Observed vs Estimated
The distinction that governs every AI visibility number in FixRank.
Updated August 2026
Overview
FixRank separates directly captured evidence from inferred signals, and labels every AI visibility data point as one or the other.
Observed
- A citation.
- A brand mention.
- A source link.
- Available referral or search data.
Model-estimated
A signal inferred or simulated by FixRank rather than directly observed from an external platform.
Important
Estimated does not mean useless. It means it should be labelled honestly. FixRank never represents estimated data as official platform data.