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AI visibility prompt library: 40 questions to track in AI search

Mike Holp · Published · Updated · Reviewed · 4 min read

An AI visibility prompt library should represent the questions customers ask before they choose a business, product, or provider. Start with a small, stable set across branded, category, local, comparison, problem, and source-discovery intent. Track the exact wording, engine, date, answer, citations, and competitors.

Short answer: Choose 5–10 prompts from each relevant category below, remove questions your customers would never ask, and keep the final set stable while you measure changes. A focused prompt set is more useful than hundreds of loosely related questions.

How to build your prompt set

  1. List the products, services, locations, audiences, and alternatives that matter to the business.
  2. Turn each into a natural customer question, not a keyword fragment.
  3. Add branded and unbranded versions so entity recognition and category visibility are separate.
  4. Select 10–30 prompts for a first baseline, then expand when the results answer a real decision.
  5. Record engine, location, date, answer, citations, competitors, and classification for every run.

40 AI visibility prompts

Branded prompts

  1. What is [brand]?
  2. What does [brand] help customers do?
  3. Who is [brand] best for?
  4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of [brand]?
  5. Is [brand] a good option for [audience or use case]?
  6. What do customers say about [brand]?
  7. How does [brand] compare with [competitor]?
  8. What alternatives should I consider alongside [brand]?

Category prompts

  1. What are the best [category] options for [audience]?
  2. Which [category] providers serve [location]?
  3. What should I look for in a [category] provider?
  4. Which [category] tools are easiest to use?
  5. Which [category] options are best for a small business?
  6. What are the most reliable [category] solutions?
  7. Compare the leading [category] providers.
  8. What is the best value [category] option?

Local prompts

  1. Who provides [service] in [city]?
  2. What is the best [service] near [neighborhood]?
  3. Which [category] businesses serve [city] and nearby areas?
  4. Who should I call for [urgent local problem] in [city]?
  5. Which local [category] provider has experience with [specific need]?
  6. What should I ask a [category] provider before hiring them?

Comparison prompts

  1. [brand] vs [competitor]: which is better for [use case]?
  2. What are the best alternatives to [competitor]?
  3. Which [category] option is better for a team of [size]?
  4. Compare [brand], [competitor], and [competitor].
  5. Which option has the best [feature or outcome]?
  6. What are the tradeoffs between [approach A] and [approach B]?

Problem and use-case prompts

  1. How can I solve [customer problem]?
  2. What tools help with [job to be done]?
  3. What is the safest way to handle [problem]?
  4. What does a good [solution or service] include?
  5. How much work is involved in [task]?
  6. What mistakes should I avoid when choosing [category]?

Source and evidence prompts

  1. Which sources explain [topic] clearly?
  2. What evidence supports [claim or recommendation]?
  3. Which websites are trusted for [category] advice?
  4. What customer reviews or independent sources should I read about [brand]?
  5. What case studies exist for [solution]?
  6. Which sources compare [brand] with its alternatives?

How to score each prompt

For every answer, record whether the business was mentioned, recommended, cited, and described accurately. Also record the position or prominence, sentiment or framing, named competitors, and cited URLs. The AI visibility metrics guide defines these fields; the citation tracking guide explains how to preserve source-page evidence.

Do not change the prompt wording every time a result is disappointing. Keep a stable core set for trend measurement and maintain a separate exploratory set for new questions.

Prompt-set mistakes to avoid

  • Tracking only branded questions.
  • Copying keyword lists without turning them into natural questions.
  • Using questions unrelated to a real customer decision.
  • Changing the engine, location, and prompt at the same time.
  • Treating one answer as a durable ranking or recommendation.
  • Claiming prompt volume without a search or analytics source.

Use the free AI visibility scanner to establish a baseline, then decide whether recurring monitoring is justified with the audit versus monitoring guide.

FAQ

How many prompts should I track for AI visibility?

Start with 10–30 prompts that represent the most important branded, category, local, comparison, and problem questions. Add more only when the additional prompts represent a distinct audience, location, or business decision.

Should AI visibility prompts include keywords?

They should include the language customers naturally use, but they should be written as complete questions. Keyword research can inspire topics; it should not replace realistic prompts.

How often should I change my prompt library?

Keep a stable core set while measuring a trend. Add or retire prompts when the audience, product, location, or business priorities change, and record the reason for the change.

Can prompt research predict what ChatGPT will answer?

No. A prompt library creates a repeatable sample for observation. It cannot guarantee or fully predict future answers from ChatGPT or another engine.

Sources

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