Glossary
The language of AI search visibility
Every AI-search term we use, defined plainly. Most readers won’t need it; it’s here so the articles can stay short and the language can stay precise.
AI Citation Score
A 0–100 score that captures how often the practice is named by AI search engines (Google AI Overview, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude) when a patient asks intent-rich questions in the practice's metro. Google AI Overview is weighted highest because it's what patients see by default.
AI Overview (AIO)
The AI-generated answer that loads above the regular blue links in Google Search results. For medical queries in 2026, AIO triggers on the majority of searches. The practice's citation rate in AIO is the closest analog to "what your next patient will see when they Google their condition."
Branded query
A search that includes the practice's name or a doctor's name. "Lakeview Sinus and Hearing hours." Patients who type these have already decided to find you; the only question is whether the search engine surfaces your site on page 1.
Click-through rate (CTR)
The share of searchers who actually click a search result. Clicks concentrate at the top of the page and drop off steeply below the first few results. Moving from the bottom of page 1 into the top positions multiplies clicks; it doesn't just add a few.
Competitor score
Composite ranking we use to identify the practice's true patient-acquisition competitors. Weighted toward cross-engine AI citation (5 engines naming a competitor = stronger signal than 1 engine naming them 30 times). Filters out national publishers, directories, and out-of-metro academic centers; those aren't competitors for patient appointments.
DMA (Designated Market Area)
A Nielsen-defined media market. Search demand is reported at this scope because medical practices draw patients from the metro, not the city limits. The Detroit DMA, for example, includes Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, not just the city of Detroit.
GBP (Google Business Profile)
Formerly Google My Business. The practice's listing in Google Maps + the local pack on Google Search results. NAP consistency, review velocity, photos, hours, and category accuracy all flow through GBP.
KD (Keyword Difficulty)
A 0–100 estimate of how hard it would be to rank organically for a keyword. Rough buckets: 0–30 reachable with focused content work; 30–50 achievable with sustained effort; 50–70 expensive and slow; 70+ effectively paid-traffic territory.
Local pack
The 3 map-pinned business listings that appear above the standard blue links for local-intent searches. Inclusion is governed by GBP signals (NAP, reviews, proximity to searcher, category).
NAP
Name, Address, Phone. The consistency of these three across every place the practice appears online (own site, GBP, Yelp, Healthgrades, Vitals, etc.). Inconsistency hurts local search ranking and patient trust in equal measure.
SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
The literal page Google returns when you search. Different SERPs for different queries. SERP analysis means looking at who shows up where, what other elements appear (AI Overview, local pack, featured snippet), and where the practice falls in.
Search volume
Monthly searches for a keyword in a specific geographic scope. The numbers we report are scoped to the practice's DMA unless otherwise noted.
Unbranded query
A search that doesn't mention the practice's name. "ENT doctor Houston," "best sinus surgeon near me," "balloon sinuplasty cost." This is where new patients come from. The practice's footprint on unbranded queries is the real growth pool.
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