{"id":16236,"date":"2026-08-13T21:45:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T21:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T21:45:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T21:45:34","slug":"prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/","title":{"rendered":"Prompt Tracking: How to Find (and Fix) Your AI Visibility Gaps"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Your brand could be ranking #1 on Google, but still be invisible to AI.<\/p>\n<p>Absent from conversations your customers are having with large language models (LLMs) about your category.<\/p>\n<p>Or worse, showing up inaccurately, with outdated or incorrect information that\u2019ll hurt your sales.<\/p>\n<p>Without prompt tracking, you\u2019d never know.<\/p>\n<p>Prompt tracking (sometimes called LLM visibility tracking) is the practice of monitoring how your brand shows up in AI answers over time, through mentions or citations.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s different from traditional SEO rank tracking, which tells you where your URLs appear on search engine results pages (SERPS) for specific keywords.<\/p>\n<p>With rank tracking, you ask, \u201cHow close are we to position 1?\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=\"Google SERP \u2013 AI visibility\" alt=\"Google SERP \u2013 AI visibility\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.2685714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/google-serp-ai-visibility.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>But LLMs don\u2019t answer questions with a static list of 10 blue links.<\/p>\n<p>They pull from massive amounts of information to generate a unique response every time, tailored to the user and the context of the conversation.<\/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=\"ChatGPT \u2013 AI visibility sites\" alt=\"ChatGPT \u2013 AI visibility sites\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.1757142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/chatgpt-ai-visibility-sites.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>You can even ask the same question twice and get two different answers.<\/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=\"Gemini \u2013 Same prompt, different answer\" alt=\"Gemini \u2013 Same prompt, different answer\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.4242857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gemini-same-prompt-different-answer.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>In this search experience, it matters less whether your brand is mentioned first, and more that it says true positive things about you to the right people \u2014 consistently, across many runs of similar prompts.<\/p>\n<p>But without a system to monitor it, you\u2019re flying blind.<\/p>\n<p>Prompt tracking gives you the directional intelligence to spot AI visibility gaps \u2014 the queries you\u2019re consistently not showing up for \u2014 and close them.<\/p>\n<p>This guide shows you exactly how. You\u2019ll walk away with a free tracking template, a step-by-step system, and two real-world expert setups you can steal.<\/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>Free template:<\/strong> Download our <a title=\"Prompt Tracking Spreadsheet by Backlinko\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1BR9xyxFUiZ1eU1oiwmrao7IOoQ852Nd0q8mvD8xY1mM\/copy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">prompt tracking spreadsheet<\/a> to start understanding your brand\u2019s AI visibility across LLMs ASAP. <\/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<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\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Why_Brands_Need_to_Track_Prompts\" >Why Brands Need to Track Prompts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#When_LLM_Prompt_Tracking_Isnt_Worth_It_and_When_It_Is\" >When LLM Prompt Tracking Isn\u2019t Worth It (and When It Is)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Building_Your_Prompt_Set_What_to_Include_and_Why\" >Building Your Prompt Set: What to Include and Why<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Types_of_Prompts_to_Include\" >Types of Prompts to Include<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Where_to_Find_Prompts_Worth_Tracking\" >Where to Find Prompts Worth Tracking<\/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\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Organize_By_Product_or_Use_Case\" >Organize By Product or Use Case<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Example_Hootsuite_Prompt_Set\" >Example: Hootsuite Prompt Set<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#How_to_Track_Prompts_Step-by-Step_Process\" >How to Track Prompts: Step-by-Step Process<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Step_1_Set_Up_Your_Tracking_Sheet\" >Step 1. Set Up Your Tracking Sheet<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Step_2_Run_Each_Prompt_Across_Multiple_LLMs\" >Step 2. Run Each Prompt Across Multiple LLMs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Step_3_Run_Each_Prompt_at_Least_Twice_Per_Session_Optional\" >Step 3. Run Each Prompt at Least Twice Per Session (Optional)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Step_4_Log_Competitor_Mentions_Too\" >Step 4. Log Competitor Mentions, Too<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Step_5_Track_Weekly_Action_on_Data_Monthly\" >Step 5. Track Weekly. Action on Data Monthly.<\/a><\/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\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Step_6_Upgrade_to_an_Automated_Prompt_Tracking_Tool\" >Step 6. Upgrade to an Automated Prompt Tracking Tool<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Example_How_an_Agency_Tracks_Prompts_for_E-Commerce_Brands\" >Example: How an Agency Tracks Prompts for E-Commerce Brands<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#How_to_Read_and_Act_on_Prompt_Data\" >How to Read and Act on Prompt Data<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Increased_or_Decreased_Frequency_Over_Time\" >Increased (or Decreased) Frequency Over Time<\/a><\/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\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Consistent_Source_Inclusion\" >Consistent Source Inclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Movement_from_Mention_to_Citation\" >Movement from Mention to Citation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Common_Misreads_to_Watch_for\" >Common Misreads to Watch for<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Weekly_Prompt_Tracking_Workflow\" >Weekly Prompt Tracking Workflow<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/13\/prompt-tracking-how-to-find-and-fix-your-ai-visibility-gaps\/#Start_Winning_AI_Visibility_with_Prompt_Tracking\" >Start Winning AI Visibility with Prompt Tracking<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Brands_Need_to_Track_Prompts\"><\/span>Why Brands Need to Track Prompts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>According to a <a title=\"The AI-Search Adoption Survey: These 6 Charts Show Where and How People Look for Things [New Research]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitmedia.com\/blog\/ai-vs-google\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study from Orbit Media<\/a>, 55% of US internet users rely on AI as their primary or frequent research tool. Thirty-two percent use it for product recommendations.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Translation:<\/strong> A growing share of buyers are learning about you in AI tools. Without ever visiting your website.<\/p>\n<p>Overall AI visibility scores tell you whether you\u2019re showing up. Prompt tracking tells you where and how.<\/p>\n<p>It can help you understand:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The types of questions you\u2019re showing up for and where they fall on the customer journey (ToFu, MoFu, or BoFu?)<\/li>\n<li>The questions your competitors are pushing you out of (and your <a title=\"How to Calculate Share of Voice (+ Why it Matters for SEO)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/share-of-voice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">share of voice<\/a> on important topics)<\/li>\n<li>The sentiment around your brand mentions<\/li>\n<li>The questions you\u2019re getting cited for, but not recommended (sometimes called ghost ranking)<\/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=\"AI visibility score\" alt=\"AI visibility score\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.71571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ai-visibility-score.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>This level of data helps you spot specific trends and gaps in your AI visibility over time.<\/p>\n<p>Then, you can prioritize exactly what to fix.<\/p>\n<p>Take Gong, the sales call intelligence tool.<\/p>\n<p>Their AI visibility score is a respectable 65.<\/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=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 AI Visibility\" alt=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 AI Visibility\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.53142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/visibility-overview-gong-ai-visibility.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>Free tool:<\/strong> Get your own score using Backlinko\u2019s free <a title=\"Free AI Brand Visibility Checker | See If AI Recommends You\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/tools\/ai-visibility-checker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI visibility score checker<\/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\/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>They show up for prompts at all three stages of the funnel.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Best B2B software \u2013 BOFU, MOFU, and TOFU\" alt=\"Best B2B software \u2013 BOFU, MOFU, and TOFU\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.70857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/best-b2b-software-bofu-mofu-tofu.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>With prompt tracking, Gong can focus on conversations most likely to drive revenue and stop spending time and money tracking ones that won\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>If their mention rate stays low on key BoFu topics over time, that\u2019s a signal to update on-site or third-party content.<\/p>\n<p>They can also see which relevant topics competitors are owning while they\u2019re absent.<\/p>\n<p>For example, Gong\u2019s Engage product helps with lead generation.<\/p>\n<p>But Salesforce and Hubspot consistently own these prompts.<\/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=\"Competitor Research \u2013 Gong \u2013 Weak topics\" alt=\"Competitor Research \u2013 Gong \u2013 Weak topics\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.93428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/competitor-research-gong-weak-topics.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>This tells Gong two things:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Their audience isn\u2019t aware of their lead generation use case<\/li>\n<li>They need more content around it to train AI platforms to mention them<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Sentiment prompts like \u2018Is Gong worth the price?\u2019 and prompts that surface ghost ranking can reveal similar trends and gaps.<\/p>\n<p>The important thing is to track data over time.<\/p>\n<p>AI answers are non-deterministic. The same prompt can return different brands across different runs.<\/p>\n<p>Regular, repeated tracking is how you get meaningful signals you can act on.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_LLM_Prompt_Tracking_Isnt_Worth_It_and_When_It_Is\"><\/span>When LLM Prompt Tracking Isn\u2019t Worth It (and When It Is)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Prompt tracking isn\u2019t for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>Plenty of businesses spend time and budget on it and still walk away with data they can\u2019t use.<\/p>\n<p>Prompt tracking is NOT worth it when:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your audience isn\u2019t using AI to find solutions in your category<\/li>\n<li>Your site isn\u2019t set up to be crawled by AI<\/li>\n<li>You don\u2019t publish content regularly<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019re not looking for competitive or brand narrative insights<\/li>\n<li>You need a single KPI to report upward<\/li>\n<li>You don\u2019t have bandwidth to act on insights<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>TL;DR: Prompt tracking yields valuable insights \u2014 but only if you\u2019re set up to act on them.<\/p>\n<p>If you are set up, the returns can be significant.<\/p>\n<p>Take Gong, the sales call intelligence tool. It\u2019s a great candidate for prompt tracking.<\/p>\n<p>It has a full content engine that publishes across multiple channels (blog, reports, video, media coverage, audio, and more).<\/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=\"Gong \u2013 Resources\" alt=\"Gong \u2013 Resources\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.50142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gong-resources.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>They compete in a crowded category where comparison prompts are common.<\/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=\"Gong vs competitors \u2013 Prompts\" alt=\"Gong vs competitors \u2013 Prompts\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.62714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gong-vs-competitors-prompts.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>And they serve a buyer (sales leaders) who increasingly uses AI to evaluate software.<\/p>\n<p>(Seventy-one percent of B2B software buyers now rely on AI chatbots for product research, <a title=\"The Answer Economy: G2&amp;apos;s 2026 AI Search Insight Report\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.g2.com\/g2-2026-ai-search-insight-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according to G2<\/a>, up from 60% in 2025.)<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, a local HVAC company that gets all its leads from Google Business Profile (GBP) and word-of-mouth doesn\u2019t need prompt tracking. At least not yet.<\/p>\n<p>Even if AI is overlooking them, building a content engine from scratch just to fix that isn\u2019t a realistic investment.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Building_Your_Prompt_Set_What_to_Include_and_Why\"><\/span>Building Your Prompt Set: What to Include and Why<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Don\u2019t try to track every possible prompt your customers could be using.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, focus on prompts you actually care about getting mentioned or cited in.<\/p>\n<p>They should map directly to your product offering, audience pain points, and moments close to purchase.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"What makes a prompt worth tracking\" alt=\"What makes a prompt worth tracking\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.64714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/what-makes-a-prompt-worth-tracking.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types_of_Prompts_to_Include\"><\/span>Types of Prompts to Include<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Tracking these four types of prompts over time will yield the most helpful insights:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Evaluation prompts:<\/strong> \u201cBest tool for x use case\u201d and specific feature queries<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reputation prompts:<\/strong> \u201cIs x product worth the price?\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Comparison prompts:<\/strong> \u201cAlternatives to x product,\u201d \u201cx tool vs. x tool,\u201d \u201cbest x tools\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gap prompts:<\/strong> Priority topics your competitors are pushing you out of<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The first three are focused on understanding how your product is being recommended in buying conversations.<\/p>\n<p>The last one is about understanding your competitive landscape and where you could improve.<\/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> Don\u2019t just track one prompt for each type. Looking at answers for a single prompt is just noise. Reviewing a cluster of prompts over time is a real signal.<\/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><a title=\"LinkedIn \u2013 Margaret Kapitany\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mgkapitany\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Margaret Kapitany<\/a>, Offsite SEO Lead at Hootsuite, shares how she focuses her prompt set:<\/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\/2026\/07\/margaret-kapitany.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p>The prompts worth tracking are the ones that most closely mirror how a potential buyer would actually ask their AI for help, especially close to a purchase decision. For me at Hootsuite, that means prompts that cover comparison, evaluation, and recommendation queries from a social media manager or CMO, phrased the way they\u2019d talk to a colleague or trusted industry peer.<\/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\/2026\/07\/margaret-kapitany.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>What that looks like in practice at Hootsuite:<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-responsive\">\n<table class=\"table table-primary table-striped table-hover\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">Prompts worth tracking<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Prompts not worth tracking<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Prompts worth tracking\">\u201cHow does Hootsuite compare to [competitor]?\u201d <strong>(Comparison)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Prompts not worth tracking\">\u201cWhat is social media management?\u201d <strong>(Pure definition \u2014 won\u2019t convert)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Prompts worth tracking\">\u201cWhich social media management platforms integrate with Salesforce?\u201d <strong>(Evaluation)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Prompts not worth tracking\">\u201cIs Hootsuite a good company?\u201d <strong>(Vanity \u2014 brand mention is baked in, nothing actionable)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_to_Find_Prompts_Worth_Tracking\"><\/span>Where to Find Prompts Worth Tracking<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Find prompts wherever you normally go to learn about your audience.<\/p>\n<p>To find prompts worth tracking, look at:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Free Keyword Research Tool by Backlinko\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/keyword-research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Keyword research<\/a>:<\/strong> Commercial and Transactional intent queries like \u201cbest x software\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Google\u2019s \u201cPeople also ask\u201d (PAA) boxes:<\/strong> Comparison and evaluation questions like \u201cBest alternative to x\u201d or \u201cdoes x integrate with y\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Perplexity\u2019s related questions:<\/strong> Similar to PAA, comparison and evaluation questions<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reddit, Quora, Facebook Groups in your industry:<\/strong> Repeated questions, especially ones that compare options or express frustration<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sales call transcripts:<\/strong> Repeated questions asked right before or during a purchase decision<\/li>\n<li><strong>Semrush prompt suggestions for your brand:<\/strong> Queries tied to buying decisions that you or your competitors are showing up for<\/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> For every question you uncover, do a quick gut check: \u201cIf someone asked an LLM this, would I want to see my brand show up? Would I be upset if it didn\u2019t?\u201d If the answer is \u201cYes, and yes,\u201d keep it.<\/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>Let\u2019s return to Gong as an example of how to find prompts.<\/p>\n<p>Keyword research shows me the questions people are asking Google about my category, how popular they are, and the language they use.<\/p>\n<p>If I use a tool like Semrush, I can filter to Commercial or Transactional intent keywords (the ones labeled \u201cC\u201d or \u201cT\u201d). And add the most popular and relevant ones to my prompt tracker.<\/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 Magic Tool \u2013 Sales enablement software\" alt=\"Keyword Magic Tool \u2013 Sales enablement software\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.87857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/keyword-magic-tool-sales-enablement-software.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Then, I can dig through Reddit forums my audience frequents to find repeated frustrations and buyer queries.<\/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 Sales enablement tools\" alt=\"Reddit \u2013 Sales enablement tools\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.50857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/reddit-sales-enablement-tools.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>I would take \u201cSales enablement tech stack suggestions,\u201d \u201cAI tools for sales enablement.\u201d I\u2019d ignore the queries about SMBs or startups because those aren\u2019t Gong\u2019s target audience.<\/p>\n<p>Next, I\u2019d extract the comparison or evaluative prompts Perplexity surfaces when I prompt it with terms related to my business.<\/p>\n<p>For Gong, I used \u201cbest conversational insights tool for sales\u201d to find some good candidates:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Gong vs. Chorus (or any other competitor on this list)<\/li>\n<li>Which conversational insights tool has the best ROI for enterprises?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Perplexity \u2013 Sales tools \u2013 Follow-ups\" alt=\"Perplexity \u2013 Sales tools \u2013 Follow-ups\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.50923076923077\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/perplexity-sales-tools-follow-ups.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> When writing prompts, don\u2019t agonize over exact wording the way you would with keywords. <a title=\"What is semantic search and how does it differ from keyword search?\" href=\"https:\/\/milvus.io\/ai-quick-reference\/what-is-semantic-search-and-how-does-it-differ-from-keyword-search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LLMs cluster semantically similar queries together<\/a>. Track a few natural variants, like \u201cbest sales enablement software\u201d and \u201ctop sales enablement tools.\u201d<\/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>These sources are solid, but you\u2019re still inferring and collecting them manually is slow.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Semrush AI Visibility | Win Every Search. From Traditional SEO to AI Discovery\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/ai-seo\/overview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Semrush\u2019s AI Visibility tool<\/a> gives you what none of these sources can: real LLM prompt volume data.<\/p>\n<p>The exact prompts your audience runs in LLMs and how often they\u2019re using them, ranked by frequency.<\/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=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 Your performing topics\" alt=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 Your performing topics\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.78857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/visibility-overview-gong-your-performing-topics.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>This grounds your prompt set in real demand that\u2019s always up to date.<\/p>\n<p>You can be sure you\u2019re tracking questions your users are actually asking.<\/p>\n<p>From this list for Gong, I\u2019d choose to track prompts under \u201cAI-Driven Sales Enablement\u201d and \u201cSales Coaching and Enablement Tools,\u201d as they\u2019re BoFu queries related to my product.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Organize_By_Product_or_Use_Case\"><\/span>Organize By Product or Use Case<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To build your first prompt set, start small.<\/p>\n<p>All you need is 20-30 prompts over 4-6 broad categories that align with your product offering or use cases.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Build your prompt set in clusters\" alt=\"Build your prompt set in clusters\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.88571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/build-your-prompt-set-in-clusters.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Ensure every category includes a mix of your four types of high-value prompts and add them as tags.<\/p>\n<p>For a B2B SaaS company like Asana, this prompt tracking setup could look like the following:<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-responsive\">\n<table class=\"table table-primary table-striped table-hover\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">Project management<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Task management<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Workflow automation<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Team reporting<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Project management\">Best project management software for marketing teams <strong>(Evaluation)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Task management\">Best task tracking tools for cross-functional teams <strong>(Evaluation)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Workflow automation\">Best workflow automation software for ops teams <strong>(Evaluation)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Team reporting\">Best project reporting tools for enterprise teams <strong>(Evaluation)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Project management\">Asana vs. Monday.com for project management <strong>(Comparison)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Task management\">Does Asana actually improve team productivity? <strong>(Reputation)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Workflow automation\">Asana vs. ClickUp for workflow automation <strong>(Comparison)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Team reporting\">Is Asana\u2019s reporting good enough for large teams? <strong>(Reputation)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Project management\">Project management software with Slack integration <strong>(Evaluation)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Task management\">Best task management software for small<strong> teams (Gap)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Workflow automation\">Asana vs. Notion for managing marketing workflows <strong>(Comparison)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Team reporting\">Asana vs. Smartsheet for project visibility <strong>(Comparison)<\/strong><\/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-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> Use branded prompts only for comparison and reputation tracking, as they can inflate your visibility score. Keep the rest of your prompt set unbranded so you actually learn where you\u2019re getting found, not just where you\u2019re already known.<\/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>This setup lets you easily see which categories you\u2019re winning and losing in over time.<\/p>\n<p>Or, what types of answers you need to do a better job of showing up in.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Example_Hootsuite_Prompt_Set\"><\/span>Example: Hootsuite Prompt Set<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>You may decide to add more tags or organize your prompts in a different way as you expand.<\/p>\n<p>For example, Margaret uses multiple different tags \u2014 not just categories \u2014 for her prompt set for Hootsuite.<\/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\/2026\/07\/margaret-kapitany.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p>We\u2019ve built out prompts in three ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Funnel stages, with most of our attention on conversion<\/li>\n<li>Our target industries, with tailored terminology<\/li>\n<li>Intent type: comparative, evaluative, integrative (e.g. \u201cworks with X tool\u201d), and problem-led (\u201chow do I solve Y\u201d)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Almost all of our prompts carry multiple tags, e.g., BoFu + Healthcare + Evaluative. That tagging is what lets me slice the data later.<\/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\/2026\/07\/margaret-kapitany.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>When leadership asks for numbers, she can report on which industries Hootsuite is most visible in, or cross-reference visibility for BoFu prompts with direct traffic trends.<\/p>\n<p>Margaret\u2019s setup shows an important lesson: However you build your prompt set, structure it so you can answer the questions you\u2019ll want to ask later.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Track_Prompts_Step-by-Step_Process\"><\/span>How to Track Prompts: Step-by-Step Process<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>All you need to get started with prompt tracking is a spreadsheet and 30 minutes a week.<\/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>Free template:<\/strong> Download our <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1BR9xyxFUiZ1eU1oiwmrao7IOoQ852Nd0q8mvD8xY1mM\/copy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Prompt Tracking Template by Backlinko<\/a> to follow along with the steps below.<\/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<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_1_Set_Up_Your_Tracking_Sheet\"><\/span>Step 1. Set Up Your Tracking Sheet<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>With our tracker, you can log the following for each prompt:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The prompt itself<\/li>\n<li>Category<\/li>\n<li>Tags (e.g., type, industry)<\/li>\n<li>The LLM you\u2019re testing it in<\/li>\n<li>Whether your brand was mentioned (yes\/no)<\/li>\n<li>Whether you were cited (yes\/no)<\/li>\n<li>Sentiment of the mention (positive, neutral, negative)<\/li>\n<li>Competitors mentioned<\/li>\n<li>The date<\/li>\n<\/ul>\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 Tracking Template\" alt=\"Prompt Tracking Template\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.31857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/promop-tracking-template.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Customize it to whatever makes sense for your business.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_2_Run_Each_Prompt_Across_Multiple_LLMs\"><\/span>Step 2. Run Each Prompt Across Multiple LLMs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Different LLMs pull from different sources, so answers will be different across all of them.<\/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=\"Gemini vs ChatGPT answer\" alt=\"Gemini vs ChatGPT answer\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.7928571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gemini-vs-chatgpt-answer.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Tracking prompts from only one LLM won\u2019t give you a full picture of your brand\u2019s presence in AI search.<\/p>\n<p>Ideally track prompts in all major LLMs, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>ChatGPT<\/li>\n<li>Gemini<\/li>\n<li>Perplexity<\/li>\n<li>Claude<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you need to save time, review Presenc AI\u2019s <a title=\"AI Platform Market Share 2026 | Presenc AI\" href=\"https:\/\/presenc.ai\/research\/ai-platform-market-share\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2026 platform demographics report<\/a> to identify which LLMs your audience actually uses and focus on those.<\/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=\"Presenc \u2013 AI platform market share\" alt=\"Presenc \u2013 AI platform market share\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.84833333333333\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/presenc-ai-platform-market-share.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> Make sure you\u2019re using a temporary chat to run your prompts. Your regular chat window will serve you an answer that takes into account everything it knows about you from past conversations. You want to track what an LLM might recommend to anyone, not just you specifically.<\/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<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_3_Run_Each_Prompt_at_Least_Twice_Per_Session_Optional\"><\/span>Step 3. Run Each Prompt at Least Twice Per Session (Optional)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Answers will vary run to run. So if you have the time, run each prompt 2-3 times per session for more reliable data.<\/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 Tracking Template \u2013 Runs\" alt=\"Prompt Tracking Template \u2013 Runs\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.48333333333333\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/promop-tracking-template-runs.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>You\u2019ll catch when your brand shows up one out of three times (a 33% mention rate).<\/p>\n<p>If you don\u2019t have time, don\u2019t worry. You\u2019ll still see trends over time.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_4_Log_Competitor_Mentions_Too\"><\/span>Step 4. Log Competitor Mentions, Too<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Competitor data is half the value of prompt tracking.<\/p>\n<p>Seeing a competitor get mentioned consistently in a category you\u2019re performing less well in is a signal.<\/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 Tracking Template \u2013 Competitors\" alt=\"Prompt Tracking Template \u2013 Competitors\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.50333333333333\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/promop-tracking-template-competitors.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Maybe they published a new comparison page. Or were included in an influential report.<\/p>\n<p>Look into their strategy to see what they\u2019ve done to improve and learn from them.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_5_Track_Weekly_Action_on_Data_Monthly\"><\/span>Step 5. Track Weekly. Action on Data Monthly.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Regular prompt monitoring on a weekly basis is often enough to catch shifts.<\/p>\n<p>It gives LLMs enough time to crawl and learn from new or updated content.<\/p>\n<p>But don\u2019t make any decisions with only one week of data.<\/p>\n<p>A single week of low visibility in a category could be a fluke. Four weeks of it is a trend worth acting on.<\/p>\n<p>(We\u2019ll cover what to do when you spot one in the \u201cHow to Read and Act on Prompt Data\u201d section below).<\/p>\n<p>In this example, Asana shows up with a low citation rate for two LLMs only one week out of four.<\/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 Tracking Template \u2013 Citation rate\" alt=\"Prompt Tracking Template \u2013 Citation rate\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.22285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/promop-tracking-template-citation-rate.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Rushing to fix that ASAP could turn out to be a waste of time.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_6_Upgrade_to_an_Automated_Prompt_Tracking_Tool\"><\/span>Step 6. Upgrade to an Automated Prompt Tracking Tool<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Manual LLM visibility tracking is a great way to validate that you can actually get some useful insights from the practice.<\/p>\n<p>But if you want to grow your prompt set beyond 20-30 prompts, it\u2019s going to start taking much longer.<\/p>\n<p>A tool like Semrush can help you move faster and suggest actionable opportunities based on your data.<\/p>\n<p>To get started, open the <a title=\"Semrush AI Visibility | Win Every Search. From Traditional SEO to AI Discovery\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/ai-seo\/overview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Visibility Overview<\/a> dashboard, enter your domain, and click \u201c<strong>Check AI Visibility<\/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=\"Semrush \u2013 AI SEO \u2013 Overview\" alt=\"Semrush \u2013 AI SEO \u2013 Overview\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.52285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/semrush-ai-seo-overview.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>You\u2019ll see a summary of how often LLMs mention your brand, which competitors are mentioned alongside you, and a breakdown across each LLM.<\/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=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 Your performing topics\" alt=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 Your performing topics\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.78857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/visibility-overview-gong-your-performing-topics.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Scroll down for a list of prompts where you\u2019re already getting mentioned. Click \u201c<strong>Opportunities<\/strong>\u201d to see your gap prompts.<\/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=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 Topics &amp; Sources\" alt=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 Topics &amp; Sources\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.9\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/visibility-overview-gong-topics-sources.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Click \u201c<strong>Monitor<\/strong>\u201d on the prompts you want to include in your prompt set.<\/p>\n<p>Pick the LLMs you want to monitor, paste in your prompts, and hit \u201c<strong>Start Tracking<\/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=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 Prompt tracking\" alt=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 Prompt tracking\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.93857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/visibility-overview-gong-prompt-tracking.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>You can add tags by intent, topic, or campaign so you can slice the data later.<\/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>Further reading:<\/strong> See how the top <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 tools<\/a> stack up on pricing, LLM coverage, and reporting features.<\/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=\"Example_How_an_Agency_Tracks_Prompts_for_E-Commerce_Brands\"><\/span>Example: How an Agency Tracks Prompts for E-Commerce Brands<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When you\u2019re tracking hundreds of prompts across multiple clients, a basic spreadsheet won\u2019t be enough.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"LinkedIn \u2013 Jonny Nastor\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jonnastor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jonny Nastor<\/a>, Founder &amp; Head of Strategy at Digital Commerce Partners, knows this firsthand.<\/p>\n<p>He built a prompt tracking map based on the theory that most buyers ask LLMs about a specific job they need done or task to accomplish. Then filter by their specific situation (a.k.a. constraints).<\/p>\n<p>For example, when shopping for smart doorbells, a buyer might search \u201cbest video doorbell with no monthly subscription fees.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The job to be done is \u201cbest doorbell.\u201d The constraint is cost (low fees or no subscription).<\/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=\"Constrain Map \u2013 Best doorbell\" alt=\"Constrain Map \u2013 Best doorbell\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.0042857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/constraint-map-best-doorbell.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>He calls it a \u201c<a title=\"The Constraint Map: How DCP Audits LLM Visibility for Ecommerce\" href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommerce.com\/constraint-map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Constraint Map<\/a>.\u201d Every intersection of job and constraint in the map becomes a prompt.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Constrain Map \u2013 Prompts\" alt=\"Constrain Map \u2013 Prompts\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.74142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/constrain-map-prompts.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>He gets ideas for constraints from keyword modifier data. In Semrush, you can see these in the <a title=\"Free Keyword Tool: Find the Right Keywords for SEO &amp; AI Search\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/analytics\/keywordmagic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Keyword Magic Tool<\/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=\"Keyword Magic Tool \u2013 Mesh Wi-Fi\" alt=\"Keyword Magic Tool \u2013 Mesh Wi-Fi\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.1314285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/keyword-magic-tool-mesh-wifi.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>He also pairs each prompt with search volume data to roughly understand its popularity and prioritize accordingly.<\/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=\"Constrain Map \u2013 Search volume\" alt=\"Constrain Map \u2013 Search volume\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.57571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/constraint-map-search-volume.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>He runs his prompts across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini automatically through their APIs to log how each one responds.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on the client\u2019s needs, he tracks one or all of the following AI visibility metrics for each prompt:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How many times the brand was cited by LLMs<\/li>\n<li>The brand\u2019s recommendation (or mention) rate<\/li>\n<li>Instances of ghost ranking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For this client, it was only citations on Bing\u2019s 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=\"Constrain Map \u2013 Citations\" alt=\"Constrain Map \u2013 Citations\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.69142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/constrain-map-citations.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>For each metric, he watches for trends over time, not drawing any conclusions based on one week of data.<\/p>\n<p>He also audits content readiness with a mix of the following (again, depending on client needs):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If a page exists to address the prompt<\/li>\n<li>If that page links directly to the specific products that answer the prompt<\/li>\n<li>If product details (attributes) like price, dimensions, compatibility, etc., are listed on the page<\/li>\n<li>If the content on the page is extractable by an LLM (e.g., no bot-blocking settings or JavaScript-heavy rendering that prevent AI crawlers from accessing the page)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Constrain Map \u2013 Content gap\" alt=\"Constrain Map \u2013 Content gap\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.76142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/constrain-map-content-gap.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>This tells him exactly what to fix so AI is more likely to recommend the brand.<\/p>\n<p>This system surfaced ~52,000 monthly searches with zero AI coverage for one of Jonny\u2019s clients. And a content strategy for the next quarter.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Read_and_Act_on_Prompt_Data\"><\/span>How to Read and Act on Prompt Data<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Generative AI prompt tracking data might seem hard to trust at face value.<\/p>\n<p>LLMs give variable answers even in temporary chats.<\/p>\n<p>Platforms push silent model updates that tweak source weighting.<\/p>\n<p>And training data bias is real. <a title=\"[2406.13997] \" href=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2406.13997\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">One study<\/a> found LLMs often favor global brands over local ones, meaning you might be invisible in your category because of the model\u2019s defaults rather than your content.<\/p>\n<p>Margaret at Hootsuite found the changing outputs of LLMs surprising when she first started prompt tracking:<\/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\/2026\/07\/margaret-kapitany.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p>It was way more chaotic than I expected. The same prompt can return a totally different brand list on ChatGPT vs Gemini vs Perplexity. \u201cAI visibility\u201d isn\u2019t just a single thing to optimize for: you\u2019re effectively running parallel strategies, and they don\u2019t transfer cleanly, and answers will fluctuate constantly.<\/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\/2026\/07\/margaret-kapitany.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>This variance doesn\u2019t mean prompt tracking data is useless.<\/p>\n<p>But it is the reason you need to track trends over time instead of getting hung up on moment-specific snapshots.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few meaningful signals to watch for.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Increased_or_Decreased_Frequency_Over_Time\"><\/span>Increased (or Decreased) Frequency Over Time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A consistent rise in mentions or citations usually means your content efforts are working.<\/p>\n<p>A consistent drop could mean a competitor is gaining ground or a key piece of content has gone stale.<\/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=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Usakilts\" alt=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Usakilts\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.53428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/visibility-overview-usakilts.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Action to take:<\/strong> If the trend is up, note what you published in the weeks before the lift. That\u2019s your playbook. Keep doing it.<\/p>\n<p>If it\u2019s down for four or more consecutive weeks, pick one fix for that category:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Refresh a stale piece with updated data<\/li>\n<li>Publish a new comparison page targeting the prompts you\u2019re losing<\/li>\n<li>Pitch a third-party source that\u2019s being cited in that space<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Consistent_Source_Inclusion\"><\/span>Consistent Source Inclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you repeatedly see the same third-party sources cited in your LLM visibility tracking data, stop and take note.<\/p>\n<p>It means the LLMs trust these sources.<\/p>\n<p>And third-party sources are powerful for AI visibility. <a title=\"Tracking LLM Brand Citations: A Complete Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/www.airops.com\/blog\/llm-brand-citation-tracking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Airops found<\/a> 85% of brand mentions come from third-party pages.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if G2, TechRadar, and Capterra keep appearing across your evaluation prompts, those are your priority pitches.<\/p>\n<p>Semrush\u2019s <a title=\"Semrush AI Visibility | Win Every Search. From Traditional SEO to AI Discovery\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/ai-seo\/overview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI Visibility Overview<\/a> can help identify sources.<\/p>\n<p>You can see your top \u201cCited Sources\u201d and \u201cSource Opportunities\u201d (where you\u2019re not being mentioned but your competitors are).<\/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=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 Cited sources\" alt=\"Visibility Overview \u2013 Gong \u2013 Cited sources\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.92285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/visibility-overview-gong-cited-sources.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Action to take:<\/strong> Make a list of the sources that keep showing up. For each one, check if you\u2019re already featured. If so, is your listing current and accurate?<\/p>\n<p>Then, pick one you\u2019re missing from and pitch it. A contributed piece, product review campaign, or quote request can all work.<\/p>\n<p>Unless you\u2019re correcting a mention, don\u2019t try to pitch competitors\u2019 sites. They\u2019re not likely to accept.<\/p>\n<p>And don\u2019t only focus on categories you\u2019re losing. Reinforcing visibility in categories you\u2019re already winning is valuable too.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Movement_from_Mention_to_Citation\"><\/span>Movement from Mention to Citation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you used to get mentioned and now only get cited as a source, you\u2019ve slipped into what Jonny calls \u201cghost ranking\u201d territory:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour content shows up in the citation panel, but the AI recommends a competitor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Like this example from Teva.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Ghost ranking\" alt=\"Ghost ranking\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.0285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ghost-ranking.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>An increase in your \u201cghost ranking count\u201d over weeks means it\u2019s time to investigate.<\/p>\n<p>Jonny knows this first hand:<\/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\/07\/jon-nastor.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p>Our prompt tracking showed our agency was being cited on agency-directory pages (Trustpilot, Clutch, Semrush) but ghost-ranked at an 83% rate. AI was using directory content as the source of truth, then recommending whichever agency had the densest, most-named presence.<\/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\/07\/jon-nastor.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><strong>Action to take:<\/strong> Find the sources showing up in the citation panel and audit your presence on each one. Fuller profiles, more reviews, and accurate product details all help convert a citation into a recommendation.<\/p>\n<p>For Teva, this means pitching to be included in the cited articles by REI, backpacker.com, and Outdoor Gear Lab.<\/p>\n<p>It also means updating their own pages (including the ones being cited) with more or newer details.<\/p>\n<p>Then, watching to see if they get less ghost rankings over time.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Misreads_to_Watch_for\"><\/span>Common Misreads to Watch for<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When you first start generative AI prompt tracking, try to avoid getting tripped up by the following false conclusions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cOur AI visibility dropped this week. Something\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One week of low visibility or mentions is likely natural variability.<\/p>\n<p>Wait for four consecutive weeks before treating it as a trend worth acting on.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cOur score looks low. We need more content.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A score can be low for multiple reasons, and the fix isn\u2019t always new content.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes it\u2019s getting included in more third-party sources or forum threads. Or getting more customer reviews.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re just starting out, you may need to go back to your prompts and make sure they\u2019re not too vague or top-of-funnel.<\/p>\n<p>For example, a broad query like \u201cmesh wifi\u201d may return a definition answer rather than a list of brands.<\/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=\"Google Gemini \u2013 Mesh Wi-Fi\" alt=\"Google Gemini \u2013 Mesh Wi-Fi\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.95857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/google-gemini-mesh-wifi.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p><strong>\u201cOur overall visibility improved after adding more prompts to our tracker. We\u2019re doing something right.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Adding more prompts to your prompt set will usually make it look like your AI visibility has increased. You\u2019re getting mentioned in more prompts.<\/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=\"Adding more prompts\" alt=\"Adding more prompts\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.38285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/adding-more-prompts.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p><strong>\u201cOur overall visibility improved after adding more branded queries. We\u2019re doing something right.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A branded query is one that mentions your brand name. Of course you get mentioned in the answer.<\/p>\n<p>That doesn\u2019t tell you anything useful.<\/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=\"Branded queries mentions\" alt=\"Branded queries mentions\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.55428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/branded-queries-mentions.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Limit tracking branded prompts to comparison and reputation prompts. And keep them in a separate cluster so you can filter them when measuring your overall AI visibility.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Weekly_Prompt_Tracking_Workflow\"><\/span>Weekly Prompt Tracking Workflow<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Turning prompt tracking data into a strategy is where you prove the value.<\/p>\n<p>Margaret starts by looking at topics where Hootsuite has low visibility.<\/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\/2026\/07\/margaret-kapitany.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p>Then I look at individual prompt answers to see \u201cWhat does the internet think about us in this category, and how do we change that?\u201d This usually translates into a few concrete questions for further research:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Where are the third-party listicles, comparison posts, and analyst write-ups that the model is pulling from, and are we represented accurately on them?<\/li>\n<li>Do we have a first-party comparison or evaluation page that an LLM can confidently cite, written for the actual buyer in that vertical?<\/li>\n<li>Do we have our customers (ex. case studies, reviews) reinforcing the same message?<\/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\/2026\/07\/margaret-kapitany.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>From here, she can recommend actions like updating a case study or getting a mention in a third-party listicle.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a simple workflow you can use to turn your prompt monitoring routine into AI visibility gains over time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Prompt Monitoring Routine \u2013 Workflow\" alt=\"Prompt Monitoring Routine \u2013 Workflow\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.63714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/07\/prompt-monitoring-routine-workflow.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> Don\u2019t expect overnight wins. LLMs take time to reflect new content. Watch for directional improvement over weeks and months. You\u2019re not chasing a score; you\u2019re watching whether your gaps are closing over time.<\/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><strong>Step 1. Review prompt cluster trends weekly:<\/strong> What\u2019s the visibility score for your BOFU prompts? Has it fallen for your healthcare cluster? Or a specific use case category?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 2. Spot recurring gaps:<\/strong> Note any clusters, categories, or topics that have been underperforming for four weeks or more.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 2a. Plan one fix per cluster:<\/strong> Use your content strategy brain to determine the most impactful fix.<\/p>\n<p>That might be:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Publishing a new comparison page to improve a BOFU prompt cluster\u2019s score<\/li>\n<li>Updating an existing article with fresher data<\/li>\n<li>Publishing a type of content you haven\u2019t tried yet on this topic (e.g., video, podcast, social post)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Step 3. Identify recurring third-party sources:<\/strong> Note sources AI consistently cites across your categories. Reddit? LinkedIn? G2? YouTube creators? A trade publication?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 3a. Pitch one source you\u2019re missing from:<\/strong> If accepted, you\u2019ll build more off-site authority and increase your chances of being mentioned in the answers you care about.<\/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>Bonus resource:<\/strong> Pitching a journalist or news outlet? Use our <a title=\"Journalist Pitch Template for More Press Coverage\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/templates\/marketing\/journalist-pitch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Journalist Pitch Template<\/a>, designed by PR experts, to get started quickly.<\/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=\"Start_Winning_AI_Visibility_with_Prompt_Tracking\"><\/span>Start Winning AI Visibility with Prompt Tracking<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Prompt tracking isn\u2019t a scoreboard. It\u2019s a compass.<\/p>\n<p>The brands that get real value out of prompt tracking aren\u2019t monitoring every possible prompt.<\/p>\n<p>And they aren\u2019t reacting to one bad week.<\/p>\n<p>They focus on bottom-of-funnel prompts and follow the direction of the graph, not the dot.<\/p>\n<p>Now, it\u2019s your turn:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Build a set of 20 relevant prompts<\/li>\n<li>Download our <a title=\"Prompt Tracking Template by Backlinko\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1BR9xyxFUiZ1eU1oiwmrao7IOoQ852Nd0q8mvD8xY1mM\/copy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free prompt tracking template<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Log and review data for 30 minutes every week<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Once you\u2019re up-and-running, dig into our complete <a title=\"AI Optimization: How to Rank in AI Search (+ Checklist)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/ai-optimization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI optimization guide<\/a> to get tips on how to fix the issues prompt tracking surfaces.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/llm-prompt-tracking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Prompt Tracking: How to Find (and Fix) Your AI Visibility Gaps<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Backlinko<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your brand could be ranking #1 on Google, but still be invisible to AI. Absent from conversations your customers are having with large language models (LLMs) about your category. Or worse, showing up inaccurately, with outdated or incorrect information that\u2019ll hurt your sales. Without prompt tracking, you\u2019d never know. Prompt tracking (sometimes called LLM visibility tracking) is the practice of monitoring how your brand shows up in AI answers over time, through mentions or citations. It\u2019s different from traditional SEO rank tracking, which tells you where [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16237,"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-16236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backlinko"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/google-serp-ai-visibility-1R6aRu-600x400.png","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/google-serp-ai-visibility-1R6aRu-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\/16236","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=16236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}