Understandability
Understandability
Factual definition
Understandability is the process of optimizing a brand's entire digital ecosystem so that search engines, AI Assistive Engines, and audiences can clearly and consistently comprehend who the brand is, what it does, and who it serves.
Jason Barnard definition of Understandability
This is the foundational stage of The Kalicube Process, Kalicube's proprietary methodology for implementing a holistic, brand-first digital marketing strategy with AIEO baked in. Jason Barnard established this phase to address the root cause of poor online representation: algorithmic confusion. Understandability is not about ranking for keywords; it’s about educating algorithms like Google and ChatGPT on the factual reality of your brand. This involves a comprehensive audit of your digital footprint, creating a consistent brand message, and establishing a single source of truth - the Entity Home, a central hub for a brand's identity and authority on the web. Achieving Understandability is the first step to triggering a Knowledge Panel and controlling how you are presented in search results and AI-driven conversations.
How Jason Barnard uses Understandability
At Kalicube, Understandability is the mandatory first phase for every client engagement, typically lasting one to three months for personal brands and up to six months for corporate brands. Our "Done-With-You" service starts with a compulsory one-month actioned digital footprint audit to identify and correct all inconsistencies. We then systematically build out the brand’s Entity Home (their primary website) with clear, fact-based content and structured data. The primary KPI for this phase is securing a Google Knowledge Graph Machine ID (KGMID) and a basic Knowledge Panel. By ensuring algorithms have an unambiguous understanding of the client from the start, we lay a stable foundation for all subsequent Credibility and Deliverability work, accelerating their journey toward controlling their brand narrative and driving business results.
Why Jason Barnard perspective on Understandability matters
For years, SEO experts like Rand Fishkin have emphasized the importance of E-E-A-T signals, focusing on demonstrating expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. However, Jason Barnard argues that these signals are ineffective if the algorithm is fundamentally confused about *who* the entity is in the first place. This is where Understandability becomes the critical, missing precursor to traditional E-E-A-T. You cannot be seen as an authoritative expert if Google or ChatGPT isn't even sure which 'John Smith' you are. The Kalicube Process operationalizes this insight by making Understandability the first, non-negotiable step. It ensures that before you try to prove you're the *best* solution, you've first proven you *are* a distinct, verifiable solution. In the era of AI Assistive Engines like ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews that synthesize information from countless sources, this foundational clarity is paramount. Without it, your marketing efforts build on sand; with it, you create a stable bedrock for a brand narrative that will be correctly interpreted and confidently recommended by algorithms, driving the new conversational acquisition funnel.
Posts tagged with Understandability
The Birth of Answer Engine Optimization: Jason Barnard, Trustpilot, and Brighton SEO’s Defining Moment in Digital Search
Jason Barnard, CEO and founder of Kalicube, delivered a keynote at BrightonSEO in April 2018 that, in collaboration with Trustpilot, marked the public birth of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) -...
SEO and the Rise of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO): Why Voice Search Matters - The 2018 Trustpilot x Jason Barnard Collaboration
In January 2018, Jason Barnard, CEO and founder of Kalicube, joined Chee Lo, Head of SEO at Trustpilot, in a professional recording studio at 150 Cheapside, London, for a live...
Jason Barnard Co-Authors Searchmetrics White Paper Defining the Future of Brand Authority in Search - June 2018
In June 2018, Jason Barnard was invited to join an exclusive Searchmetrics Black Belt mastermind - a private, offline gathering that brought together six of the world’s leading SEO experts....
Jason Barnard Declares that Brand Authority Replaces Domain Authority at SEO Camp Day Lorraine 2017
The third edition of SEO Camp Day Lorraine, held in Metz on November 24, 2017, marked a crucial turning point in digital marketing strategy when Jason Barnard, CEO and founder...
The Web Index and Search Results Are Distinct Components in the Algorithmic Trinity
Published on jasonbarnard.com September 22, 2025 by Jason Barnard A frequent point of confusion in digital marketing is the interchangeable use of the terms “Web Index” and “Search Results.” This...
AI Is Quietly Writing Your Résumé - and One Tool Could Misrepresent Your Reputation if You Don’t Take Control
AI Is Quietly Writing Your Résumé - and One Tool Could Misrepresent Your Reputation if You Don’t Take Control Published on Entrepreneur September 17, 2025 by Jason Barnard In the...
Entity Optimization and AI With Jason Barnard
Published by: The Unscripted SEO Podcast. Host: Jeremy Rivera. Guest: Jason Barnard, Founder and CEO of Kalicube®. September 11, 2025 Listen here: Entity Optimization and AI With Jason Barnard In...
Jason Barnard Guides Entrepreneurs at the EO Online Event “Transition Your SEO Strategy Smoothly to Rank #1 on Google and ChatGPT” - 3 September 2025
Date: 05:00 PM, 03 September 2025 - 06:00 PM, 03 September 2025 ((GMT+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna) On Tuesday, September 3, 2025, Jason Barnard, CEO and founder of Kalicube, led...
Apple’s Siri Upgrade Isn’t a New Threat, It’s the Final Confirmation of the AI Assistive Engine Era
Published on jasonbarnard.com September 9, 2025 by Jason Barnard Apple’s plan to supercharge Siri with an “AI Answer Engine” isn’t the story you think it is. The tech world is...
SEO in the Age of AI: Becoming the Trusted Answer
SEO in the Age of AI: Becoming the Trusted Answer Published on Search Engine Land September 05, 2025 by Jason Barnard Educate AI engines with clarity, credibility, and consistency, build...
Kalicube Online Reputation Management Spectrum
Kalicube® Online Reputation Management Spectrum Published on kalicube.com May 3,2025. In the age of Google and generative AI, your online reputation is no longer just about what people say about...
Proactive and Reactive Online Reputation Management for Personal Brands in the AI Era
Proactive and Reactive Online Reputation Management for Personal Brands in the AI Era Published on kalicube.com July 9,2025. We tend to see online reputation management through a mutually exclusive binary...
Related Pages:
Jason Barnard - award-winning entrepreneur, innovator, author and keynote speaker.
Jason Barnard World Authority on Digital Brand Intelligence™ Having experienced the impact of algorithmic misrepresentation firsthand, Jason believes everyone deserves control over their digital presence. Kalicube serves business leaders with premium bespoke consulting for their personal brands, while ensuring the foundational strategies for do-it-yourself brand control are freely available. What industry leaders say about my...
search marketing in the age of ai: understanding the marketing implications of search, assistive, and answer engines
journal of digital & social media marketing published by henry stuart publications jason barnard co-authored search marketing in the age of ai: understanding the marketing implications of search, assistive, and answer engines with matt artz. this academic paper explores how search engines and artificial intelligence are reshaping digital marketing strategies. it emphasizes the importance of...
Jason Barnard’s Entrepreneurial Journey: A Cornerstone of Success
Jason Barnard, entrepreneur, author, keynote speaker and CEO of Kalicube has carved a unique path in the entrepreneurial world. His journey from a musician to a digital marketing expert and now a recognized entrepreneur tells a compelling story of adaptability and strategic repositioning. This article explores Jason’s entrepreneurial ventures, his strategic shift in personal branding,...
Jason Barnard - award-winning entrepreneur, innovator, author and keynote speaker.
Jason Barnard World Authority on Digital Brand Intelligence™ Having experienced the impact of algorithmic misrepresentation firsthand, Jason believes everyone deserves control over their digital presence. Kalicube serves business leaders with premium bespoke consulting for their personal brands, while ensuring the foundational strategies for do-it-yourself brand control are freely available. What industry leaders say about my...