Understanding mentions and citations

The Track My Visibility application records two things in every AI answer: mentions and citations. Both show how AI models use your brand, but they measure different things and need different fixes.

• A mention is when an AI model names your brand in its answer. Mentions drive your visibility, position and sentiment.
• A citation is when an AI model lists a web page as a source for its answer. Citations show which pages the AI model used to write the answer.

AI search engines such as Perplexity, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT with search usually show their sources next to the answer. Track My Visibility collects those sources for every prompt run, so you can see which websites shape the answers in your category.

Why the difference matters#

Mentions and citations don't always match, and each combination needs a different fix:

• Cited but not mentioned: the AI model used your page, but didn't recommend your brand. Make the page state a stronger, clearer case for your brand.
• Mentioned but not cited: other websites are doing the work for you. Find out which ones, and keep that coverage accurate and up to date.
• Mentioned and cited: your page and your brand both appear. Protect this by keeping the page current.
• Neither: the AI model doesn't see your brand as relevant to the question. Start with Content gaps and Authority and trust signals.

Where citations usually come from#

Most citations point to other people's websites, not your own. These include retailers, publications, review sites, comparison articles and forums.

In one account we looked at, almost 98% of citations went to third-party websites, and only about 1.5% went to the brand's own site.

How to see mentions and citations for a prompt#

Step 1. Open a prompt#

Click Prompts in the left sidebar, then click a prompt.

Step 2. Choose an AI model#

Select an AI model to see its answer. You'll see the brands it mentioned and the sources it cited.

Step 3. Compare AI models#

Switch between AI models for the same prompt. Different AI models often cite different sources, so a website that matters on Perplexity may not appear on Google AI Overviews.

How to use citations to earn more mentions#

Citations tell you where to work. A website that AI models cite often in your category is a website worth appearing on. Follow these steps:

• Open Sources and sort by the most cited websites for your prompts.
• Check whether each website mentions your brand, and how it describes you.
• Ask to be included in roundups and comparison articles that leave your brand out.
• Update your own cited pages so they answer the question directly and name your brand clearly.

Frequently asked questions#