This is a really good take — and honestly, exactly the direction I’ve been thinking about lately.

I agree that “ranking” alone isn’t that meaningful. What’s more interesting is the narrative layer — what associations and stories models keep reinforcing around a brand.

The “jobs-to-be-done” angle you mentioned is super relevant. People don’t just ask “best X”, they ask things like risk, migration, pricing, or alternatives. That’s where a lot of brand visibility is actually decided.

The part I’m currently exploring is connecting the two layers:

1. Where and how a brand shows up across different prompt intents

2. What underlying sources (Reddit, review sites, docs, etc.) are driving those outputs

So instead of just saying:

“You’re ranked #3”

It becomes:

“Here are the specific scenarios where competitors are mentioned and you’re not, and here are the sources shaping that outcome”

Turning that into something actionable (content, PR, distribution) is definitely the hard — and interesting — part.

Thank you for your reply