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What counts as a citation

A citation is a source URL or reference that an AI model includes in its answer. When Perplexity says “According to G2,” that’s a citation. We capture the URL, attribute it to a source/domain, and count how often it appears. Citation rate — Percentage of responses that include at least one citation to your site: Citation Rate=Responses with your URLTotal Chats×100\text{Citation Rate} = \frac{\text{Responses with your URL}}{\text{Total Chats}} \times 100 Average citations — How many times your URL (or a source) is cited per response: Avg Citations=Total CitationsResponses\text{Avg Citations} = \frac{\text{Total Citations}}{\text{Responses}}

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Why citation quality matters

Citations are an authority signal. When AI cites your site, reviews, or press:
  • Users trust the answer more
  • You get referral traffic
  • You build brand credibility
High visibility with zero citations means you’re mentioned but not backed by sources. That’s weaker than appearing with a citation to your content or reviews.

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How to improve citations

Onsite:
  • Create citeable pages: “Best X” lists, comparisons, how-to guides, FAQs
  • Use clear structure: headings, criteria, pros/cons
  • Add schema (FAQ, HowTo) to help AI parse your content
  • Avoid thin or purely promotional pages
Offsite:
  • Get listed on directories (G2, Capterra) and encourage reviews
  • Earn press and backlinks from publications AI cites
  • Participate in communities (Reddit, etc.) where helpful answers get cited
  • Build relationships with editors for roundups and expert quotes
Pro tip: Check which pages from your site get cited. Double down on that format (e.g., comparison pages) and create more like them.