Where AI Gets Its Facts
Citation patterns across ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity
The Critical Insight
Each AI platform has a distinct citation philosophy: ChatGPT favours encyclopedic sources and primary vendors. Google AI Overviews balances professional content with community input. Perplexity heavily prioritises peer-to-peer discussions. Your citation strategy must differ by platform.
Top Source by AI Platform
ChatGPT vs Google: Source Type Differences
ChatGPT Cites MORE Than Google
ChatGPT Cites LESS Than Google
Data from Semrush & TryProfound analysis of 680M+ citations (Aug 2024 - Jun 2025)
3 Strategies to Get Cited by AI
Priority Platforms by Business Type
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Reddit dominate in overall AI citations but Wikipedia dominates in ChatGPT?
Each AI platform has different sourcing philosophies. ChatGPT prioritises authority and factual accuracy—Wikipedia provides structured, factual content that reduces exposure to opinion and speculation. Google AI Overviews and Perplexity weight community discussions more heavily because they value authentic human experiences and real-world opinions. Your strategy must account for which AI platforms your audience uses most.
How do I get ChatGPT specifically to cite my content?
ChatGPT favours primary sources (vendors in a space) and neutral, factual sources (encyclopedias). Research shows ChatGPT cites competitor websites 11.1 percentage points more than Google does. To get cited: create authoritative comparison content defining your category, write in an encyclopedic tone (factual, structured, unbiased), ensure your site is the primary source for information about your products/services, and build community presence on Reddit/StackOverflow as authenticity signals.
Why are map services so highly cited by AI?
AI systems answer millions of location-based queries daily: "restaurants near me," "directions to," "store hours." Map data (Mapbox, OpenStreetMap, MapQuest) provides the structured location information AI needs for these responses. For local businesses, ensuring your location data is accurate and consistent across all map services directly impacts whether AI can find and recommend you. This is essentially the "local SEO" of AI—except the stakes are higher because AI doesn't show 10 results.
Should I focus on getting Wikipedia citations?
Wikipedia is crucial for ChatGPT (47.9% of top citations) but requires meeting Wikipedia's strict notability guidelines—you need significant coverage in reliable, independent sources. Focus instead on: (1) earning press coverage and third-party mentions that could support a Wikipedia article, (2) creating Wikipedia-style content on your own site (factual, well-sourced, structured), and (3) ensuring your brand appears in existing Wikipedia articles where relevant (through legitimate, cited mentions).
What's the difference between getting cited vs. getting recommended?
Being cited means AI uses your content as a source for factual information ("According to [your site]..."). Being recommended means AI suggests your product/service to users ("You should try [your brand]..."). Citation requires authoritative, factual content. Recommendation requires positive sentiment across community platforms (Reddit, review sites) plus being the legitimate solution to user problems. The most successful brands achieve both: they're cited as experts AND recommended by communities.
How do I track which platforms are driving my AI citations?
Monitor your brand mentions across AI platforms using tools like Perplexity's citation tracking, ChatGPT conversation analysis, and Google AI Overview monitoring. Track citation sources by: (1) querying AI platforms for your brand/product terms monthly, (2) documenting which sources are cited when your brand appears, (3) correlating citation patterns with your presence on key platforms. Focus on the 40.11% Reddit factor—if AI cites Reddit discussions about you, monitor and participate authentically in those communities.
The CITE Framework™ for AI Citation Sources
Apply these principles to dominate across all AI citation platforms
Pro Tips from Our AI SEO Team
Don't try to be everywhere. Map your business type to high-impact platforms: B2B companies prioritize Reddit + LinkedIn + Quora. E-commerce focuses on Amazon + YouTube reviews. Local businesses need Yelp + TripAdvisor + Google Maps presence. SaaS targets Reddit + G2/Capterra + GitHub discussions. Start with 2-3 platforms where your audience already discusses your category, then expand based on citation data.
ChatGPT cites Wikipedia 47.9% of the time because of its tone, not just its authority. Apply this formula to your content: (1) Lead with objective definitions, not marketing claims, (2) Structure with clear H2/H3 hierarchies, (3) Include factual data with cited sources, (4) Avoid superlatives and promotional language, (5) Add comparison tables and specifications. Content written this way gets cited 3x more often by ChatGPT specifically.
Want Your Content to Be AI's Trusted Source?
Our SEO agency specializes in positioning your content as a primary AI fact source. From authority signals to citation-worthy formatting and source credibility optimization, we ensure AI platforms consistently choose your content when answering user queries.