Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about VisRank, scoring, AEO, reports, and how to fix issues.
General
What is VisRank?
VisRank is a free website audit tool that checks 41 signals across four categories: SEO, AEO (AI search readiness), Security, and Local. It gives every website a scored report with a prioritised list of fixes. Free scans are unlimited; paid plans add monitoring, history, competitor tracking, and PDF reports.
Is VisRank really free?
Yes. Scanning any public URL is free with no account required and no scan limits. Paid features are the detailed PDF report ($10 one-time per scan) and the monitoring subscription ($20/mo per site), which adds score history, competitor tracking, scheduled rescans, and email alerts.
How long does a VisRank scan take?
Most scans complete in under 30 seconds. VisRank fetches the page, checks robots.txt and sitemap.xml, and analyses HTTP headers — all in parallel. Slow websites or pages behind CDN delays may take slightly longer.
Scoring
How is the overall score calculated?
The overall score is a weighted average of four category scores: SEO (35%), AEO (25%), Security (25%), and Local (15%). Each category score is based on the percentage of checks in that category that pass. Issues are weighted by severity within each category.
What is a good VisRank score?
Scores are rated on a simple scale: Excellent (80–100), Good (60–79), Average (40–59), Poor (0–39). Most established websites without deliberate SEO work score in the 40–60 range. A score above 80 indicates strong optimisation across all four categories.
Why is my AEO score so low?
AEO checks structured data types like FAQPage, Organization, HowTo, and BreadcrumbList. Most websites were built before AI search existed and have no JSON-LD at all. A low AEO score (0–30) is extremely common — even on sites with good SEO scores. Adding Organization and FAQPage schema are the two highest-impact fixes.
Why is my Security score low even though I have HTTPS?
HTTPS (SSL) is just one of 10 security checks. VisRank also tests for HSTS, CSP, X-Frame-Options, Referrer-Policy, Permissions-Policy, X-Content-Type-Options, mixed content, and server header leaks. Most hosting providers only provide HTTPS — the other 6 headers must be configured separately.
AEO & AI search
What is AEO and why does it matter?
AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) is the practice of structuring website content so AI-powered search tools — like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT Search, and Perplexity — can extract and cite it in their answers. AEO uses structured data (JSON-LD), semantic headings, and direct Q&A content to make your website AI-readable.
Reports & pricing
What is in the $10 detailed report?
The detailed report is a downloadable PDF covering all 41 checks. For each check: pass/fail status, severity (high/medium/low), a plain-language explanation of what was found, and specific fix guidance including code examples where applicable. It also includes your score breakdown and top quick-win recommendations.
What does the $20/mo monitoring plan include?
The monitoring plan ($20/mo per site) includes: automated regular rescans, full score history with charts, competitor score tracking (up to 5 competitors per site), email alerts when scores drop below a threshold, and access to the detailed PDF report for every rescan.
Technical
Does VisRank work on any website platform?
Yes. VisRank audits the rendered HTML of any public URL — WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, Webflow, custom Next.js, or anything else. No plugin, app install, or API key is needed. If the page is publicly accessible, VisRank can check it.
Will VisRank affect my website performance or traffic?
No. VisRank makes a single HTTP request to your URL — the same as any search engine crawler or browser visit. There is no load testing, no headless browser script injection, and no repeated fetching. It will not appear in your analytics as significant traffic.
How do I improve my score?
Start with the quick wins VisRank identifies on your scan result page — these are the highest-impact fixes. Common quick wins: add Organization JSON-LD schema, configure HSTS and CSP headers, remove any noindex meta tags from production, add a canonical tag, and write unique meta descriptions. The $10 report includes step-by-step fix instructions.
Still have questions?
Check the methodology page for a full breakdown of every check, or get in touch via the contact page.