A link, a name and a recommendation are different
| Signal | What you can observe | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Citation | A displayed source reference links to a page. | Does that page support the nearby claim? |
| Mention | A person, organization or product is named. | Is the description accurate and relevant? |
| Recommendation | The answer suggests a choice for the task. | What conditions or qualifications accompany it? |
One answer can contain all three, or only some of them. In Gist’s CRM research, content from one company appeared among the citations while other companies’ products were recommended. Being a source and being a suggested choice are separate outcomes.
Check what the citation supports
Open the actual URL. Identify the sentence or finding it is attached to, then read the source in context. Record whether the source supports the claim, supports only part of it, is out of date, or cannot be checked. A citation marker alone does not verify an answer.
In ChatGPT search, answers can include inline citations and a Sources control. Those features make source inspection possible; their appearance is not proof that every claim has been checked. Read OpenAI’s description of search sources.
State how you count citations
Choose the unit before reporting a rate: a particular URL, a website domain or a publisher. An answer with three links to one domain can count as three links or one answer citing that domain. State which measure you used.
For an answer-level rate, divide completed answers that cite the chosen source by the eligible completed answers reviewed. Record failures separately and keep repeated answers identifiable. Do not add link counts, answer counts and visits into one unexplained total.
Use the evidence to choose the next step
A cited page can reveal a relevant topic or source to investigate. It does not tell you which change will cause an assistant to cite you next. Review your own content and the reader’s need before deciding to revise a page or publish a new one.
See AI visibility for the other measures and the GEO audit guide for an evidence-based workflow.