AEO· 8 min · November 8, 2026

How to Track Brand Mentions in AI Answers for Free (Spreadsheet Method)

A free, repeatable way to track whether ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI features mention your brand — with a ready column layout.

Written & reviewed byRahatul Ashiq Tamal

SEO, AEO and GEO consultant · Technical SEO, local SEO and content strategy

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

Written byRahatul Ashiq Tamal Author profile

SEO, AEO & GEO consultant based in Rangpur, Bangladesh. Technical SEO, local search and content strategy. Full bio →

Quick answer

You can track AI brand mentions for free with a fixed prompt list, a monthly schedule and a spreadsheet. Record the date, assistant, prompt, whether you were named, your position in the answer and the sources linked. Paid tools automate this, but the method is the same.

Build your prompt list

Use questions real buyers ask, not your brand name. Mix: "best [service] in [city]", "how much does [service] cost in Bangladesh", "[competitor] alternatives", and problem questions. Twenty to thirty prompts is enough for a small business.

Spreadsheet columns

Date
Assistant and mode (e.g. ChatGPT search, Gemini, Perplexity, Google AI Overview)
Prompt (exact wording)
Language (English / Bangla)
Brand named? (yes/no)
Position in answer (first, middle, end, not named)
Competitors named
Sources linked (URLs)
Notes (wrong facts, outdated info)

Run the check the same way each time

Use a logged-out or fresh session where possible.
Keep wording identical between months.
Run each prompt twice; answers vary, so note both.
Save a screenshot for anything surprising.

What to do with the results

If assistants repeat wrong facts, fix them at the source: your About page, Google Business Profile and directory listings. If competitors are named and you are not, look at the sources linked — those are the sites to earn a mention on. Read brand mention velocity.

Combine with Search Console

Search Console will not show assistant mentions, but it shows clicks and impressions from Google, including AI features. Use the Performance report alongside your spreadsheet.

Sources and limits

This is a practical guide based on public documentation and day-to-day SEO work. It reports no original dataset, guarantees no ranking, and gives no fixed timeline.

Search Console Performance report

Google: AI features and your website

Frequently asked

Can I track ChatGPT mentions for free?

Yes. A fixed prompt list checked monthly and logged in a spreadsheet gives a usable trend without paid tools.

How many prompts should I track?

Twenty to thirty real buyer questions is a manageable start for a small business.

Why do results change between checks?

AI answers are generated each time and models update often, so single results are noisy. Look at patterns over several months.

Should I track in Bangla too?

Yes, if your customers search in Bangla or Banglish. Track both languages as separate rows.

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