## **❓ The Short Answer**

If you open the Competitors page in Site Metrics and only see a **Search** field, nothing is wrong with your account. These two areas of Search Atlas handle competitors differently:

- **Site Metrics** shows competitors that the platform detects for you, based on your website's data.
- **AI Visibility** is where you choose and manage the competitors you want to compare yourself against.

The rest of this article explains the difference and how to get the competitor list you want.

## **📊 How Competitors Work in Site Metrics**

Site Metrics is built around your website's organic search performance. The Competitors page lists other websites that appear for similar keywords and search results as yours. This list is generated automatically from search data, so you do not build it by hand.

The **Search** field on this page is a filter. It helps you find a specific domain within the list that has already been detected. It is not an option for adding a new competitor.

Keep in mind:

- A domain only appears if it overlaps with your site in search results.
- If a competitor you know about is missing, it may not currently rank for the same keywords as you.
- The list can change over time as rankings and search results change.

## **🤖 How Competitors Work in AI Visibility**

AI Visibility looks at how your brand appears in AI-generated answers, and how that compares to other brands. Because the comparison depends on the brands you care about, this is the place to set up the competitors you want to track yourself.

Use AI Visibility when you want to:

- Compare your brand with specific companies you choose.
- Track a competitor that does not show up in Site Metrics.
- Keep your comparison list focused on your real market rivals.

## **🛠️ How to Add Competitors Manually**

1. Open the **AI Visibility** section from the main navigation inside the platform.
2. Select the project or brand you want to work with.
3. Find the competitors area or settings for that project.
4. Enter the competitor's name or website address, then confirm to save it.
5. Return to your AI Visibility report to see the competitor included in your comparison.

Menu labels may vary slightly depending on your plan and the latest platform updates. If you cannot find the competitor setting, see the section below on getting help.

## **🔎 Which Area Should I Use?**

- **I want to see who competes with me in search results:** use Site Metrics. The list is automatic.
- **I want to find one competitor in the detected list:** use the Search field on the Site Metrics Competitors page.
- **I want to track specific brands I choose:** use AI Visibility.
- **A known competitor is missing from Site Metrics:** add it in AI Visibility instead.

## **💡 Tips for Choosing Good Competitors**

- Pick direct rivals that sell similar products or services to the same audience.
- Include a mix of larger and smaller competitors so you get a realistic picture.
- Use the root domain, such as example.com, rather than a specific page address.
- Review your list every few months and remove brands that are no longer relevant.

## **🧯 Troubleshooting**

- **The Competitors page looks empty:** the data may still be loading, or your site may be new. Check back later.
- **The Search field returns no results:** the domain is not in your detected list. This does not mean it is blocked. Add it in AI Visibility instead.
- **A competitor was added but does not appear in the report:** refresh the page and confirm you are viewing the right project.
- **You cannot find the add option:** your project may not be set up in AI Visibility yet. Complete the project setup first.

## **💬 Need More Help?**

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type **human teammate** to be instantly connected with a member of our team.