Glossary
Terms you'll see in Scowty's dashboard, monthly reports, and help articles. Sorted A-Z.
AI citation tracking
The work of asking AI engines the same question on a regular schedule and recording whether your business is named in the response. Refreshes weekly.
AI engine
A search-augmented language model that answers user questions with synthesized responses. Scowty probes the leading four: ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google), and Perplexity. Which ones run in a given month depends on which we're currently sampling.
AI Overview
The AI-generated summary that appears at the top of Google search results for many queries. Related to, but not the same as, the Gemini assistant Scowty probes.
Audit
The diagnostic process that crawls your website and scores it on technical SEO, on-page factors, structured data, content, and accessibility, then probes AI engines for your citation rate. Produces a list of findings with severity and recommended actions.
Cited / Mentioned / Not found
The three outcomes for every question we ask an AI engine. Cited means the engine pointed to your website. Mentioned means your name or domain appears, without a pointer to your site. Not found means no sign of you. Only Cited counts toward your visibility percentage.
Citations (in our context)
Mentions of your business in AI engine responses. Distinct from "citations" in academic or scientific contexts.
CMS
Content Management System. The platform your website runs on (WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, etc.). If you keep your existing site, Scowty delivers recommendations that your CMS admin publishes.
Content studio
The per-site screen where the blog posts, Google Business posts, and title and meta rewrites Scowty generates for you are listed, edited, approved, and copied. Reached from an audit result page.
Finalizing (creative lock)
Your first download of the brand kit, or of a logo file, makes that asset final and closes the tool for new versions. A confirmation panel appears first. Re-downloads are always free, and active SEO subscribers are exempt.
GBP (Google Business Profile)
Your business's listing on Google Maps and in local search results. The single most important asset for local-serving businesses. Scowty writes your profile posts and review replies; publishing them is done by hand, by you or by our team. There's no Google Business Profile connection to set up.
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)
The work of improving your business's online presence so AI engines cite it. Distinct from traditional SEO, which targets Google's organic results. Scowty was designed around GEO from day one.
Local pack
The three Google Maps results Google shows above the organic listings for many local queries. The highest-converting search channel for local-serving businesses.
Long-tail query
A specific, niche search query, like "estate planning for unmarried couples in Orlando" vs the broader "estate planning attorney Orlando." Long-tail queries are easier to rank for and often convert better than head queries.
Monthly report
The plain-English report Scowty emails you on the first of each month, also viewable from your dashboard. Covers your AI citation rate, site health score, Google clicks and rankings, per-engine visibility, and your plan for the month.
One-time build
Scowty's fixed-price branding and website work, separate from the monthly subscription. Three packages: brand story ($99), brand and website ($499), or brand, website, and 3 months of the full SEO plan ($549). Every build includes a free logo from our Logo Maker.
Plan (monthly plan)
The ranked list of actions Scowty builds for you each month from your open audit findings, the questions AI engines aren't citing you for, and your reviews. Each item shows its area, how much effort it takes, why it matters, and how to do it. Comes with a content calendar.
Playbook
The vertical-specific knowledge base Scowty uses to suggest your tracked questions and shape your website's page architecture. Covers fifteen business types, from law firms and dental practices to contractors, med spas, and real estate.
Regenerate
Running a tool again to get a different result. The Brand Maker rebuilds from your form, the Logo Maker generates a new round of concepts from the tuning dials, and website changes are made by asking Scowty in plain words.
Schema markup
Invisible JSON-LD code embedded in your website's pages that tells search engines and AI engines what's on each page in machine-readable form. Scowty creates and maintains schema for your pages.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
The traditional discipline of improving your website's ranking in Google's organic search results. Scowty does this plus GEO.
Target market
Where you want to win customers, and the questions we should track. Set it at Set your target market in your SEO tools. Your monthly plan is built around this answer.
Target queries
The questions Scowty tests in AI engines for you. Suggested from your business type and city, then edited by you. Up to 50. Change them any time on your target market page.
Tier
Scowty now sells one subscription: the SEO & AI-Search plan at $49/mo, with everything included. Some longtime customers are still on retired Starter or Growth tiers from before 2026-07-30 — those keep working at their original rates, and switching to the current plan is one click under Billing in your dashboard.
Vertical
Your industry. Fifteen supported today, including law firms, dental and medical practices, accountants, financial advisors, insurance agencies, med spas, veterinary clinics, senior care, contractors, agencies, real estate, consultants, and therapists. Determines which playbook Scowty uses.
Visibility (AI search visibility)
The share of all the questions we probe where an AI engine cited your website directly. Your headline AI number, shown on your audit results and in your monthly report.
Voice (brand voice)
Your business's tone of voice in writing. Set in the Brand Maker with five sliders: formal to casual, earnest to irreverent, authoritative to collaborative, minimal to expressive, and reserved to bold. Your voice description is part of every content generation prompt Scowty runs for you.
See a term that should be on this list? Email hello@scowty.com.