Glossary
The terms our reports and scores use, defined precisely. If a term on this site is not here, it is an error; tell us via the about page.
Verified customer sentimentA score computed from customer mentions that have been de-duplicated, screened for vendor fingerprints, and individually scored on a 5-point scale. The mean is the sentiment score. Distinct from a review average: it includes forums and direct submissions, not just platform reviews.
Vendor fingerprintEvidence that a mention originates from the vendor rather than a customer: accounts reviewing only one category, review timing clustered around launches or competitor outages, or newly-created accounts. Fingerprinted mentions are excluded from sentiment scores.
Comparison blogAn article ranking or comparing tools, typically 'X vs Y' or 'best tools for Z.' When published by one of the compared vendors, 68% of surveyed PR teams report having been misled by one at least once (PR Signal Research, 2026).
Sentiment scoreThe mean of individually-scored verified mentions on a 5-point scale, reported with its mention count and collection window. A 3.0 is a workable product with recurring friction; a 5.0 is rare and indicates consistent verified endorsement.
Episode-referencing pitchA podcast pitch that cites a specific recent episode, guest, or topic from the target show. The strongest single personalization signal in our reply-rate data: top-quartile performers using it report 47% reply rates against an 11.4% median.
Reply-gated follow-upAn automated follow-up sequence that stops the moment the recipient replies. Prevents the over-messaging that burns sender reputation while recovering replies the first send misses.
Outreach-native platformA tool that bundles the media database, pitch drafting, sending from the user's own inbox, and booking tracking in one product. Contrasted with database-only tools, which leave the sending half of the job to the buyer.
Data briefA short quantitative finding from a PR Signal Research study sample, stated with its n, window, and parent study. Under 400 words by design.
Buying questionThe specific question a buyer types or asks an AI engine before a purchase: 'is X worth it,' 'X vs Y,' 'is X a scam.' Our prompt-tracking follows these questions because they are where trust is won or lost.
Mention (verified)A single customer statement about a tool, from a public review, forum post, or direct submission, attributed to a user and company and passing vendor-fingerprint screening. The atomic unit of our sentiment scores.
Why definitions matter
Most review-site disputes are definition disputes in disguise: 'best' without a criterion, 'verified' without a method, 'independent' without a disclosure. Every term above is defined so our usage can be checked against it, and so buyers reading vendor marketing can ask the same questions of it.