Scoring model
| Dimension | Points | Key checks |
|---|---|---|
| Schema Coverage | 25 | FAQPage, Article, Organization, Product, DefinedTerm JSON-LD |
| Content Structure | 25 | Question-format H1/H2, direct-answer paragraphs, FAQ sections |
| Crawlability | 20 | sitemap.xml, robots.txt, content visible without JavaScript |
| Copy Sequencing | 15 | Problem-first meta description, answer-first content structure |
| Cross-Linking | 15 | Internal link density, anchor text quality, no orphan pages |
Score interpretation
85-100: Strong AEO authority - ready for distribution and citation campaigns. 70-84: Functional baseline - retrievable but not yet authoritative. 50-69: Visible gaps - specific fixes will materially improve AI retrievability. Below 50: Pre-AEO - significant structural work required before AI systems will reliably retrieve and cite the content.
Why it's free
Sonar's pricing model is deliberately free. The product exists to get BTS identity keys into circulation. A user who scans their domain, sees their AEO gaps, and claims a free BTS key has registered their domain as an identity node on the Borealis trust network. The scan is the lead magnet; the key claim is the conversion. Sonar is the distribution mechanism for Borealis Protocol's identity layer - not a SaaS revenue product. The scoring model was derived empirically from implementing AEO across Borealis's own four live production sites, not from white papers.