Our Methodology

We don't just track what AI says. We change it.

ARC Intel is an Answer Engine Optimization agency. Every month we run 100 structured AI queries across four platforms, identify exactly why your business is being overlooked, and deploy targeted fixes to change the outcome.

AEO is not a monitoring tool. It is an active improvement process.
The distinction that matters: Discovery without action has limited value. Every gap we find becomes a work order, not a report line item.
What sets us apart

An agency, not a dashboard.

Most tools in this space tell you where you are invisible. We tell you and then fix it.

Monitoring tools and dashboards

What they give you

  • A score showing where you rank in AI answers
  • Reports comparing competitor mentions to yours
  • Recommendations you have to implement yourself
  • Coverage limited to 1 to 2 AI platforms
  • No structured data deployment or citation building
  • Nobody working on your behalf between reports

ARC Intel, active AEO agency

What we actually do

  • 100 AI evaluations per month across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Claude
  • Structured data markup deployed and maintained on your site
  • Citation profile built and cleaned across trusted directories
  • Google Business Profile optimized for AI entity signals
  • Entity associations strengthened month over month
  • Monthly report shows what moved and what we did to move it
The monthly process

Four phases. Every month.

AI visibility is not a one-time fix. It is a compounding monthly process. Here is exactly what happens each cycle.

01
Test

100 AI evaluations across 4 platforms

We run 25 carefully selected, high-intent queries across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Claude, totaling 100 evaluations per cycle. Queries span five categories that mirror how real customers use AI, from direct recommendation searches to problem-based conversations where AI builds associations before a business is ever mentioned.

Why 4 platforms? Each AI system pulls from different data sources and weighs signals differently. A business that appears in ChatGPT may be invisible in Gemini. Strength in one platform does not transfer to the others.
02
Diagnose

Identify the exact signals holding you back

Every gap in AI visibility has a cause. Missing structured data, thin citation profile, incomplete Google Business Profile, no third-party mentions, or incorrect entity signals. We identify precisely which signals are failing and in which prompt categories and platforms the failure shows up.

The competitor layer: We run the same queries for your tracked competitors. When a competitor consistently gets recommended where you do not, we identify exactly what they have that you do not and close that gap.
03
Fix

Deploy targeted improvements, not a checklist

This is where ARC Intel differs from every monitoring tool in the market. Findings become actions. Each gap identified in phase two gets a specific fix deployed by our team that month.

  • Structured data missing or incorrect: schema.org markup written and deployed via your site or Google Tag Manager.
  • Citation profile thin or inconsistent: citations built and cleaned across the directories AI models pull from.
  • Google Business Profile weak: categories, services, descriptions, and Q&A optimized for AI entity signals.
  • No third-party mentions: authoritative references built that AI models can cite.
  • Business misclassified by AI: entity signals corrected and reinforced until the AI record is accurate.
04
Report and Repeat

Your monthly AI Visibility Report, with the receipts

At the end of each cycle you receive a branded report showing your appearance rate across all platforms and prompt categories, competitor comparisons, what changed since last month, and exactly what actions were taken. No vanity metrics. Just your numbers and the work behind them.

AI Visibility Report
Sample
Overall appearance rate
34% +12 pts
Direct recommendation rate
61% +9 pts
ChatGPT
41% +18%
Perplexity
29% +8%
Gemini
28% +11%
Schema markup complete 7 new citations built 3 GBP updates applied
How we test

Five prompt categories. The same ones your customers use.

Most agencies test obvious queries like best plumber near me. We go deeper, because how people actually use AI before making a buying decision is far more conversational than that.

25 queries
×
4 platforms
=
100 evaluations per cycle

Direct recommendations

  • Who is the best plumber in this city?
  • Recommend a dentist near me.
  • Top rated HVAC company nearby.

Competitor comparisons

  • Competitor A vs Competitor B, who is better?
  • Best alternatives to this company.
  • Most trusted service in the area.

Trust and authority

  • Most reputable service in this city.
  • Who has the best reviews for this service?
  • Highly recommended near me.

Problem-based queries

  • My AC is making a rattling noise, what should I do?
  • I think I need a root canal, what are my options?
  • Do I need a plumber or an HVAC technician for this?

Brand recognition

  • Tell me about this business.
  • Is this business reputable?
  • What does this business specialize in?
Why problem-based queries matter: When someone asks AI about a rattling AC noise, the AI explains causes then suggests calling a technician. If your business is already associated with HVAC expertise in the AI's understanding, you are positioned before the recommendation even happens. Most agencies never test this. We built our entire system around it. For more on how AI weighs these signals, see our breakdown of why the most popular AI visibility advice is backfiring.
The implementation work

What we deploy every month.

When we find a gap, we close it. These are the specific actions that separate an active AEO agency from a passive monitoring tool.

Gap identifiedWhat we deployAI signal addressed
Missing or broken structured dataSchema.org markup written and deployed including LocalBusiness, Service, FAQPage, and Review schemasEntity recognition, service categorization, review trust
Thin or inconsistent citation profileCitations built across the directories AI platforms pull from. Inconsistent name, address, and phone data cleaned across all sourcesEntity consistency, trust corroboration, geographic authority
Weak Google Business ProfileCategories, service descriptions, attributes, and Q&A optimized for AI entity signalsService area association, category classification, local authority
No third-party mentionsAuthoritative external references built from sources AI models recognize as credible in this categorySource corroboration, expertise association, trust depth
Inaccurate AI descriptionEntity corrections deployed through structured data, GBP updates, and authoritative content that overrides incorrect AI associationsEntity accuracy, brand description, service scope
Competitor outperforming on specific queriesCompetitor gap analysis identifying signal advantages, then targeted work to close the specific differenceCompetitive positioning, category ownership
Common questions

What people ask before they start.

See where you actually stand.

Book a free AI Visibility Audit. We will show you exactly how your business appears across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude right now, and where your competitors are winning recommendations that should be yours.