Getting Started

Getting Started with SourceRank

Learn how to use SourceRank to audit, score, and monitor your website's AI engine optimization (AEO) across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and more.

Last updated: December 27, 2025

Welcome to SourceRank

SourceRank helps you understand and improve how AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity understand and represent your website. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started.

What is SourceRank?

SourceRank is the first dedicated platform for AI Engine Optimization (AEO). We analyze how AI systems perceive your website and provide actionable recommendations to improve your visibility when people ask AI engines about topics in your industry.

Key Features

  • Free AEO Scanner: Instant analysis of how AI engines understand your website
  • AEO Score: Objective rating of your AI visibility (0-100)
  • Multi-Engine Monitoring: Track how you’re represented across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and more
  • Actionable Recommendations: Specific steps to improve your AEO
  • Citation Tracking: See when and how AI engines cite your website

Running Your First Scan

Getting started is simple:

Step 1: Visit the Homepage

Go to sourcerank.app and you’ll see the free AEO scanner prominently displayed.

Step 2: Enter Your Domain

Type your website URL into the search box. You can enter:

  • example.com
  • www.example.com
  • https://example.com

The scanner will automatically format it correctly.

Step 3: Run the Scan

Click “Scan Website” or press Enter. The scan typically takes 30-60 seconds as we:

  1. Crawl your website
  2. Analyze content structure
  3. Check technical AEO factors
  4. Test how AI engines perceive your site
  5. Generate your AEO score

Step 4: Review Your Results

You’ll receive:

  • Overall AEO Score (0-100)
  • Category Breakdown: Content, Technical, Credibility, Structure
  • Top Issues: Priority problems to fix
  • Quick Wins: Easy improvements you can make today

Understanding Your Scan Results

Your scan provides a comprehensive overview of your AI optimization:

AEO Score Ranges

  • 80-100: Excellent - You’re well-optimized for AI engines
  • 60-79: Good - Some improvements will boost visibility
  • 40-59: Fair - Significant optimization opportunities
  • 0-39: Poor - Major AEO work needed

Score Categories

Content Quality (30% of score)

  • Clarity and readability
  • Answer-focused structure
  • Topic coverage
  • Original insights

Technical Setup (25% of score)

  • Structured data implementation
  • llms.txt presence and quality
  • Meta tags optimization
  • Semantic HTML

Source Credibility (25% of score)

  • Domain authority
  • Author credentials
  • External citations
  • E-E-A-T signals

Site Structure (20% of score)

  • Internal linking
  • Navigation clarity
  • Content organization
  • Crawlability

Next Steps After Your Scan

Once you’ve run your first scan:

1. Review Recommendations

SourceRank provides specific, prioritized recommendations. Focus on:

  • Critical issues first (red flags)
  • High-impact improvements next (quick wins)
  • Optimization opportunities last (long-term gains)

2. Implement llms.txt

If you don’t have an llms.txt file, this should be your first action. It’s the easiest way to improve how AI engines understand your site.

See our llms.txt Setup Guide for step-by-step instructions.

3. Create an Account (Optional)

While the free scanner works without an account, creating one unlocks:

  • Scan history
  • Before/after comparisons
  • Regular monitoring
  • Team collaboration
  • Priority support

4. Set Up Monitoring

For businesses serious about AI visibility, set up automated monitoring to:

  • Track AEO score changes over time
  • Get alerts when AI engines change how they describe you
  • Monitor competitor AEO performance
  • Measure the impact of your optimization efforts

Common Questions

How often should I scan my website?

  • After major changes: Always rescan after updating content or technical setup
  • Monthly monitoring: For active AEO optimization
  • Quarterly checks: For maintenance monitoring

Is the free scan really free?

Yes! You can run unlimited scans without creating an account. Paid plans add monitoring, team features, and advanced analytics.

What if my score is low?

Don’t worry! Most websites score between 30-50 when first scanned because AEO is new. Follow our recommendations and you’ll see improvement within weeks.

Can I improve my score quickly?

Absolutely. Implementing llms.txt, adding structured data, and improving content clarity can boost your score 20-30 points in a week.

Do I need technical skills?

Not for most improvements! While some recommendations (like structured data) are technical, many wins come from content improvements anyone can make.

Getting Help

If you need assistance:

Ready to improve your AI visibility? Run your free scan now!

All Help Articles

llms.txt Setup Guide Understanding Your AEO Score Monitoring Your Domains Getting Started with SourceRank Interpreting Your Scan Results
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