Source citations are the explicit references assistants use to support claims, rankings, or recommendations in their answers.
Worked example
An answer recommends Klaviyo but cites an independent comparison. The recommended brand and the cited publisher are different entities. Preserve the exact URL and supported passage.
Why it matters
- They create a traceable evidence layer for visibility reporting.
- Citation patterns reveal which content types assistants actually trust.
- Citations make it easier to explain wins and losses to stakeholders.
What to watch
- source diversity
- citation share by page type
- whether citations favour owned or third-party content
Next reading
Citation rate
What citation rate means in AI visibility reporting and why it matters more than raw mentions alone.
Brand mentions
How to think about brand mentions in assistant answers and why mention quality matters as much as mention volume.
How to get cited in Google AI Overviews
Find which pages earn Google AI Overviews citations, assess your content gaps and monitor whether your website is cited for relevant queries.