What to optimize
Start with accurate, readable service and location pages, relevant customer evidence, and clear contact information. Use structured data only when it matches visible facts.
The REAL Method is an editorial checklist for business facts, evidence, answers, and links. It is not a measurement of Perplexity or a vendor-specific formula.
- Record the exact prompt, date, answer, mention decision, and source link if present.
- Review crawler access and business facts as possible website issues, not proven causes of one answer.
- Compare like-for-like prompts over time before reporting a visibility trend.
Fast response workflow
When a Perplexity feature changes, check the provider's current documentation and repeat a small, dated query set. Update this guide only where the source or observed answers support a change.
Common questions
How does Perplexity choose its citations?
Perplexity often presents source links, but it does not publish a fixed local-business citation formula. Test a documented set of prompts and inspect the actual linked pages before attributing a result to a website change.
Why does Perplexity cite a competitor instead of my business?
There may be several reasons. Compare the exact query, date, answer, and cited pages, then check whether your facts are accurate and accessible. One result does not establish a ranking factor.