PAWC measures how much of your content appears inside AI-generated answers, weighted by placement. Higher PAWC means more visibility and authority in generative engines.
Key Citations
Core Stats
"PAWC is the closest thing to 'rank' inside answer engines."
- AEO VC Research
PAWC (Position-Adjusted Word Count)
Answer engines cite parts of a page, not the whole thing. PAWC (Position-Adjusted Word Count) is the metric that measures this new reality, quantifying your visibility inside AI-generated answers.
How PAWC Works
The PAWC formula is simple yet powerful: it's your word count within a generated answer, multiplied by a placement weight. Content cited at the top of an answer receives a higher weight, reflecting its greater visibility and influence.
Why PAWC Matters
In the world of AEO and GEO, PAWC is your north star. It replaces outdated metrics like keyword rank, providing a direct measure of how much real estate your content occupies in the answers your audience sees. A higher PAWC score correlates directly with greater authority and user trust.
How to Increase PAWC
Improving your PAWC score involves several best practices:
- Front-load Evidence: Place your most important citations, quotes, and stats in the lead paragraph.
- Be Concise: Write clear, direct sentences that are easy for an AI to extract and cite.
- Use Structure: Organize content with clear headers, lists, and tables to make it more parsable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is PAWC different from word count?
PAWC adjusts word count by weighting placement (e.g., top-of-answer text counts more than buried content).
Why is PAWC a better metric than rank?
Because generative engines don’t rank pages; they cite fragments. PAWC captures this citation-weighted visibility.
What’s a good PAWC score?
It varies by domain, but higher ΔPAWC after edits signals improved visibility.