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.67285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/position-tracking-export-keywords.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Export all tracked keywords, not just the top money terms. A keyword with 20 monthly searches might seem irrelevant in isolation. But 50 of these collectively represent meaningful category visibility that SoV captures.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Layer_in_Competitor_Intelligence\"><\/span>Layer in Competitor Intelligence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Besides your own data, track where competitors show up.<\/p>\n<p>This tells you where to compete directly and where to claim ground that they\u2019ve overlooked.<\/p>\n<p>You can use <a title=\"Semrush \u2013 Keyword Gap tool\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/analytics\/keywordgap\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Semrush\u2019s Keyword Gap tool<\/a> to find these opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Add your domain along with up to four competitors, then hit \u201c<strong>Compare<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Filter to the \u201c<strong>Missing<\/strong>\u201d section to find keywords with proven search demand that competitors have validated.<\/p>\n<p>You need to build visibility for these terms.<\/p>\n<p>For example, this project management tool could target keywords like \u201cGantt chart\u201d and \u201cproject management software\u201d to boost its SoV.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Keyword Gap \u2013 Trello \u2013 Missing keywords\" alt=\"Keyword Gap \u2013 Trello \u2013 Missing keywords\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.89714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/keyword-gap-trello-missing-keywords.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Dig deeper:<\/strong> <a title=\"How to Run a Competitor Traffic Analysis (9 Steps)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/competitor-traffic-analysis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Run a Competitor Traffic Analysis (9 Steps)<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Build_Your_AI_Prompt_Library\"><\/span>Build Your AI Prompt Library<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>After sourcing keywords, look at how people search for your category in AI tools.<\/p>\n<p>Since AI search queries tend to be more conversational, they often mirror how people talk in community spaces.<\/p>\n<p>Browse Reddit, Facebook groups, and Slack communities to see how your audience phrases their needs and pain points.<\/p>\n<p>For example, this post reveals that agencies want project management tools that aren\u2019t \u201ctoo corporate or complex for creative teams.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Reddit \u2013 Project management tools\" alt=\"Reddit \u2013 Project management tools\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.72428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/reddit-project-management-tools.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>A question like that can translate directly into an AI prompt: \u201c<em>What\u2019s the most user-friendly project management tool for small creative agencies?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For decision-stage prompts, review sites G2 and Capterra (or those relevant to your industry) offer a lot of insights.<\/p>\n<p>G2, for instance, lists popular alternatives for every tool.<\/p>\n<p>This is a ready-made list of \u201c[You] vs [Competitor]\u201d and \u201calternative to [Competitor]\u201d queries your buyers are likely running in AI search.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"G2 \u2013 Asana \u2013 Top alternatives\" alt=\"G2 \u2013 Asana \u2013 Top alternatives\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.87714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/g2-asana-top-alternatives.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>You can dig deeper with <a title=\"AI Visibility Toolkit: Boost Brand Visibility in AI Search\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/kb\/1493-ai-visibility-toolkit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Semrush AI Visibility Toolkit<\/a> to find prompts where competitors show up in AI answers, but you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>Go to \u201c<strong>Prompt Research<\/strong>\u201d and add any of your core topics, like \u201cagile project management.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Click \u201c<strong>Analyze<\/strong>\u201d to get started.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"AI SEO \u2013 Prompt Research\" alt=\"AI SEO \u2013 Prompt Research\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.57428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ai-seo-prompt-research.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>The tool lists real prompts that generate AI responses for your category, such as \u201cbest productivity app\u201d and \u201ccompanies that use agile software development.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jot down the prompts relevant to your primary cluster.<\/p>\n<p>Then, repeat for each of your 3-5 clusters.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Prompt Research \u2013 Agile project management \u2013 Prompts\" alt=\"Prompt Research \u2013 Agile project management \u2013 Prompts\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.2042857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/prompt-research-agile-project-management-prompts.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Document_Your_Metadata\"><\/span>Document Your Metadata<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Finally, organize everything in a master spreadsheet with columns for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Keyword\/Prompt<\/li>\n<li>Topic Cluster<\/li>\n<li>Funnel Stage<\/li>\n<li>Source (SEO\/AI)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Once you\u2019re done measuring SoV, this metadata will become your strategic lens.<\/p>\n<p>Use it to decide which clusters to prioritize, which funnel stages are weak, and where SEO and AI visibility diverge.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what this looks like for the project management software:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Keyword Funnel Analysis\" alt=\"Keyword Funnel Analysis\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.69142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/keyword-funnel-analysis.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_3_Calculate_Your_SoV\"><\/span>Step 3: Calculate Your SoV<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Your SoV equals your estimated traffic divided by the total traffic for all tracked brands, multiplied by 100.<\/p>\n<p>Track both SEO and AI SoV to see the full picture of your brand\u2019s visibility.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Calculate_SEO_Share_of_Voice\"><\/span>Calculate SEO Share of Voice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Start by checking your rankings for all the keywords in your tracking list. Track your competitors\u2019 rankings for the same keyword set.<\/p>\n<p>Each ranking position gets an average share of clicks, like position 1 getting <a title=\"We Analyzed 4 Million Google Search Results. Here&#039;s What We Learned About Organic CTR\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/google-ctr-stats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">roughly 27%<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This will help in estimating the traffic share per keyword.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-note.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> These benchmarks for organic search CTR shift over time. It\u2019s also crucial to mention that organic CTRs have been declining as AI-generated answers absorb more clicks before users ever reach the results.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-note.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Multiply each keyword\u2019s monthly search volume by the click-through rate for your ranking position to estimate your traffic for that duration.<\/p>\n<p>Then, run the same calculation for each competitor.<\/p>\n<p>Use this data to calculate your SoV.<\/p>\n<p>Add up the estimated traffic across all keywords for each brand. Divide your total by the combined total for all tracked brands and multiply by 100.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"How to calculate SEO share of voice\" alt=\"How to calculate SEO share of voice\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.88571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/how-to-calculate-seo-share-of-voice.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>This manual approach can be time-intensive, especially when tracking hundreds of keywords across multiple competitors.<\/p>\n<p>Semrush handles this math automatically once you set up tracking correctly.<\/p>\n<p>Go to <a title=\"Position Tracking: Keyword Rank Tracker Tool\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/position-tracking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Semrush Position Tracking<\/a> and click \u201c<strong>Create project<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Enter your domain, target search engine, device type, and location.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Targeting\" alt=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Targeting\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.62428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/position-tracking-targeting.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>The location setting matters for SoV tracking because <a title=\"What Are SERPs &amp; Why Are They Important for SEO?\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/serps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">search results<\/a> vary by location.<\/p>\n<p>If you set the location to the United States, but most of your customers are in New York, your SoV might look different than reality.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Start with country-level tracking to establish your baseline. Only segment by region later if local variations impact your business.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Then, click \u201c<strong>Continue to Keywords<\/strong>\u201d to manually add or import your keyword list.<\/p>\n<p>Upload the CSV you made in Step 2 to preserve the data by cluster and funnel-stage categorization.<\/p>\n<p>Then, press \u201c<strong>Add keywords to campaign<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Finally, click \u201c<strong>Start Tracking<\/strong>\u201d to begin data collection.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Keywords\" alt=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Keywords\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.63857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/position-tracking-keywords.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Once this setup is complete, Semrush starts collecting daily ranking data for every target keyword.<\/p>\n<p>Check out the results in the \u201c<strong>Share of Voice<\/strong>\u201d tab under \u201c<strong>Overview<\/strong>\u201d in the Position Tracking dashboard.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Share of Voice\" alt=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Share of Voice\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.75571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/position-tracking-backlinko-share-of-voice.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>You can also add up to four domains to see how you fare against others in the market.<\/p>\n<p>Semrush tracks every brand\u2019s rankings for your keyword set to aggregate the data into SoV percentages.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Share of Voice\" alt=\"Position Tracking \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Share of Voice\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.64428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/position-tracking-backlinko-share-of-voice.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/icon-remember-v2.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Important:<\/strong> While SoV is inherently relative and compares your visibility against others, who you choose as competitors shapes how you interpret your SoV.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/icon-remember-v2.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Calculate_AI_Share_of_Voice\"><\/span>Calculate AI Share of Voice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Your AI SoV shows how often LLMs cite your brand when answering questions in your category.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no standardized way to manually measure AI SoV yet, but this two-step process gets you close:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Step 1:<\/strong> Run each prompt from your library through your AI tools of choice, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Google AI Mode, and any other AI tools your audience uses<\/li>\n<li><strong>Step 2:<\/strong> For each response, document every brand that appears \u2014 yours and your tracked competitors. Record whether each brand was mentioned, cited as a source, and whether the sentiment was positive, neutral, or negative.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve tested all prompts, count how many times each brand appeared across all responses.<\/p>\n<p>Divide each brand\u2019s total mentions by the total number of prompts tested, and multiply by 100.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"How to calculate AI share of voice\" alt=\"How to calculate AI share of voice\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.1585714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/how-to-calculate-ai-share-of-voice.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Keep in mind:<\/strong> This calculation gives you a directional read instead of a live metric. AI responses vary by session, phrasing, location, and platform. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to test regularly and track trends over time.<\/p>\n<p>Measuring AI SoV manually for 20 prompts across three platforms is doable. Doing it for hundreds of prompts while tracking how recommendations shift week over week isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s what Semrush\u2019s AI Visibility Toolkit is built for.<\/p>\n<p>Go to the <a title=\"AI Brand Performance: See How AI Talks About Your Brand\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/ai-seo\/brand-performance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brand Performance<\/a> report in Semrush\u2019s AI Visibility Toolkit.<\/p>\n<p>Enter your domain and click \u201c<strong>Analyze<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"AI SEO \u2013 Brand Performance\" alt=\"AI SEO \u2013 Brand Performance\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.49428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ai-seo-brand-performance.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Pick an AI platform between ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, or Perplexity.<\/p>\n<p>Switch among these tools to identify any significant gaps in platform-specific <a title=\"LLM Visibility: The SEO Metric No One Is Reporting On (Yet)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/llm-visibility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LLM visibility<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Brand Performance \u2013 Paypal \u2013 Select platform\" alt=\"Brand Performance \u2013 Paypal \u2013 Select platform\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.6\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/brand-performance-paypal-select-platform.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Once the report is generated, you\u2019ll see a pie chart visualizing the distribution of SoV for your competitors.<\/p>\n<p>The tool tests hundreds of prompts related to your category across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, and Perplexity to measure your AI SoV.<\/p>\n<p>For each prompt, it analyzes AI responses for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Brand mentions:<\/strong> How often your brand appears in the answer<\/li>\n<li><strong>Citations:<\/strong> Whether the AI links to your content as a source<\/li>\n<li><strong>Context:<\/strong> Whether mentions are positive, neutral, or negative<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It aggregates this data across all tested prompts to calculate your percentage of total visibility.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Semrush \u2013 Brand Performance \u2013 Sentiment &amp; Share of Voice\" alt=\"Semrush \u2013 Brand Performance \u2013 Sentiment &amp; Share of Voice\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.54\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/semrush-brand-performance-sentiment-and-share-of-voice.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>You\u2019ll also find a section comparing each competitor against a set of business drivers specific to your industry.<\/p>\n<p>These drivers are the most frequently mentioned topics for your category.<\/p>\n<p>Use this data to identify clusters where you\u2019re stronger and weaker than your competitors.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Brand Performance \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Key Business Drivers\" alt=\"Brand Performance \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Key Business Drivers\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.76142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/10\/brand-performance-backlinko-key-business-drivers.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Interpreting_SEO_vs_AI_Share_of_Voice\"><\/span>Interpreting SEO vs AI Share of Voice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>SEO share of voice measures organic traffic while AI share of voice tracks LLM mentions and citations.<\/p>\n<p>These might not always align.<\/p>\n<p>You can have a strong organic share of voice (ranking on top for many keywords) but a weak AI SoV if LLMs don\u2019t find your content credible.<\/p>\n<p>And brands with more credible content can win a bigger slice of AI SoV even without much visibility in organic search.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a simple matrix to understand your data:<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-responsive\">\n<table class=\"table table-primary table-striped table-hover\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\"><\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">High AI SoV<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Low AI SoV<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"strong\" data-before=\"\">High SEO SoV<\/td>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"High AI SoV\">You dominate both traditional and <a title=\"AI Optimization: How to Rank in AI Search (+ Checklist)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/ai-optimization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI search<\/a>.\n<p>Maintain content freshness and expand into adjacent topics to defend your position.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Low AI SoV\">You rank well, but LLMs don\u2019t cite you.\n<p>Implement content chunking to optimize your content for AI search and create citable assets to create credibility that LLMs value.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"strong\" data-before=\"\">Low SEO SoV<\/td>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"High AI SoV\">AI tools cite your content even though you don\u2019t rank at the top on organic search.\n<p>Improve SEO fundamentals, including title tags, internal linking, site speed, and keyword optimization.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Low AI SoV\">Focus on depth over breadth.\n<p>Create a definitive, well-researched content resource for every core cluster. This is a good start for building visibility on both traditional and AI search.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Dig deeper:<\/strong> Learn more about building visibility in AI search with <a title=\"LLM Seeding: A New SEO Strategy to Get Mentioned by LLMs\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/llm-seeding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LLM seeding<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_4_Establish_Your_Baseline_and_Track_Trends\"><\/span>Step 4: Establish Your Baseline and Track Trends<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The final step is turning your SoV numbers into an ongoing tracking system that informs decisions.<\/p>\n<p>Create a baseline dashboard to capture three levels of detail:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Overall metrics:<\/strong> Are you gaining or losing ground overall?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Topic cluster performance:<\/strong> Which topics need more investment?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Funnel stage breakdown:<\/strong> Where in the buyer journey are you least visible?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Here\u2019s what this could look like for the project management software:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Share of voice baseline dashboard\" alt=\"Share of voice baseline dashboard\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.0385714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/share-of-voice-baseline-dashboard.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Once your baseline is locked in, set your tracking cadence strategically.<\/p>\n<p>A monthly frequency allows you to spot trends without the need for reacting to noise.<\/p>\n<p>With quarterly deep dives, you can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Analyze cluster-specific performance in detail<\/li>\n<li>Correlate SoV changes with past campaigns<\/li>\n<li>Adjust resource allocation based on what\u2019s working<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This rhythm prevents you from chasing short-term variations and missing critical shifts that impact your category.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Set up notifications in <a title=\"Position Tracking: Keyword Rank Tracker Tool\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/position-tracking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Semrush Position Tracking<\/a> to get real-time alerts. You\u2019re notified when SoV drops more than a certain threshold in any core cluster.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Improve_Share_of_Voice\"><\/span>How to Improve Share of Voice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Not every fluctuation in your SoV requires action.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how to strategically diagnose gaps in your SoV and prioritize the right tactics to fix them.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Close_Visibility_Gaps\"><\/span>1. Close Visibility Gaps<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Clusters with &lt;10% SoV mean you\u2019re almost invisible.<\/p>\n<p>This is especially damaging in decision-stage queries.<\/p>\n<p>If you have less than 10% visibility when buyers search \u201cbest project management software,\u201d you\u2019re not in their consideration set.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, look for opportunities where competitors dominate, but you can compete.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if your project management tool serves creative agencies but you have zero visibility for \u201cproject management for creative teams,\u201d that\u2019s your opening.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Potential_Solutions\"><\/span>Potential Solutions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/icon-remember-v2.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Diagnose the cause:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Search your weak clusters and compare what ranks against what you have<\/li>\n<li>Check if you lack topic coverage, content depth, or basic optimization<\/li>\n<li>Look at which competitors dominate and what formats they use<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/icon-remember-v2.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Build topical authority for major business themes.<\/p>\n<p>Create one pillar page with multiple supporting articles.<\/p>\n<p>Build backlinks to your pillar content to establish visibility across every query in that cluster.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if we learn that the project management software needs to gain decision-stage visibility, we could prioritize comparison content.<\/p>\n<p>Build pages targeting \u201c[Your Brand] vs [Competitor]\u201d and category buyer\u2019s guides.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Solve_Efficiency_Problems\"><\/span>2. Solve Efficiency Problems<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Compare your SoV to actual traffic.<\/p>\n<p>A cluster like \u201cwhat is project management\u201d might give you a high SoV.<\/p>\n<p>But if only 1% of that traffic converts, you\u2019re likely burning money on the wrong audience.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re winning visibility in areas that don\u2019t drive business outcomes. And competitors are capturing high-intent buyers.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Potential_Solutions-2\"><\/span>Potential Solutions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/icon-remember-v2.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Diagnose the cause:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Check if you\u2019re ranking for awareness content when you need decision-stage visibility<\/li>\n<li>Look at your traffic-to-conversion ratio by cluster<\/li>\n<li>Identify if your content attracts the wrong audience (students vs. buyers)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/icon-remember-v2.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Reallocate resources to high-intent clusters.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of producing more awareness content, shift the budget to bottom-of-funnel content.<\/p>\n<p>This includes comparison pages, case studies, and ROI calculators that target buyers ready to evaluate solutions.<\/p>\n<p>Update existing comparison pages with current data and competitive intelligence.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Address_Competitive_Threats\"><\/span>3. Address Competitive Threats<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Keep tabs on competitors gaining ground in your strong clusters.<\/p>\n<p>If a competitor gains over 5% SoV in your strong clusters, it\u2019s an early sign that they\u2019re targeting your territory.<\/p>\n<p>That gap can widen unless you respond to maintain your market share.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/icon-remember-v2.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Diagnose the cause:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Analyze what new content or tactics they launched<\/li>\n<li>Check if they\u2019re winning on review sites, community platforms, or organic search<\/li>\n<li>Identify if they\u2019re capturing a format you\u2019re missing (video, podcasts, tools)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/icon-remember-v2.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The fix depends on where your competitors are winning.<\/p>\n<p>If competitors actively feature on review sites, optimize your profiles. Run campaigns to source reviews from happy customers.<\/p>\n<p>If they\u2019re visible on community platforms, proactively engage in communities like Reddit and Slack.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prioritize_Based_on_Effort_vs_Impact\"><\/span>Prioritize Based on Effort vs. Impact<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not all gaps matter equally.<\/p>\n<p>Focus on opportunities that will actually move your revenue pipeline.<\/p>\n<p>Start with high-impact, low-effort wins. Then invest in high-effort moves that compound over time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-responsive\">\n<table class=\"table table-primary table-striped table-hover\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\"><\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">High Impact<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Low Impact<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"strong\" data-before=\"\">Low Effort<\/td>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"High Impact\">\n<ul>\n<li>Optimize content ranking #5-10<\/li>\n<li>Claim existing review site profiles<\/li>\n<li>Update comparison pages with current data<\/li>\n<li>Claim industry directory profiles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Low Impact\">\n<ul>\n<li>Minor content refreshes on supporting pages<\/li>\n<li>Social engagement in established channels<\/li>\n<li>Guest commenting on industry blogs<\/li>\n<li>Newsletter mentions in partner publications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"strong\" data-before=\"\">High Effort<\/td>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"High Impact\">\n<ul>\n<li>Build authority in community spaces (Reddit, forums)<\/li>\n<li>Create comprehensive hub content for weak clusters<\/li>\n<li>Earn citations from AI-referenced sources<\/li>\n<li>Develop thought leadership for industry publications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Low Impact\">\n<ul>\n<li>Content for saturated topics without authority<\/li>\n<li>Channels where your audience isn\u2019t active<\/li>\n<li>Platforms AI tools rarely reference<\/li>\n<li>Keywords outside category relevance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Making_SoV_Your_2026_North_Star\"><\/span>Making SoV Your 2026 North Star<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Share of voice captures how often you show up across the fragmented platforms where buyers make decisions.<\/p>\n<p>Get started by measuring your current SoV across SEO and AI search with the steps in this guide.<\/p>\n<p>Pick the gap that costs you the most revenue, and strategize the best ways to close it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Next step:<\/strong> Build your <a title=\"AI Optimization: How to Rank in AI Search (+ Checklist)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/ai-optimization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI optimization gameplan<\/a> to capture visibility in the fastest-growing search channel.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/share-of-voice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Calculate Share of Voice (+ Why it Matters for SEO)<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Backlinko<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your analytics dashboard tracks clicks, but it doesn\u2019t convey the complete picture. When a buyer reads an AI answer that mentions your competitor, or scrolls through a Reddit thread where your brand doesn\u2019t appear, that\u2019s lost visibility. And it won\u2019t show up anywhere in your traffic data. Share of voice (SoV) captures what traffic metrics can\u2019t. It measures your brand\u2019s visibility against competitors across channels where buyers actually research and make decisions. While SoV spans social, PR, and paid media, search is where most brands should [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backlinko"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/share-of-voice-KFKlx9-600x400.png","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/share-of-voice-KFKlx9-600x600.png","author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/craig\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15623"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15623\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}