/

Glossary

Average Position (Average Rank)

Elevator button panel with “12” illuminated, symbolizing average position (average rank) tracking in AI and search results
Kyrylo Poltavets - AI SEO & automation expert, co-founder of Dabudai

Kyrylo Poltavets

Jan 26, 2026

Jan 26, 2026

4-5

4-5

min read

min read

Average Position (Average Rank) is your average placement across all linked brand/page occurrences shown in AI answers for a topic dataset. It uses the position as displayed in the answer (1 is best).

In classic SEO, average position acts as a proxy for your search engine ranking position — meaning where your pages appear in Google results for a given query set.

Definition

Average Position (Average Rank) is the average of your recorded position numbers across all visible linked occurrences in AI answers. We assign positions 1…N to all visible linked items in each answer and record your positions as shown (no reordering).

In contrast, Google average position is the average ranking location of your page across impressions in Google Search.



What counts (Dabudai standard)

  • We include all visible linked occurrences shown in the answer.


  • Position is recorded as shown in the AI answer (we do not change it).


  • We do not deduplicate: repeated appearances are recorded as separate occurrences.


  • We do not group by domain: tracking is page-level.


  • Measured inside one topic dataset (fixed country + language).

Calculation

For each run, we assign a position number to every visible linked item in the answer: 1, 2, 3, … N (where N is the total number of linked items shown).


The average position formula is simple:
Average Position = sum of your recorded position values ÷ total number of your linked occurrences.


Note:
This metric is reported from aggregated runs because answer length and ordering can vary.

Quick visual

Answer list length can vary: 8, 12, 24… (all positions counted)Position numbers are assigned as shown: 1 → N (1 is best)Average Position = average of your positions across occurrences

Worked example (single answer)

Answer shows 12 linked items.

  • Your brand appears at positions 3 and 9 (two occurrences).


  • Average Position (for this answer) = (3 + 9) / 2 = 6


Across a topic dataset, we average positions across all runs and occurrences to reduce variance.

Related metrics (quick table)

Metric

What it answers

How it differs

Recommendation Rate (Top 5)

How often you appear in Top 5 with a link

Frequency of shortlist inclusion (Top 5 only)

AI Share of Voice (SOV)

Weighted share across brands

Weights position and counts repeats (competitive share)

AI Visibility Score

How often you get any link at all

Binary per buyer question (link present vs not)

How to check your position in Google (SEO)

If you want to check web position on Google, avoid manual searching — personalized results can distort what you see.

The most reliable way to find website position in Google search is Google Search Console, because it reports impressions and average position directly from Google.

To check your search position in Google over time, use the Performance report and filter by page, query, and country.

FAQ (short)

Is Average Position limited to Top 5?

No. It uses the full set of linked items shown in the answer (1 → N).


Which is better: a lower or higher Average Position?

Lower is better. Position 1 is the highest placement.

How do I find my position on Google?

Use Google Search Console → Performance → Queries. It shows average position based on real impressions, not personalized searches.


What does “positionnement site Google” mean?

It’s the French phrase for a website’s Google ranking position — essentially your average position and visibility in search results.