Quick Answer: Share of Model (SoM) is the new primary KPI for the AI era. It measures the percentage of generated answers within a specific niche that cite or recommend your brand. Measuring SoM requires tracking citations in Perplexity, recommendations in ChatGPT, and the "Generative Visibility" index in Google Gemini. This data tells you the real strength of your brand authority.
Why is Google Search Console (GSC) becoming a secondary tool?
GSC only shows clicks from traditional search. It misses the Generative Retrieval layer. If 1,000 people ask ChatGPT for a recommendation and it gives them your name, GSC shows 0 traffic—but your sales team will be busy. At Tonotaco, we've pivoted our reporting to include AI Citation Audit (AICA) metrics to capture this "Dark Funnel" activity.
The Metrics of the Future
- Citation Frequency: How many times per 100 queries are you the primary source?
- Sentiment Stability: Do the models describe you as a "Technical Expert" or a "Generic Provider"?
- Synthesis Dominance: Does the model use your specific data tables to explain a concept?
| Metric | Traditional SEO | New AEO (SoM) |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Impressions | Generative Mentions |
| Traffic | CTR (Clicks) | Referral Citations |
| Success | Rank #1 | "The Only Recommendation" |
How do you improve your Share of Model?
You can't "buy" SoM like you buy PPC. You must earn it through Fact Permanence. By consistently publishing verifiable data regarding B2B AI strategies, you build a "neural footprint" that the models favor over time. We help brands build that footprint from the ground up, ensuring they become part of the model's long-term memory.