Measurement
Citation
A citation is a link an answer engine attaches to its response to show where information came from. Citations reveal which sources shaped the answer, which makes them the clearest signal of what to work on.
In more detail
Engines cite at very different rates. Perplexity attaches sources to nearly everything; others cite mainly when they have searched the web for the answer.
A citation is not the same as a mention. An answer can cite a review site while naming a competitor, and it can name you while citing nobody.
How Allswap measures this
Guides that cover this
Related terms
Brand mention
A brand mention is any time an answer engine names a brand in its response, whether or not it links to that brand's website. Mentions are counted separately from citations because a brand can be recommended without being linked.
Citation gap
A citation gap is a source that answer engines trust in your category, that already cites your competitors, and that has not yet cited you. Closing one is among the most direct ways to improve AI visibility.
Cited source
A cited source is a page or domain that an answer engine links to when answering a question. In most categories a small group of sources accounts for the majority of citations, and that group decides which brands get recommended.
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