Sources and citations
Sources and citations definition
Sources are the pages, domains, or references AI systems use while forming an answer. Citations are the visible references attached to an answer when the model provides them.
They are not the same as mentions. A source can be read without your brand being recommended.
Source versus mention
A source can shape an answer even when your brand is not named.
Dashboard appearance
Source analytics helps you see which URLs and domains appear around prompt results.
Use this view to understand what AI systems may trust and where competitors gain support.
CLEA usage
CLEA can inspect sources to explain why an answer named a competitor, missed your brand, or repeated a claim.
Sources can also become content ideas, outreach targets, internal link targets, or evidence for a page writer brief.
Sources connect mention prompts, competitors, SEO, backlinks, and sitemap work.
If a source keeps shaping answers in your category, it deserves review before you write new content.
| Signal | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Repeated source | Why does this page keep appearing? |
| Competitor source | Does it explain why a competitor is named? |
| Missing source | Should our site have a clearer page for this topic? |