Headline analyzer
What is the AEO Readiness Score?
The AEO Readiness Score is Seeklyn's headline panel that awards a letter grade (A+ for ≥85, A for ≥75, B for ≥65, C otherwise) and a modelled percentile estimate (formula: min(99, max(1, round(0.85 × score + 14)))) derived from the overall headline score. The percentile is a modelled guide against a typical headline distribution — not a measured rank against real competitors.
The AEO Readiness panel is the large grade card at the top of every headline analysis in Seeklyn at /dashboard/headline.
What does the AEO Readiness Score show?
The AEO Readiness panel shows 3 things for every headline: a letter grade, a modelled percentile estimate, and a checklist of up to 7 AEO best-practice signals — each marked present or absent. The grade and percentile both derive from the overall headline score (0.5 × CTR + 0.5 × AEO). The signal checklist is an independent positive-only presentation layer: it celebrates what already works and highlights the next quick win, but it does not dock the score for absent signals.
The panel is deliberately motivating rather than punishing. The lowest grade Seeklyn assigns is "C" — there is no D or F — and each signal row explains what to add rather than what you did wrong. The positive-only design reflects Seeklyn's honesty moat: give writers accurate, actionable information without manufacturing anxiety.
How are the letter grade and percentile calculated?
4 grade tiers map the overall headline score to a letter. A+ requires a score of 85 or above; A requires 75 or above; B requires 65 or above; anything below 65 earns a C. The thresholds are fixed — they do not adjust to the distribution of other users' headlines.
| Grade | Overall score threshold |
|---|---|
| A+ | ≥ 85 |
| A | ≥ 75 |
| B | ≥ 65 |
| C | < 65 (floor grade) |
What is the percentile estimate, and how honest is it?
The estimated percentile is a modelled number, not a measured rank. Seeklyn computes it as min(99, max(1, round(0.85 × score + 14))). A score of 60 yields the 65th percentile; a score of 85 yields the 86th percentile. The formula is monotonic and clamped: no headline is shown as the 0th or 100th percentile.
0% and 100% are both excluded: Seeklyn clamps the percentile to min(99, max(1, ...)) so no headline is shown as the 0th or 100th. The percentile should be read as "a headline at this score tends to perform better than roughly X% of headlines" — a benchmark, not a precision claim. No tool can guarantee a citation or a ranked position.
What are the 7 AEO signals Seeklyn checks?
7 best-practice signals appear in the readiness checklist. Up to 6 are always shown; a 7th ("Target keyword present") appears only when you have supplied a target keyword in the analysis form. Each signal is impact-rated: "high" signals (answer-ready format, names a specific topic, target keyword present) have a strong connection to AEO performance; "medium" signals (concrete number, clear and direct) are reliable positive factors; "bonus" signals (topic up front, scannable length) are helpful CTR niceties that are never penalised when absent.
- Answer-ready format — question, how-to, or list headline type (impact: high)
- Names a specific topic — at least 1 non-common entity token present (impact: high)
- Topic up front — entity appears in the first 2 tokens (impact: bonus)
- Concrete number — any token contains a digit (impact: medium)
- Clear & direct — 0 clickbait markers (ALL-CAPS word or ellipsis) (impact: medium)
- Scannable length — 3–12 words (impact: bonus)
- Target keyword present — keyword appears in the title (impact: high, shown only when keyword supplied)
Frequently asked questions
Is the percentile compared to my competitors?
No. The percentile is a modelled estimate based on a formula calibrated against a typical headline distribution, not a live measurement against other users' or competitors' titles. Seeklyn cannot observe every headline in your market, so it labels the number honestly as an estimate rather than a measured rank.
Can the AEO Readiness panel lower my score?
No. The readiness panel is a positive-only presentation layer. The signals checklist highlights what is already working and suggests what to add. None of the 7 signals can deduct from the underlying headline score — only the CTR and AEO sub-score calculations do that.
Why is C the lowest grade?
The panel is designed to motivate iteration, not to judge harshly. A floor grade of C ensures every writer gets an encouraging starting point and clear next steps rather than a demoralising failure state. The underlying score (0–100) and subscores still show the full picture for those who want the precise numbers.
If I hit all 7 signals, does that guarantee a grade of A+?
Not necessarily. The grade derives from the overall headline score, which is 0.5 × CTR + 0.5 × AEO. The signals panel is a presentation of best-practice presence, not the score formula itself. A headline can hit all signals yet still have a lower CTR sub-score due to length or word balance, and the grade reflects that combined score.