PLATFORM / FANOUT QUERIES
The Question the User Asks Is Not the Query the Model Runs
A user asks one question; the model runs 8–12 sub-queries behind it and assembles the answer from their results. Fanout Queries captures that invisible tree: which sub-questions you have a source for, where a rival is the only answer, and which are entirely empty — all on one map.
What Are Fanout Queries?
A user asks one question; the model runs 8–12 sub-queries behind it and assembles the answer from their results. Fanout Queries captures that invisible tree: which sub-questions you have a source for, where a rival is the only answer, and which are entirely empty — all on one map.
A shortened example from a real customer cluster; the full tree has 11 branches.
Behind "which Collagen Is Best?"
- Difference between collagen types: Informational — Covered — Maintain and refresh
- When to take collagen: Usage — Empty — New page → Workflow Agent
- [Brand] collagen reviews: Trust — Partial — Add FAQ block and schema
- Collagen price comparison: Commercial — Empty — rival is sole answer — Comparison page, priority 1
- Who should avoid collagen: Safety — Covered — Citation tracked
Eighty Percent of the Answer Comes from Questions You Never Asked
- True Query Visibility: Classic keyword research sees the user's question; fanout sees what the model actually searches.
- Sub-branch Risk: A sub-branch where a rival is the sole answer can push you out of the main answer entirely.
- The Connected Tree: Covering informational branches lifts citation odds on trust branches too — the tree is connected.
- Impact-ranked Calendar: The content calendar is built from the impact ranking of empty branches, not guesswork.
From Tree to Action
- Prompt Volumes: Validates which branch carries real demand with volume data.
- Workflow Agent: Empty branches become rewrite tasks in one click.
- Site Auditor: Verifies the new page is readable by models.
From Invisible Query to Covered Answer
The fanout tree is re-derived weekly for every prompt cluster; as model behaviour shifts, so does the map.