AI Visibility Baseline Intake (Onboarding)

AI Visibility Baseline Intake (Onboarding)

1. 01

   Freeze the client's current visibility numbers before any optimization work begins

   Pull a dated snapshot of organic rankings, backlink counts, and AI answer mentions so the retainer starts from a documented baseline rather than a memory of the sales call.

2. 02

   Run the client's 20 highest-intent queries through at least three AI engines and log which domains get cited

   Record the cited source for each answer, not just whether the client appears. Citation mapping shows whether a competitor's blog, a Reddit thread, or a YouTube video is shaping the recommendation.

3. 03

   Separate branded from non-branded visibility in the baseline report

   A client can rank first on its own name and still be invisible on category queries. The two numbers move for different reasons and need different fixes.

4. 04

   Map the client's keyword set against two named competitors and flag the gap list

   Use a competitive research platform such as SpyFu to pull overlapping organic and paid terms, then mark which gaps are winnable inside the current retainer scope.

5. 05

   Audit the backlink profile for lost and newly acquired links over the trailing 90 days

   A monitoring tool like Linkody surfaces link velocity and spam score changes that explain ranking drops the client will otherwise attribute to the agency's work.

6. 06

   Write the baseline into a one-page intake memo the client signs off on

   Include the measurement date, the engines tested, the query list, and the two competitor domains. This memo becomes the reference point for every later performance dispute.