To get cited by AI, publish pages that answer one specific question directly, include facts that can be quoted, keep them accessible and dated, and appear on the independent sources assistants already cite in your market. A citation is a link to your page. A mention is only your name, so track the two separately.
Citation: a link to one of your pages that an AI assistant uses as a source in its answer.
What is the difference between a mention and a citation?
A mention is your business named in an answer, and a citation is a link to your page as a source.
| Mention | Citation | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your name appears in the answer | Your page is linked as a source |
| What the customer sees | You are on the shortlist | A link they can click |
| How to track | Count answers that name you | Count answers that link your site |
| What earns it | Clear identity and independent mentions | A page that answers the exact question |
What to do next: Track both. See how to measure AI visibility.
What gets a page cited?
A page gets cited when it answers the exact question, is easy to quote, contains specific facts, is current and comes from a trusted source.
- It answers the exact question. One page, one question.
- The answer is easy to lift. Direct answer first, then detail.
- It has specific facts. Prices, steps, timelines and definitions are more quotable than general claims.
- It is current and dated.
- It is accessible. Crawlers can reach and read it.
- It comes from a trusted source. Clear identity and independent mentions help.
What can you do about it?
Seven steps improve your chances.
- Find what is cited in your market. Ask customer questions in Perplexity and others and note which sites are linked.
- Write an answer-first page for each important question. See how to structure content for AI search.
- Add original facts such as price ranges, timelines, process steps or local data.
- Cite your own sources such as standards and official guidance.
- Keep pages updated and show the date.
- Earn coverage elsewhere such as reviews, directories and local press.
- Do not block the crawlers you want to be found by.
What if the assistant cites someone else about you?
That is still useful, because those listings shape the answer, so make sure they are complete and accurate.
A fictional roofer: which sources were cited across 25 questions
| Source type | Share of citations |
|---|---|
| Review platform | 41% |
| Local directory | 27% |
| Competitor website | 19% |
| Your website | 4% |
| Other | 9% |
Here the biggest opportunity is reviews and directory listings, not more pages on your own site.
This is a fictional example to show the format. It is not a CoreTxt test result and not data about a real business.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get cited by AI?
Publish pages that answer one specific question directly, include facts that can be quoted, keep them accessible and dated, and appear on the independent sources assistants already cite in your market.
What is the difference between being mentioned and being cited?
A mention is your business named in the answer. A citation is a link to one of your pages as a source. You can have one without the other.
How do I get cited by ChatGPT?
The same steps apply. Make your pages accessible, answer the exact question first, include specific facts and earn coverage on trusted sources. No one can guarantee a citation.
How do I show up in AI search results?
Be easy to identify, keep your details consistent, publish answer-first pages for real questions and earn independent mentions. Then test which assistants name you.
No one controls what an AI assistant says. These steps improve your chances of being understood and recommended. They do not guarantee a mention, a citation or a position.
Related guides
- How to get mentioned by ChatGPT
- How to structure content for AI search
- How to measure AI visibility without vanity metrics
- AEO vs GEO vs AI visibility: a simple glossary
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