Query coverage describes how completely a domain covers the search queries an AI system actually runs for a topic. A user asks a question; the system breaks it down into several search queries (query fan-out). Query coverage asks: for how many of them is your domain in the top results — not only for the main question but for the related search intents?
How does query coverage work?
“Which industrial pump supplier is suitable for wastewater?” becomes internal queries such as “industrial pumps wastewater manufacturer”, “wastewater pump industrial comparison”, “wastewater pump maintenance costs” and “wastewater pump solids flow rate”. Each of these queries delivers its own candidate pages. A domain that ranks for three of them is in the candidate pool three times; a domain that ranks only for the main question, once. Coverage is one of the factors that decide how often a domain’s passages make it into re-ranking.
Why does query coverage matter for AI visibility?
Because the goal is no longer the keyword but the topic area. A page that is perfectly optimised for one term covers a fraction of the searches an AI system runs. Query coverage is the measurable side of topical authority: a domain that covers the field is found in more partial results, delivers matching chunks for more sub-questions and is considered more often.
What does this mean for your website?
For each core topic, create a list of the questions customers ask before, during and after the decision, and check for which of them your domain is visible — in Google and in Bing. Close the gaps with dedicated pages or clearly cut sections, each with the question as the heading and the answer first. The same list of questions is the basis for your prompt set, which you then use to measure AI visibility.