AI search glossary
What is an AI citation?
An AI citation is when an AI tool shows or links to a website it used to write its answer. Being cited means the AI not only mentions your business but points people to your own site.
Also called: AI source link
Mention or citation?
A mention is when the AI names your business in its answer. A citation is when it also links to your website, or lists it as a source. Tools like Perplexity, and ChatGPT when it searches the web, often show their sources under the answer.
An example
Perplexity answers “Who are the best estate agents in Sliema?” and lists four sources underneath. If your agency’s website is one of them, that is a citation, and a direct route for the customer to reach you.
Why it matters
Citations send visitors to your website, and they show the AI trusts your site as a source. In our reports we measure both how often you are mentioned and how often your site is cited.
Find out what AI is telling your customers.
Get a free AI visibility review from our team. We check what ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Claude say about your business, then talk you through what it means.
