# Build vs buy AI-search monitoring for B2B. - working worksheet

Reviewed alongside the Eli guide: https://hireeli.io/resources/build-vs-buy-ai-search-monitoring

## Decision to make

Decide whether to create an internal monitoring system or purchase one

Owner: ____________________
Review date: ____________________
Canonical page or destination: ____________________

## Buyer questions

- [ ] Build vs buy AI-search monitoring for B2B?
- [ ] What should a B2B startup do first to decide whether to create an internal monitoring system or purchase one?
- [ ] Which evidence shows that decide whether to create an internal monitoring system or purchase one is working?
- [ ] What is the most common mistake when teams try to decide whether to create an internal monitoring system or purchase one?

## Evidence-led work plan

### 1. Why this decision appears: a prototype can call models quickly

A prototype can call models quickly, but dependable monitoring also needs prompt governance, provider changes, locale, retries, evidence storage, cost controls and reporting.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 2. Build when the measurement system is strategic and the team can maintain it. 

Build when the measurement system is strategic and the team can maintain it.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 3. Price the full operating surface, then prototype one provider-question cohort

Price the full operating surface.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 4. Measure measure engineering time

Measure engineering time, provider spend, coverage, evidence quality, maintenance load and decision usefulness.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 5. Do not cross this boundary: do not compare a weekend script with a production platform on api-call cost alone

Do not compare a weekend script with a production platform on API-call cost alone.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

## Source ledger

- [ ] HubSpot: ways to find and keep a first customer: https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/first-customer
- [ ] Google Search Central: people-first content guidance: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content
- [ ] Google Search Central: optimizing for generative AI features: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guide
- [ ] Eli AI Visibility Index methodology: https://hireeli.io/ai-visibility-index/methodology

## Measurement boundary

Baseline date and exact context: ____________________
7-day observation: ____________________
14-day observation: ____________________
30-day observation: ____________________
Known limitations: ____________________

Keep technical eligibility, citations, recommendations, visits, leads and revenue as separate evidence. This worksheet does not guarantee an external ranking or commercial result.