What Are Citations?
Citations are sources that AI models reference when generating responses. When an AI like ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity answers a question, it often cites websites, articles, or other sources to support its answer.
In Sight AI, the Citations tab shows you all the sources that AI models are citing when responding to your tracked prompts. This gives you insight into which content AI considers authoritative for topics relevant to your brand.
Why Citations Matter
Citations are crucial for understanding your AI visibility because they reveal:
- What AI trusts – Sources that get cited are considered authoritative by AI models
- Your competitive landscape – See which competitors are being cited instead of you
- Content gaps – Identify topics where your content isn't being cited
- Outreach opportunities – Find sites to target for backlinks or partnerships
The "You Appeared" Column
Each citation row shows whether you appeared in the same AI response as that source:
- ✓ (Green checkmark) – You appeared in the AI response alongside this source. When AI cited this source, your brand was also mentioned or cited in the same response.
- — (Gray dash) – You didn't appear. This source was cited, but your brand wasn't in those responses. This represents potential "competitor territory" where you could improve your visibility.
Important distinction: This doesn't mean your brand is mentioned withinthe cited source itself. It means when AI referenced this source in a response, was your brand also present in that same AI response?
Filtering Citations
Use the filter dropdowns to narrow down your citation data:
- All domains – Filter by specific website domains
- All content types – Filter by blog, news, review, etc.
- All sources – Filter by source type
- You appeared – Filter to show only citations where you appeared, only where you didn't, or all
Citation Details
Click "View Details" on any citation to see deeper insights:
- Total appearances – How many times this source was cited
- You appeared rate – Percentage of times you appeared alongside this source
- Average position – Your typical ranking when you did appear
- Prompts triggered – Which of your tracked prompts triggered this citation
- Competitors mentioned – Which competitors appeared with this source
- AI response context – Snippets from actual AI responses
Using Citations to Improve Your GEO
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the practice of optimizing your content and online presence so AI models mention and cite you more frequently. Citations data is the foundation of an effective GEO strategy because it shows you exactly what AI considers authoritative.
1. Analyze What AI Trusts
Start by examining which sources AI cites most frequently for your tracked prompts:
- Sort by citation count – High-citation sources are what AI considers most authoritative
- Note the content types – Does AI prefer blogs, reviews, news sites, or official documentation?
- Study the domains – Are these industry publications, competitor sites, or general resources?
This reveals the "blueprint" of what AI trusts for your industry.
2. Close Your Citation Gaps
Filter to "You didn't appear" to find your biggest opportunities:
- High-citation gaps – Sources cited 50+ times where you're absent are priority targets
- Competitor territory – Where competitors appear and you don't, you're losing share of voice
- Topic analysis – What subjects trigger these citations? Create content around those topics
3. Create AI-Optimized Content
Based on your citation analysis, create content that AI is likely to cite:
- Be comprehensive – AI prefers thorough, authoritative content over thin pages
- Use clear structure – Headers, lists, and organized sections help AI extract information
- Answer questions directly – Structure content around questions people ask AI
- Include statistics and data – AI loves citing sources with concrete data
- Stay current – Recently updated content often gets priority
4. Build Authority Through Cited Sources
Getting mentioned or linked on frequently-cited sources can boost your AI visibility:
- Guest posting – Write for high-citation publications in your industry
- Expert quotes – Offer quotes to journalists and content creators
- Backlink outreach – Request links from sources AI already trusts
- PR and mentions – Get featured on authoritative news and review sites
When your brand appears on sources that AI frequently cites, you're more likely to be included in AI responses.
5. Monitor and Iterate
GEO is an ongoing process. Use your citation data to track progress:
- Export monthly – Compare citation data over time to measure improvement
- Track your appearance rate – Is your "You appeared" percentage increasing?
- Watch competitor movement – Are you gaining or losing ground?
- Adjust your strategy – Double down on what's working, pivot from what isn't
GEO Quick Wins from Citation Data
Here are immediate actions you can take based on your citations:
- Find your top 5 gaps – Filter to "You didn't appear" and note the 5 most-cited sources. Research what content they have that you don't.
- Identify outreach targets – Export all citations and sort by occurrence count. The top 20 domains are your priority outreach list.
- Analyze winning content – Click "View Details" on citations where you DO appear. What prompts triggered those citations? Create more content around those topics.
- Study competitor patterns – Look at which competitors appear with high-authority sources. What are they doing that you're not?
- Update existing content – If a competitor's page gets cited but yours doesn't, compare them. Make your content more comprehensive.
Additional Strategic Uses
Identify Content Opportunities
Look for citations where you didn't appear (gray dash). These represent topics where competitors or other sources are being cited instead of you. Consider:
- Creating content that covers these topics
- Improving existing content to be more comprehensive
- Building authority on these subjects
Build Outreach Relationships
High-authority sources that AI frequently cites are valuable for:
- Guest posting opportunities
- Backlink outreach
- Partnership discussions
- Content collaboration
Monitor Competitor Presence
Use the citation details to see which competitors are appearing with high-authority sources. This helps you understand:
- Where competitors have strong AI visibility
- What content strategies are working for them
- Opportunities to overtake their position
Exporting Citations
Click the "Export" button to download your citation data as a CSV file. The export includes:
- Domain and URL
- Source and content type
- Citation count and position data
- AI models that cited the source
- Your appeared status
Best Practices
- Focus on high-citation sources – Sources cited frequently are most valuable to target
- Prioritize your gaps – Filter to "You didn't appear" to find improvement opportunities
- Track progress – Export data regularly to measure improvement over time
- Use with Content Opportunities – Combine citation insights with our Content Opportunities feature for actionable recommendations