As Australian SMEs increasingly focus on visibility beyond traditional search engines, understanding how your website performs on conversational AI platforms like Perplexity is crucial for driving qualified traffic. Perplexity doesn’t ‘rank’ websites in the same way Google does, but it *sources* information from them to answer user questions. If your content isn’t being included in those answers, you’re missing out on potential customers actively seeking solutions you provide.

So, how do we check if Perplexity is recognising your website? It’s a little different than a simple Google search. Here’s a practical approach:

• Direct Question Queries: The most straightforward method. Type specific questions into Perplexity that your website directly answers. For example, if you sell organic dog food in Melbourne, ask “Where can I buy organic dog food in Melbourne?”. Carefully analyse the sources Perplexity cites. Is your website listed?
• Brand Name Searches: Search for your brand name directly within Perplexity. This will show if Perplexity has indexed your website as a source of information about your business. Even if the initial results aren’t perfect, it’s a starting point.
• Content-Specific Queries: Identify a unique piece of content on your website – a blog post, a case study, a detailed product description. Then, ask Perplexity a question that *only* that content would answer. This helps isolate whether Perplexity is accessing and understanding your specific offerings.
• Focus on ‘Source’ Attribution: Perplexity prioritises providing answers with clear sources. Don’t just look for your homepage; look for specific pages that are relevant to the query. A link to a detailed blog post is more valuable than just a mention in the ‘About Us’ section.

It’s important to remember that Perplexity, like all AI tools, is constantly evolving. Its algorithms are becoming more sophisticated, and its understanding of website content is improving. What doesn’t show up today might be included in results tomorrow. However, consistently monitoring your presence is vital.

If you find your website isn’t appearing, it signals a need to optimise your content for ‘answer engine’ visibility. This means focusing on clear, concise answers to common questions, using structured data, and ensuring your website is easily crawlable. Consider a content audit to identify gaps and opportunities. Regularly checking Perplexity will become a key part of your ongoing conversion rate optimisation strategy.