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The sources AI cites, and how to use them
The sources AI models point to largely decide which providers get mentioned. How to find them in Manager and turn them into an action list.
Published approx. 3 min read
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When an AI model answers a buying question, it pulls information from the web and points to the sources it used. Those sources largely decide which providers get mentioned. If you understand which sources drive the answers in your market, you also know where you need to be present.
The short version: Open the Citations tab in the AI Monitor module. See which domains are cited most often in your area, and whether your website is among them. Sort the sources into your own pages, pages you can influence, and pages you need to be mentioned on. That gives you a concrete action list.
Where to find the sources
Go to AI + Agents and Citations. The sources are grouped by domain, and your own domains are highlighted. Click into a domain to see which pages are cited, in which questions, by which models and when.
Four types of sources
When you go through the list, you will usually find four types of sources:
- Your own website. Pages you own and can improve directly.
- Competitors' websites. Pages that show what the models look for. They are worth studying.
- Comparison sites, directories and industry portals. Pages that list and rate providers. Here you can often get listed, update your profile or contribute information.
- Articles, forums and reviews. Editorial stories, discussions and reviews. You can influence these over time through PR, customer reviews and visibility in your professional community.
From source list to action
When your own website is cited
See which pages it is and in which questions. Is it the right page, a page that actually sells? If the model cites an old article instead of your service page, that is a sign the service page lacks clear answers to what customers ask about.
When your own website is not cited
Look at the pages that are cited instead. Which questions do they answer, and how are they structured? Compare them with your own pages. It often comes down to clear answers early on the page, concrete facts and good structure.
When third-party sources dominate
Make a list of the ten domains cited most often in your area. Mark which ones you are already present in, and which ones you are missing from. The list of the ones you are missing from is one of the most valuable action lists you can make for AI visibility.
Keep an eye on changes
The sources AI models use change constantly. Manager alerts you when you lose a citation (Citation lost), and you can also turn on an alert for when you gain one (Citation gained). You find the alerts under Citation alerts in the New Prompt menu on the Prompts page.
Tips
- Start with the BOFU questions. The sources there are the ones that decide who gets recommended when the customer is ready to buy.
- Look for pages cited in several models. They have the most influence.
- Add the work straight into Manager as actions, so it gets followed up. See From measurement to action in CitationLab AI Marketing Manager.
Next guide
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't my website cited even though we rank well in Google?
AI models choose sources differently from how Google ranks pages. They look for content that answers the question precisely, and they often pull from several sources at once. Ranking well in Google helps, but it does not guarantee you will be cited.
Can I see which pages get traffic from AI?
Yes. If you connect Google Analytics 4 or CitationLab Analytics, the Traffic and Landing Pages tabs show which pages visitors from AI search land on. See Connect GA4, Search Console and ad accounts to Manager.
What is Cite Audit?
Cite Audit is a review of your pages that assesses how well they are built to be used as a source by AI models. It runs automatically on up to 50 pages when you complete the setup.
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