Glossary

Prompt / query bank

A query bank is the curated, intentional set of buyer questions you track across AI engines — the fixed list that turns AI visibility from a guess into a measurable program.

Updated May 2026Definition
The short answer

A query bank (or prompt bank) is the curated set of buyer questions you deliberately track across AI engines. It is the fixed denominator behind metrics like citation rate and share of voice: rather than checking random prompts, you assemble the real questions your prospects ask — problem queries, comparison queries, and alternatives queries — and monitor whether AI engines cite you on them over time. A good query bank makes AI visibility measurable and repeatable.

What does “query bank” mean?

A query bank is your tracking list — the curated set of prompts you run against AI engines on a schedule to see who gets cited. It is the foundation of any AI-visibility program, because consistent measurement requires a consistent set of questions.

How is it different from a keyword list?

A keyword list is built around search terms; a query bank is built around natural-language questions people actually ask an assistant. The phrasing is conversational, intent-rich, and full of comparisons — the shape of prompts, not the shape of keywords. Pair it with prompt volume to prioritize the questions worth tracking.

Example

An AI-SEO tool might track a query bank including “how do I see what ChatGPT cites my site on,” “best AI visibility tools,” and “reverse AI search vs rank tracking.” Monitoring that fixed set each week shows whether the brand’s citation rate is rising. To discover the queries you already rank on, run a free Domain Check.

Frequently asked questions

How many queries should a query bank have?
Enough to cover the buying journey without noise — commonly a few dozen to a few hundred high-intent questions. Quality and intent matter more than raw count.
What questions belong in it?
The ones real buyers ask: problem-framed (“how do I track AI citations”), comparison (“X vs Y”), and alternatives (“best X for Z”). Skip vanity terms nobody searches.