CiteLadder's Prompt Builder drafts the buyer questions a brand tracks in AI answers. For this study we ran the same step for Shopify on four Claude models: Claude Haiku 5.5, Claude Sonnet 5.5, Claude Opus 5.5 and Claude Fable 5.1. Each model ran at low, medium and high effort, twice each. The instructions, the business profile and the 12 planned question slots stayed the same. Only the model and the effort changed. The tables below show every question each model wrote. This page describes what can be observed in them. Judging quality is left to the reader.
What Shopify sells, according to the business profile
The business profile describes Shopify as an ecommerce platform with a b2b_saas business model and business buyers. Its category terms include online store builder, commerce platform, point of sale system and online selling software.
The profile lists four offerings. Each one became a topic:
- Online store builder: hosted software for building an ecommerce website with themes, a builder, custom domains, an AI assistant and a checkout.
- Point of sale system: in-person selling hardware and software that syncs inventory, orders and customers with the online store.
- Multichannel selling tools: selling across social media, marketplaces, AI chat assistants and shopping apps from one back office.
- Enterprise commerce platform: a platform for large brands with high-volume checkout, B2B wholesale features, headless options and advanced integrations.
Each offering also carries attributes, situations and audiences. The slot plan draws on those lists.
How the 12 slots were planned
Each topic got three slots. Each slot has a buyer stage and one facet taken from the profile.
- Slot 1 of each topic targets the awareness stage and uses a situation: launching a first online store, selling at pop-up events, selling internationally, and lowering total cost of ownership.
- Slot 2 targets the consideration stage and uses an audience: small business owners, pop-up sellers, ecommerce managers, and ecommerce technology leaders.
- Slot 3 targets the decision stage and uses an attribute: customizable store themes, card payment hardware, AI chat storefronts, and advanced checkout customization.
Awareness slots allow the intents learn, solve and recommend. Consideration slots allow solve, recommend, compare and validate. Decision slots allow compare, validate, buy and recommend. Every model received this same plan.
What looks different between the models
Length. The median question is 10 words for Claude Haiku 5.5 and Claude Sonnet 5.5, and 11 words for Claude Opus 5.5 and Claude Fable 5.1. Only Claude Fable 5.1 has questions over 16 words, at 1.4%.
Wording taken from the profile. Claude Haiku 5.5 often reuses the offering and attribute names as written, for example "Compare online store builders with customizable store themes". Claude Sonnet 5.5 often shortens point of sale to POS. Claude Opus 5.5 and Claude Fable 5.1 also use POS and add details the profile does not state, such as a CTO replatforming or a small bakery.
Openings. Claude Opus 5.5 opens the first slot with "Easiest" in every effort level, as in "Easiest website builder for launching my first online store". Claude Fable 5.1 also opens with "Easiest" in several runs: "Easiest platform to launch my first online store?"
First-person framing. All four models write some questions as the buyer speaking. Claude Haiku 5.5 and Claude Opus 5.5 use an opening like this one: "As an ecommerce manager, which multichannel selling tool should I shortlist?" Claude Sonnet 5.5 repeats "I run a small business, what store builder should I use?" across runs. Claude Fable 5.1 gives the buyer a specific business: "I run a small bakery, which ecommerce platform should I use?"
Question marks. The share of questions ending in a question mark is 51.4% for Claude Haiku 5.5, 50% for Claude Sonnet 5.5, 38.9% for Claude Opus 5.5 and 65.3% for Claude Fable 5.1. The rest are phrased as search-style requests or statements.
References outside the profile. One Claude Opus 5.5 question names an AI assistant: "Best platforms for selling products through AI chat assistants like ChatGPT". One Claude Fable 5.1 question refers to a type of card reader: "Any POS systems pop-up sellers rate highly over the square-type readers?"
Effort levels and repeat runs
Changing the effort level does not produce one visible pattern across all four models. Some questions stay the same at every effort level. Others change wording between levels without a consistent direction in length or framing.
The repeat runs differ more by model:
- Claude Sonnet 5.5 often writes the same question in run 1 and run 2 of a setting, and the same question at different effort levels. Its third slot is nearly fixed across outputs.
- Claude Opus 5.5 keeps several slots fixed across runs, such as the first slot and the enterprise checkout slot at low effort. Other slots change wording between runs.
- Claude Haiku 5.5 changes wording between runs in most slots. It also repeats some lines exactly, such as its third-slot question about customizable store themes.
- Claude Fable 5.1 repeats some phrasings across settings, such as deeply customizing the checkout flow for the last slot, and varies others.
The code measurements are grouped per model across all 6 outputs. They are not split by effort level or by run.
What the code measured
For each model the code counted 6 outputs and 72 questions. It measured:
- Median words: 10 for Claude Haiku 5.5 and Claude Sonnet 5.5, 11 for Claude Opus 5.5 and Claude Fable 5.1.
- Questions over 16 words: 0% for three models, 1.4% for Claude Fable 5.1.
- Names a studied brand: 0% for every model.
- Joins two asks with or: 0% for every model.
- Names a place: 0% for every model.
- Ends with a question mark: 51.4%, 50%, 38.9% and 65.3% for Claude Haiku 5.5, Claude Sonnet 5.5, Claude Opus 5.5 and Claude Fable 5.1.
- Near-duplicate pairs: 0% for every model.
- Distinct openers: 56.9% for Claude Haiku 5.5, 27.8% for Claude Sonnet 5.5, 40.3% for Claude Opus 5.5 and 44.4% for Claude Fable 5.1.
- Mean output tokens: 3481 for Claude Haiku 5.5, 803 for Claude Sonnet 5.5, 814 for Claude Opus 5.5 and 829 for Claude Fable 5.1.
These are counts of form. They do not score whether a question fits the slot or reads like a real buyer.
Every question, side by side
Run 1 of each setting. Each row is one planned slot; the model and the effort are the only things that change across a row and down a stage.
Online store builder
| Stage | Model | Low effort | Medium effort | High effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness | Haiku 5.5 | Recommend online store builders for someone launching their first shop | Best online store builder for launching my first shop | Recommend a website builder for launching my first online store |
| Awareness | Sonnet 5.5 | Best online store builder for launching my first shop | Best online store builder for launching my first store | Best online store builder for launching my first store |
| Awareness | Opus 5.5 | Easiest website builder for launching my first online store | Easiest website builder for launching my first online store | Easiest website builder for launching my first online store |
| Awareness | Fable 5.1 | Easiest platform to launch my first online store? | Easiest way to launch my first online store without coding? | What's a good platform for launching my first online store? |
| Consideration | Haiku 5.5 | I run a small business, which online store builder should I pick? | I run a small business and need an online store builder | I run a small business, which online store builder should I shortlist? |
| Consideration | Sonnet 5.5 | I run a small business, what store builder should I use? | I run a small business, what online store builder should I use? | I run a small business, what online store builder should I use? |
| Consideration | Opus 5.5 | I run a small shop, which online store builder fits best? | I run a small business, which online store builder is worth paying for? | I run a small business, which online store builder should I use? |
| Consideration | Fable 5.1 | I run a small shop, which online store builder should I use? | I run a small bakery, what online store builder should I use? | I run a small business, which online store builders should I compare? |
| Decision | Haiku 5.5 | Compare online store builders with customizable store themes | Which online store builder with customizable themes should I buy? | Compare online store builders with customizable store themes |
| Decision | Sonnet 5.5 | Compare ecommerce website builders with highly customizable themes | Compare ecommerce website builders with highly customizable themes | Compare ecommerce website builders with highly customizable themes |
| Decision | Opus 5.5 | Compare ecommerce builders with the most customizable store themes | Store builders with the most customizable themes, ranked | Compare ecommerce builders with the most customizable store themes |
| Decision | Fable 5.1 | Which ecommerce platforms let me fully customize my store theme? | Which online store builders have the most customizable themes? | Best online store builder with themes I can fully customize |
Point of sale system
| Stage | Model | Low effort | Medium effort | High effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness | Haiku 5.5 | Looking for a point of sale system for pop-up events | What's a good point of sale system for selling at pop-up events? | What point of sale systems do pop-up sellers use at events? |
| Awareness | Sonnet 5.5 | What's a good point of sale system for pop-up events? | Recommend a point of sale system for selling at pop-up events | What's a good point of sale system for pop-up events? |
| Awareness | Opus 5.5 | Looking for a POS system to take payments at pop-up markets | Looking for a POS setup to take payments at pop-up markets | Looking for a portable POS system for selling at pop-up events |
| Awareness | Fable 5.1 | What POS system can I use for selling at pop-up events? | Looking for a POS system I can take to pop-up markets | I need a point of sale setup for selling at pop-up events |
| Consideration | Haiku 5.5 | Compare point of sale systems for a pop-up seller | Pop-up seller here, which point of sale system should I shortlist? | I sell at pop-up markets, what point of sale app fits me? |
| Consideration | Sonnet 5.5 | I sell at weekend markets, which POS system suits me? | I sell at pop-ups, which POS systems work well? | I sell at weekend markets, which POS systems would suit me? |
| Consideration | Opus 5.5 | Best point of sale apps for pop-up sellers that sync online inventory | Best point of sale apps for pop-up sellers that sync with an online shop | Best point of sale apps for pop-up sellers that sync online inventory |
| Consideration | Fable 5.1 | Best point of sale apps for pop-up sellers who also sell online | Best point of sale options for pop-up sellers that sync with an online shop | Any POS systems pop-up sellers rate highly over the square-type readers? |
| Decision | Haiku 5.5 | Where can I buy card reader hardware for a point of sale? | Card reader hardware for my point of sale, which model should I buy? | Where can I buy a point of sale card reader? |
| Decision | Sonnet 5.5 | Where can I buy a POS system with card reader hardware? | Where can I buy a POS system with card reader hardware? | Where can I buy a POS with a built-in card reader? |
| Decision | Opus 5.5 | Where can I buy a card reader for my store's POS? | Where can I buy a POS system with a reliable card reader? | Where can I buy a POS card reader that works with my online store? |
| Decision | Fable 5.1 | Where can I buy a card reader that works with my POS system? | Where can I buy a POS card reader that works with my ecommerce store? | Where can I buy a POS system that includes card payment hardware? |
Multichannel selling tools
| Stage | Model | Low effort | Medium effort | High effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness | Haiku 5.5 | Who offers tools to sell products internationally from one dashboard? | Need multichannel selling tools for selling internationally | Best multichannel selling tools for international sales |
| Awareness | Sonnet 5.5 | Tools to sell my products across countries from one dashboard | Any multichannel selling tools for selling products internationally? | Any multichannel selling tools that handle selling to other countries? |
| Awareness | Opus 5.5 | Tools for selling products to international customers across multiple channels | What tools help small brands sell across marketplaces internationally? | Tools for selling my products internationally across multiple marketplaces |
| Awareness | Fable 5.1 | Looking for a tool to sell on international marketplaces from one dashboard | Any tools for selling my products on marketplaces in other countries? | Looking for tools to sell on marketplaces in other countries from one dashboard |
| Consideration | Haiku 5.5 | As an ecommerce manager, which multichannel selling tool should I shortlist? | Recommend multichannel selling tools for an ecommerce manager at a retail brand. | As an ecommerce manager, what multichannel tools handle marketplace listings? |
| Consideration | Sonnet 5.5 | I'm an ecommerce manager, recommend multichannel selling software for marketplaces | I'm an ecommerce manager, what's a good multichannel selling tool? | I'm an ecommerce manager needing one back office for marketplaces |
| Consideration | Opus 5.5 | As an ecommerce manager, what software manages all our sales channels together? | As an ecommerce manager, what's a good tool for managing every sales channel? | As an ecommerce manager, what software manages all our sales channels in one place? |
| Consideration | Fable 5.1 | I manage ecommerce for a brand, which multichannel listing tools are worth it? | I manage ecommerce for a brand, what's a good tool to run all sales channels from one place? | As an ecommerce manager, what multichannel selling tools should I shortlist? |
| Decision | Haiku 5.5 | Compare multichannel tools that support AI chat storefronts | Compare multichannel tools that sell through AI chat storefronts | Compare multichannel tools for AI chat storefronts |
| Decision | Sonnet 5.5 | Any multichannel platforms that let me sell through AI chat assistants? | Compare platforms that let me sell through AI chat assistants | Recommend platforms that let me sell through AI chat assistants |
| Decision | Opus 5.5 | Any platforms that let customers buy my products inside AI chat assistants? | Platforms that let customers buy my products inside AI chat assistants | Which commerce platforms let shoppers buy directly inside AI chat assistants? |
| Decision | Fable 5.1 | Any commerce platforms that let customers buy through AI chat assistants? | Which commerce platforms let shoppers buy through AI chat assistants? | Recommend a multichannel selling tool that lets customers buy through AI chat assistants |
Enterprise commerce platform
| Stage | Model | Low effort | Medium effort | High effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness | Haiku 5.5 | Which enterprise commerce platforms lower total cost of ownership? | I need an enterprise commerce platform that lowers total ownership costs | Any enterprise commerce platforms known for lower total cost of ownership? |
| Awareness | Sonnet 5.5 | Enterprise commerce platforms that reduce total cost of ownership | Enterprise commerce platforms with lower total cost of ownership | Enterprise commerce platforms with a lower total cost of ownership |
| Awareness | Opus 5.5 | Enterprise commerce platforms with lower total cost of ownership than our current one | Enterprise commerce platforms with lower total cost of ownership than legacy suites | Alternatives to expensive enterprise ecommerce platforms with lower total cost of ownership |
| Awareness | Fable 5.1 | Enterprise ecommerce platforms with lower total cost of ownership than ours | Recommend an enterprise ecommerce platform with lower total cost of ownership | Who offers an enterprise commerce platform with a lower total cost of ownership? |
| Consideration | Haiku 5.5 | I lead ecommerce technology, which enterprise commerce platforms should I shortlist? | Shortlist of enterprise commerce platforms for an ecommerce CTO? | I lead ecommerce technology, which headless commerce platforms should I shortlist? |
| Consideration | Sonnet 5.5 | I lead ecommerce technology, shortlist enterprise commerce platforms for a large brand | I lead ecommerce technology, shortlist enterprise commerce platforms for us | I lead ecommerce technology, which enterprise commerce platforms should I shortlist? |
| Consideration | Opus 5.5 | Shortlist of enterprise ecommerce platforms for a CTO replatforming a large brand | I lead ecommerce tech at a large brand, which enterprise platforms should we shortlist? | Shortlist of enterprise commerce platforms for an ecommerce CTO replatforming |
| Consideration | Fable 5.1 | As head of ecommerce tech, which enterprise platforms should I shortlist? | I'm head of ecommerce tech at a large retailer, which commerce platforms should we shortlist? | I lead ecommerce tech for a large brand, which commerce platforms should we evaluate? |
| Decision | Haiku 5.5 | Where can I buy an enterprise commerce platform with custom checkout? | Any enterprise commerce platform with deep checkout customization worth buying? | Best enterprise commerce platform with advanced checkout customization for large brands |
| Decision | Sonnet 5.5 | Compare enterprise commerce platforms with advanced checkout customization | Which enterprise commerce platform offers the most flexible checkout customization? | Compare enterprise commerce platforms for advanced checkout customization |
| Decision | Opus 5.5 | Which enterprise commerce platform allows the deepest checkout customization? | Compare enterprise commerce platforms for deep checkout customization | Enterprise commerce platform with the most flexible checkout customization |
| Decision | Fable 5.1 | Enterprise commerce platform with deeply customizable checkout for a large brand | Best enterprise commerce platform for deeply customizing the checkout flow | Best enterprise commerce platform for deeply customizing the checkout flow |
What the code measured for Shopify
All six outputs per model (three efforts, two runs), 72 questions each.
| Model | Median words | Over 16 words | Ends with ? | Contains "or" | Names a studied brand | Near-duplicate pairs | Distinct openings | Output tokens per run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haiku 5.5 | 10 | 0% | 51.4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 56.9% | 3481 |
| Sonnet 5.5 | 10 | 0% | 50% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 27.8% | 803 |
| Opus 5.5 | 11 | 0% | 38.9% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 40.3% | 814 |
| Fable 5.1 | 11 | 1.4% | 65.3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 44.4% | 829 |
Frequently asked questions
Why did every model get the same 12 slots
Keeping the instructions, the business profile and the slot plan fixed means the differences in the tables come from the model and the effort level. Each slot already fixes the topic, the buyer stage and one facet, so the models only choose the wording.
Do any of the questions name Shopify
The code measured 0% of questions naming a studied brand for every model. The questions describe a need that a business could answer. One question mentions an AI assistant by name, and one refers to a type of card reader.
Do the measurements show which model to use
No. They describe length, endings, openings and repetition. This page does not rank the models or effort levels. Read the questions in the tables and decide what fits your own prompt list.
Track how AI answers your buyers
Once you have buyer questions like these for your own brand, CiteLadder tracks your mentions, position, sentiment and competitors across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Google AI Overviews. Every result is tied to its recorded answer.
Visibility over time
| Series | 8 Sep | 15 Sep | 22 Sep | 29 Sep | 6 Oct | 13 Oct | 20 Oct | 27 Oct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acme Analytics | 27.9% | 29.6% | 30.2% | 31.8% | 32.5% | 33.1% | 34.2% | 38.4% |
| Northwind | 46.0% | 45.2% | 45.8% | 44.6% | 44.1% | 43.5% | 42.9% | 41.7% |
| Lumen | 30.4% | 31.0% | 29.8% | 30.6% | 29.9% | 29.2% | 28.8% | 27.5% |
412 answers to 120 prompts across 4 engines, week of 27 Oct – 2 Nov 2026
Brands
| Brand | Visibility | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Northwind | 41.7% | down 1.2 pts |
| Acme Analytics | 38.4% | up 4.2 pts |
| Lumen | 27.5% | down 1.3 pts |
| Fathom Labs | 16.9% | down 0.2 pts |
Acme Analytics by engine