What is a citation?
A citation occurs when an AI engine links directly to your domain as a source in its response.
This typically means your website is being used as supporting evidence for the answer.
What is a mention?
A mention occurs when your brand or website is referenced in the answer text, but not linked.
This means your domain is recognized by the AI, even if it is not cited as a direct source.
How are citations and mentions tracked?
Cytd tracks both citations and mentions across supported AI engines and includes them in your performance data.
Both metrics are counted within the Cytd Stats card on your dashboard.
What is the difference between citations and mentions?
Citations include a direct link to your domain
- Mentions reference your brand or site without a link
- Both indicate visibility, but citations typically carry stronger authority since they are used as sources.
Why do both metrics matter?
Tracking both citations and mentions gives you a more complete view of your AI visibility.
- Citations show where your content is being used as a trusted source
- Mentions show where your brand is being recognized in conversations
Together, they help you understand your overall presence across AI platforms.
In simple terms
Citations are linked sources, and mentions are text references. Cytd tracks both to show how often your domain appears in AI-generated answers.