AI Search Visibility Insights

AI search visibility research by user intent

Discover what types of sources are cited most in AI Search Answers,
 by business model, category and search intent.

Source link type
All
Search Queries%no. of links
Awareness
Search Queries%no. of links
Consideration
Search Queries%no. of links
Decision
Search Queries%no. of links

*This study was conducted using On Target AI and is focused on the Unites States market.

Research foundation

Behind the numbers: uncovering real AI search queries

1. What types of search queries did we run?

We reverse-engineered actual user queries instead of guessing what people search for.

  • Awareness stage

    — users are problem-aware, but not solution-aware

    (e.g. "How can I track my workout performance?")
  • Consideration stage

    — users are weighing possible solutions

    (e.g. "Are smartwatches better at tracking workouts than smart rings?")
  • Decision stage

    — users are choosing between vendors or brands

    (e.g. "What are the best smartwatches for climbing performance?")

In total, we ran 12 queries across 39 categories, every single day, to capture how AI engines answer at each intent stage.

Awareness stage
Consideration stage
Decision stage
Research illustration

2. Where did we find these queries?

We used two techniques to capture queries with high accuracy and tie them back to search intent:

Reddit miningWe analyzed the most engaged posts and comments to extract authentic search queries.
Audience researchWe reviewed surveys, interviews, and customer feedback to uncover additional queries buyers actually use.

The result? A dataset grounded in real-world conversations and customer intent — not assumptions or keyword tools.

3. What business models and categories were included in the research?

Ecommerce
Smartwatches
Mattresses
Electric toothbrushes
Office chairs
Stand up desks
Milk foamers
Running shoes
Bed linen
Protein powders
Matcha powders
Dog food
Air fryers
Water filters
Air purifiers
Smart thermostat
B2B Tech Products
Invoicing
Tax filing
International shipping
Low code website builders
Pre-employment assessment
Payments processors
Sales CRMs
Website error monitoring
Email marketing
Time tracking
Project management
Password managers
Website surveys
Website heatmaps
Social media management
Consumer Services
Plumbing services
Electricity services
Home insurance
Internet services
Travel agencies
Moving services
Landscaping services
Storage services
Veterinary services

Increase your brand's AI search visibility
with customer-centric content.

From search analytics and audience research, to strategy and execution, On Target AI is the complete AI search optimization engine.