> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.trysight.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Understanding Citations

> Learn what citations mean and how to use them to improve your GEO (Generative Engine Optimization).

## What Are Citations?

A citation occurs when an AI model links to or references your website as a source in its response. Unlike a simple mention of your brand name, a citation means the AI is directing users to your content -- a much stronger signal of trust and authority.

## Why Citations Matter

Citations are one of the most valuable signals in AI Visibility because they represent:

* **Direct traffic potential** -- Users can click through to your site from AI responses
* **Authority recognition** -- AI models only cite sources they consider trustworthy
* **Content validation** -- Your content is being used as a reference for AI-generated answers
* **GEO success** -- Citations are a key metric for Generative Engine Optimization

## The "You Appeared" Column

When reviewing citations, you'll notice the **"You Appeared"** column:

* **Green checkmark** -- Your domain appeared as a citation in the AI response for this prompt. This means the AI model linked to or referenced your content.
* **Gray dash** -- Your domain did not appear as a citation for this prompt. This represents an opportunity to create or optimize content so that AI models cite you in the future.

The "You Appeared" rate is a key metric -- it tells you what percentage of your tracked prompts result in the AI citing your content.

## Filtering Citations

### All Domains

View citations across all domains mentioned in AI responses. This gives you a broad picture of which sources AI models trust in your industry.

### Content Types

Filter by the type of content being cited -- blog posts, product pages, documentation, landing pages, and more.

### Sources

Filter by the AI platform that generated the citation to understand which models are most likely to cite your content.

### You Appeared

Toggle to show only prompts where your domain appeared (or didn't appear) as a citation. This is especially useful for identifying gaps and opportunities.

## Citation Details

For each citation, you can view:

* **Total appearances** -- How many times across all prompts your domain was cited
* **Appeared rate** -- The percentage of prompts where your domain was cited
* **Average position** -- Where your citation typically appears relative to other cited sources
* **Prompts triggered** -- Which specific prompts led to your content being cited
* **Competitors** -- Which competitor domains were cited alongside yours

## Using Citations to Improve GEO

### 1. Analyze What AI Trusts

Look at which of your pages get cited most frequently. Identify the common characteristics:

* What format are they in? (guides, how-tos, data-driven articles)
* How comprehensive are they?
* What makes them citable?

Use these insights to create more content with similar qualities.

### 2. Close Citation Gaps

Find prompts where competitors are cited but you aren't. These represent direct opportunities:

* Create content that addresses the specific topic of the prompt
* Ensure your content is more comprehensive and authoritative than competitors'
* Structure your content so AI models can easily extract and cite key information

### 3. Create AI-Optimized Content

Structure your content to be easily parsed and cited by AI models:

* Use clear headings and subheadings
* Include concise, factual statements that can be extracted as answers
* Add structured data and schema markup
* Maintain a clear, authoritative writing style

### 4. Build Authority

AI models prioritize citing authoritative sources:

* Earn backlinks from reputable sites in your industry
* Get mentioned in industry publications and reports
* Build a consistent track record of publishing expert content
* Maintain accurate, up-to-date information

### 5. Monitor and Iterate

Track your citation metrics over time:

* Watch your "appeared rate" trend upward as you optimize
* Identify which content changes led to new citations
* Adjust your strategy based on what's working

## GEO Quick Wins

Five actions you can take today to start improving your citations:

1. **Audit your top pages** -- Identify your most authoritative content and ensure it's well-structured for AI consumption
2. **Answer common questions** -- Create FAQ-style content that directly answers the prompts where you're not being cited
3. **Add structured data** -- Implement schema markup on key pages to help AI models understand your content
4. **Update outdated content** -- Refresh old articles with current information so AI models see you as a reliable, up-to-date source
5. **Study cited competitors** -- Analyze the content of competitors who are being cited and identify what you can do better

## Additional Strategic Uses

Beyond improving your own citations, use citation data to:

* **Discover industry trends** -- See which topics AI models are directing users toward
* **Identify partnership opportunities** -- Find frequently cited sites you could collaborate with
* **Inform content strategy** -- Let citation data guide your editorial calendar
* **Measure content ROI** -- Track which content investments lead to AI citations

## Exporting Citations

Export your citation data in CSV format for deeper analysis. The export includes all citation details, prompt associations, competitor data, and trend information for the selected time period.

## Best Practices

* **Focus on "You Appeared" rate** as your primary citation metric
* **Review new citations weekly** to understand what's driving them
* **Compare citation patterns across AI models** -- each may prioritize different sources
* **Track your average position** and work to move higher in citation lists
* **Use citation gaps** as your content creation roadmap