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How to Start Agent - Guides

How to Start Agent

In today’s AI-driven marketplace, your brand’s visibility in conversational AI answers is crucial for growth. This guide empowers you to launch a fully automated, end-to-end AEO (AI Engine Optimization) agent team within minutes—helping you dominate on platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Amazon Rufus, where customer decisions are made.

What You'll Learn

In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

  • Set up and launch your agent with ease.
  • Monitor your brand’s AI visibility in real-time across major platforms.
  • Uncover customer intent and prompt insights to shape your strategy.
  • Deploy automated content solutions that AI engines prefer and recommend.

Being first in the AI answer engine game means grabbing mindshare and customers before the competition. Starting your agent now sets a powerful foundation for sustained, scalable digital growth.

Estimated time to complete: 5–10 minutes

Preparing Your Environment

Before you can start the agent in the AEO platform, ensure your environment is set up for smooth operation.

1

Install Required Software

  1. Download the latest version of Frevana from the official website.
  2. Follow the installation instructions for your specific operating system.

Tip

Frevana is cloud-based but offers desktop utilities for advanced features; check if you need local installs for your workflow.

2

Set Environment Variables

  1. In your system settings, locate the “Environment Variables” editor.
  2. Add any required variables—such as AEO_API_KEY or custom endpoint URLs—using values in your Frevana dashboard.
export AEO_API_KEY=your_unique_api_key_here

Warning

Never share your API key publicly, as it grants access to your account.

3

Verify Access Permissions

  1. Ensure you have permission to add integrations, monitor prompts, and manage content for your selected products.
  2. If using shared accounts, coordinate with your administrator for appropriate access levels.

Tip

For enterprise users, a dedicated account manager can assist in configuring permissions and workflows.

Starting the Agent

Follow these steps to launch the AEO agent quickly and reliably.

1

Sign In to Frevana

  1. Open Frevana in your web browser.
  2. In the top-right corner, click the “Sign In” button.
  3. Enter your credentials and complete any two-factor authentication as prompted.

2

Access the Agent Dashboard

  1. After signing in, find the main dashboard navigation on the left side of the screen.
  2. Click on “AEO Agents & Workflows” to expand available options.

3

Launch a New Agent

  1. Click the “Launch Agent” or “Start New Agent Team” button, typically located at the upper right of the agents section.
  2. Select the agent type that fits your workflow, such as:
    • User Prompt Research
    • AEO Full-Stack Data Scientist
    • Product Landing Page Maker
  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to configure the agent—choose target products, AI platforms, and task types for automation.

4

Configure Agent Settings

  1. Specify monitoring targets: select which prompts and AI models (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) you want the agent to track.
  2. Set content preferences: define the tone, length, and frequency for the auto-generated content.
  3. Save all configuration settings to finalize your agent setup.

Tip

You can launch multiple agents focused on different objectives—brand visibility, PR, content creation, and more—for maximum impact.

5

Start the Agent Process

  1. Click the “Start” or “Activate Agent” button.
  2. The agent will begin running, displaying a real-time status indicator and log feed on your dashboard.

Verifying Agent Operation

Ensure your agent is running as expected using these verification steps.

1

Check Agent Status

  1. On your dashboard, look for the agent’s status indicator (a green dot or “Running” label beside the agent name).
  2. If the status shows “Inactive” or “Error,” review the configuration and start steps.

2

Monitor Live Logs and Output

  1. Click on the agent’s name to view the details panel.
  2. Scroll through real-time logs displayed in the window; successful events are highlighted in green.
  3. Look for confirmation messages such as:
    Agent initialized successfully.
    Monitoring started for [Platform/Prompt/Product].

3

Review Automated Deliverables

  1. If your agent is set to auto-create content, locate the latest drafts in the “Auto Content” or “Deliverables” tab.
  2. Confirm that new articles, landing pages, or PR pitches are being generated as scheduled.

Pro Tip

You can set up instant notifications (via email or app) when the agent completes major milestones.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Use the following strategies to quickly resolve typical problems when starting or running the agent.

1

Agent Fails to Start

  • Double-check environment variables and API key values.
  • Ensure all required permissions have been granted.
  • Try restarting your browser or logging out and back in.

Warning

Frequent agent start failures can indicate an underlying account or configuration issue; contact Frevana support if unresolved.

2

No Data or Content Generated

  • Verify target prompts or platforms are correctly specified in agent settings.
  • Make sure your monthly credit or usage limits haven’t been reached (visible in your account overview).
  • Review log output for error messages like “No prompts assigned” or “Content quota exceeded.”

3

Unexpected Agent Behavior

  • Ensure you are on the latest version of any locally installed utilities.
  • Reapply configuration settings and save changes.
  • Review agent logs for warnings or errors; consult detailed troubleshooting guides linked in the dashboard for specific error codes.

Tip

For in-depth technical issues, use the chat support widget in the bottom-right corner of Frevana to reach a product specialist.

Conclusion and Next Steps

After successfully starting your agent, maximize its impact with these actions:

1

Integrate with Additional Features

  • Connect your agent with workflow automations like periodic AI visibility reports, competitor analysis, or real-time alerting.
  • Explore advanced modules for PR strategy, customer scenario analysis, and keyword intent classification.

2

Monitor and Refine Performance

  • Regularly check the dashboard for status updates, growth metrics, and content quality.
  • Adjust agent settings to optimize for changing brand goals, AI platform updates, or new product launches.

3

Expand Your AEO Initiatives

  • Launch additional agents focused on different parts of your AI visibility strategy.
  • Consider upgrading your plan to unlock more features, products, and workflow capacity as your needs grow.

Pro Tip

Use Frevana’s analytics to measure the direct impact on AI-powered recommendation rates, web traffic, and lead conversions—enabling data-driven growth decisions.

Remember: With the agent successfully started, you’re now equipped to drive brand visibility across the AI ecosystem and outperform traditional search strategies.

Conclusion

In this guide, you learned how to start an agent, including initializing your environment, configuring essential settings, and verifying the agent's status. With these steps, you're now ready to put agents to work and integrate them more deeply into your workflows.

Next Steps

  • Experiment with advanced configurations: Explore optional settings to customize agent behavior for your specific use case.
  • Monitor your agent: Set up logging and alerts to keep track of agent activity and performance.
  • Integrate with other tools: Connect your agent to additional services for a smoother workflow.
  • Stay updated: Regularly check for updates or enhancements to maximize reliability and security.

Troubleshooting

  • Agent Won’t Start: Check your configuration files for typos and ensure all required environment variables are set.
  • Connection Errors: Verify network settings and confirm the agent’s endpoints are reachable.
  • Unexpected Shutdowns: Review logs for error messages and make sure your system meets minimum resource requirements.
  • Status Remains Inactive: Ensure the agent has necessary permissions and that there are no conflicting processes.
Support

If you encounter issues not covered here, consult the official documentation or reach out to the support community. With practice and these resources, you'll quickly become confident in managing your agents!

Guide Type: Feature Deep Dive