> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.neariq.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Alert types reference

> Complete reference for every alert NearIQ can generate.

## Alert anatomy

Every alert has:

* **Type** — what kind of change was detected
* **Severity** — how urgent it is (`info`, `warning`, `opportunity`, `danger`)
* **Subject** — the business the alert is about (a competitor or your own business)
* **Diff** — the magnitude of the change (e.g. rating change of -0.3)
* **Timestamp** — when the change was detected

## Alert types

### `rating_drop`

A competitor's star rating decreased.

* Threshold: ≥ 0.1 star decrease
* Severity: `warning` for small drops, `opportunity` for large drops (competitor weakening)
* **Why it matters**: A competitor rating dropping below 4.0 creates a significant customer acquisition window — customers actively compare ratings and 4.0 is a common trust threshold.

### `rating_rise`

A competitor's rating increased.

* Severity: `warning` — they may be recovering from a previous drop or running a review campaign
* **Why it matters**: A rival rising quickly may be recovering ground or responding to your momentum.

### `own_rating_drop`

**Your** rating decreased.

* Severity: `danger`
* **Action**: Check recent reviews immediately. Respond to any negative reviews within 24 hours.

### `own_rating_rise`

Your rating increased.

* Severity: `info`

### `review_surge`

A competitor received significantly more reviews than their baseline.

* Threshold: > 2× 90-day average review velocity in a 7-day window
* Severity: `warning`
* **Why it matters**: Could indicate a review campaign, a viral event, or a review attack. Worth investigating the sentiment of the new reviews.

### `competitor_response_drop`

A competitor's owner response rate dropped sharply.

* Threshold: > 15 percentage-point drop in the latest review window
* Severity: `opportunity`
* **Why it matters**: Customers who are not getting responses are easier to win with visible, fast owner engagement.

### `competitor_negative_surge`

A competitor received multiple low-star reviews in one week.

* Threshold: 3+ reviews rated 1 or 2 stars in 7 days
* Severity: `opportunity`
* **Why it matters**: A visible service issue creates a short window to emphasize trust, responsiveness, and review quality.

### `trend_opportunity`

A rising competitor-review trend is missing from your own reviews.

* Threshold: a `market_trends` gap keyword rises by more than 30%
* Severity: `opportunity`
* **Why it matters**: Competitors are being associated with a topic customers care about, but your listing is not yet earning that proof.

### `competitor_rating_window`

A competitor's rating falls below yours for the first time in the tracking window.

* Severity: `opportunity`
* **Why it matters**: This is a good moment to push comparison-safe proof points in ads, GBP posts, and review-response messaging.

### `market_closure`

A tracked competitor is reported as temporarily or permanently closed by Google listing status.

* Severity: `opportunity` when a competitor closes, `info` when a temporary closure reopens
* **Why it matters**: Closure status is a direct capture window and future model training signal. It is tracked as observed listing status, not as a closure prediction.

### `own_review_surge`

Your business received a surge of reviews.

* Severity: `warning` (investigate sentiment — could be positive campaign or attack)

### `velocity_spike`

Review velocity spiked abnormally — faster than a normal surge pattern.

* Severity: `danger` — often indicates coordinated review activity (positive or negative)

### `hours_change`

A competitor updated their business hours.

* Severity: `info`
* **Why it matters**: Expanding hours (e.g. adding Sunday) is a competitive move worth matching.

### `website_change`

A competitor changed their website URL on their GBP listing.

* Severity: `info`
* **Why it matters**: Could indicate a rebranding, new location, or marketing push.

### `local_pack_change`

A competitor entered or exited the Google Maps local pack (top-3 results) for a tracked keyword.

* Severity: `warning` for entry, `opportunity` for exit
* **Why it matters**: The top-3 local pack captures the majority of clicks. Any change in this set is significant.

### `new_competitor`

A new business appeared in your tracked area matching your category.

* Severity: `warning`