What are Citations?
When AI assistants respond to prompts, they often reference specific URLs as sources:“According to the documentation at docs.example.com/getting-started…”or
“Sources: [1] docs.example.com/api-reference [2] competitor.com/docs…”Citations are these specific URL references. DevTune captures every cited URL and classifies it based on your configured citation sources and brands.
Why Citations Matter
Direct Traffic Potential
Cited URLs are clickable links in most AI platforms. Users may visit cited sources to learn more, making citations a direct traffic driver.Authority Signal
Being cited by AI platforms indicates that your content is recognized as authoritative. Frequent citations validate your content quality and relevance.Content Performance Indicator
Citations show which specific pages in your site are performing well in AI search. This data directly guides content strategy decisions.Citation Classification
DevTune classifies every citation into one of three categories:Primary Citations
URLs that match citation sources belonging to your primary brand. These are your own domains being cited. Example:docs.yourcompany.com/getting-started matches your primary brand citation source docs.yourcompany.com.
Competitor Citations
URLs that match citation sources belonging to a competitor brand. These show competitor content being cited alongside (or instead of) yours. Example:docs.competitor.com/api-reference matches a competitor brand citation source.
Other Citations
URLs that do not match any configured citation source. These are third-party sources like Stack Overflow, Wikipedia, blog posts from unrelated sites, etc. Other citations provide context about the broader information landscape AI platforms draw from for your tracked prompts.Citation Stats Overview
At the top of the Citations page, summary statistics provide a quick overview:- Total Citations - The total number of citation instances across all prompts and platforms
- Unique Domains - The number of distinct domains cited across all results
- Primary Citation Share - The percentage of total citations that point to your primary brand domains
Domain Ranking
The Citations page includes a domain ranking view that shows the most-cited domains across all your tracked prompts.Ranking Features
- Domains are ranked by total citation count
- Domain logos are displayed where available for visual identification
- Each domain shows its classification (primary, competitor, or other)
- Citation count and percentage share are displayed per domain
Using Domain Rankings
Domain rankings help you understand:- Which competitor domains are cited most frequently
- Whether your documentation or blog or marketing site gets cited more
- Which third-party sources AI platforms trust in your category
- How your citation count compares to competitors
Viewing Citation Details
Citations List
The main Citations page shows all cited URLs with:- The full URL
- Citation count (how many times it was cited)
- The brand classification (primary, competitor, other)
- Which platforms cited it
- Which prompts triggered the citation
Per-Citation Detail Page
Click any citation to see its detail page, which includes:- The full URL and page title (if available)
- Total citation count across all test runs
- Platform breakdown showing which AI platforms cite this URL
- Prompt breakdown showing which prompts produce this citation
- Historical trend of citation frequency
- Sample response excerpts where the URL was cited
Platform Citation Behavior
Different AI platforms have different citation behaviors:Perplexity
Perplexity is citation-heavy. It typically includes multiple source references in every response, making it an important platform for citation tracking.ChatGPT
ChatGPT citation behavior varies by query type and response format. Some responses include detailed citations while others do not.Google AI Mode
Google AI Mode typically links to source pages from web search results, often with inline references.Gemini
Gemini citation behavior varies and may include links to source material depending on the query.Grok
Grok may reference sources, particularly for factual or technical queries.Improving Your Citations
Create Citable Content
Content that tends to get cited by AI platforms:- Comprehensive documentation with clear structure
- Authoritative, well-researched writing
- Unique data, benchmarks, or insights
- Clear answers to specific questions
- Up-to-date, accurate information
Page Structure
Help AI platforms identify and cite your content:- Use clear headings that match common query patterns
- Write concise, quotable paragraphs
- Make definitive statements that AI can reference
- Keep information current and accurate
Content Breadth
Cover the topics your audience asks about:- Getting started guides
- API references
- Tutorial and how-to content
- Comparison pages
- Troubleshooting guides
Citation Entitlements
Citation tracking features may vary by plan tier. Some detail views and historical depth may require higher-tier plans. Check your plan details for specific citation tracking entitlements.Working with Citation Data
Content Strategy
Use citation data to guide your content investment: Well-cited pages:- Maintain and keep up to date
- Use as templates for new content
- Expand into related topics
- Review content quality and relevance
- Check whether the page addresses common prompts
- Consider restructuring or improving the content
Competitive Analysis
Use competitor citation data to:- Identify competitor content that AI platforms prefer
- Understand what makes competitor content citable
- Find gaps where you can create superior content
Next Steps
- Citation Sources - Manage tracked domains
- Prompts - Manage queries that generate citations
- Understanding Metrics - How citations feed into metrics
- Platform Comparison - Compare citation behavior across platforms