Understanding Sources

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What are Sources?

Sources are the references, citations, and information origins that AI platforms use when generating responses. Understanding sources helps you know why AI says what it says about your brand. Some AI platforms (like Perplexity) explicitly cite sources. Others (like ChatGPT) base responses on their training data. Atomic AGI helps you understand both.

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Source Types

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Explicit Citations

Some AI platforms cite sources directly:

• Perplexity: Lists websites used to generate responses
• Gemini: May include source links
• ChatGPT with browsing: Can cite web sources

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Inferred Sources

For AI without explicit citations, we analyze:

• Common information patterns
• Content matching your known web presence
• Correlation with your published content

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Source Dashboard

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Overview

The sources dashboard shows:

• Total citations: How often you’re cited as a source
• Citation sources: What content gets cited
• Competitor citations: Who gets cited alongside you
• Trending sources: Sources appearing more frequently

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Your Citations

Track when your content is directly cited:

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Competitor Citations

See what competitor content gets cited:

• Which competitor pages are referenced?
• What types of content get cited most?
• Where are there gaps in your citations?

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Source Analysis

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Why Sources Matter

Understanding sources helps you:

1. Create citeable content: Know what type of content gets referenced
2. Improve existing content: Optimize pages that are or should be cited
3. Identify gaps: Find topics where you lack citeable content
4. Outperform competitors: Create better content on key topics

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Citation Patterns

Common patterns in AI citations:

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Optimizing for Citations

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Content Strategy

Create content that AI wants to cite:

1. Comprehensive guides: Complete resources on key topics
2. Comparison pages: Feature and pricing comparisons
3. Documentation: Clear, detailed product documentation
4. Data and research: Original research and statistics
5. Expert content: Thought leadership and analysis

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Technical Optimization

Make your content easy for AI to find and cite:

• Structured content: Clear headings and organization
• Schema markup: Help AI understand your content
• llm.txt file: Guide AI crawlers
• Fast loading: Ensure pages load quickly
• Mobile friendly: Accessible on all devices

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Authority Building

Increase your content’s authority:

• Expert authorship: Clear author credentials
• Citations: Link to authoritative sources
• Backlinks: Earn links from authoritative sites
• Updates: Keep content current

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Source Trends

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Tracking Over Time

Monitor source citation trends:

• Which pages are getting cited more?
• Are new pages entering citation lists?
• Is citation volume increasing?

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Competitor Source Trends

Watch competitor citation patterns:

• What new content are they publishing?
• Which content is gaining citations?
• Where are they investing?

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Platform Differences

Different platforms use sources differently:

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Acting on Source Insights

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Content Priorities

Based on source analysis, prioritize:

1. Topics where you’re not cited: Create or improve content
2. High-citation competitor topics: Create competing content
3. Your top-cited pages: Optimize and expand
4. Emerging topics: Create content early

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Content Improvement

For existing content:

• Add missing information
• Update outdated details
• Improve structure and clarity
• Add expert insights
• Include current data

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New Content Creation

For gaps in citations:

• Research what competitors provide
• Create more comprehensive resources
• Add unique insights or data
• Optimize for discoverability

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Correlation with Performance

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Sources and Visibility

Higher citation rates often correlate with:

• Better visibility
• Higher positions
• More positive sentiment

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Tracking Impact

Monitor how source optimization affects:

• Citation frequency
• Visibility changes
• Position improvements
• Overall performance

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Next Steps