Skip to main content
AuthorAuthor: Adnan Ali

​
Overview

Sources are the websites and content that AI platforms cite when answering questions. Understanding sources helps you identify:
  • Where AI gets information about your industry
  • Which content influences AI recommendations
  • Where competitors appear but you don’t (opportunities!)
Sources Dashboard

​
Source Types

​
Domain Types

AI Brand Monitor classifies domains into categories:
TypeDescriptionExamples
YouYour brand’s websitesyourcompany.com
CompetitorCompetitor websitescompetitor.com
CorporateOther company sitesmicrosoft.com, google.com
EditorialNews, blogs, magazinestechcrunch.com, forbes.com
UGCUser-generated contentreddit.com, quora.com
ReferenceKnowledge baseswikipedia.org, docs.*
InstitutionalGovernment, education.gov, .edu sites
OtherUncategorizedEverything else

​
URL Types

Individual pages are classified by content type:
TypeDescriptionExamples
HomepageMain entry pagescompany.com/
Product PageProduct/service pages…/pricing, …/features
ArticleNews and blog posts…/blog/…
Listicle”Top 10…” articles”Best CRM tools 2026”
ComparisonA vs B articles”Salesforce vs HubSpot”
How-To GuideTutorials”How to set up…”
AlternativeAlternative roundups”Best X alternatives”
DiscussionForum threadsReddit posts, Quora answers

​
Sources Dashboard

Sources Dashboard Tabs

​
Domains Tab

Shows aggregated data by domain:
ColumnWhat It Shows
DomainWebsite domain name
TypeDomain classification
UsedNumber of chats citing this domain
Used %Relative to most-cited domain
Avg CitationsAverage times cited per chat

​
URLs Tab

Shows individual page data:
ColumnWhat It Shows
URLFull page URL
TitlePage title
TypeContent type classification
Brand MentionedWhether your brand appears on this page
UsedNumber of chats citing this URL

​
Type Distribution

The pie chart shows how citations break down by type:

What to Look For

  • High Editorial % - AI relies heavily on news/blog content
  • High UGC % - AI values user opinions and discussions
  • High Competitor % - Competitors have strong owned content
  • Low “You” % - Opportunity to create more citable content

Usage Chart

The line chart shows how top sources trend over time:
  • Rising sources - Becoming more influential
  • Falling sources - Losing relevance
  • New sources - Recently started being cited

​
Gap Analysis

Gap Analysis helps you find sources where competitors appear but you don’t - these are your best opportunities!

​
How to Use Gap Analysis

1

Enable Gap Analysis

Toggle “Gap Analysis” on in the Sources view
2

Review by Gap Score

Sources are sorted by opportunity - highest scores first
3

Prioritize high-scoring sources

These are your best opportunities for improvement

​
Understanding Gap Score

Gap Score = Times Cited × Competitor Count
Example:
  • Source cited 50 times
  • Mentions 3 competitors but not you
  • Gap Score = 50 × 3 = 150
Higher Gap Score = Higher priority opportunity. Focus on these first!

​
Min Competitors Filter

Adjust the minimum competitor count to focus your efforts:
SettingWhat You’ll See
1Any source with at least 1 competitor
2+Sources where multiple competitors appear
3+High-competition sources (hardest to crack)

​
Why Sources Matter

​
Understanding AI Influence

AI platforms learn from content across the web. When answering questions, they cite sources to support recommendations. These citations reveal:

What AI Trusts

High-authority sources that AI considers reliable

What AI Learned

Content that shaped AI’s knowledge base

What AI Recommends

Action-driving content that leads to recommendations

​
Most Influential Source Types

TypeInfluence LevelWhy
Editorial (News/Blogs)Very HighAI treats journalistic content as authoritative
Comparison SitesHighDirectly answers “best of” questions
Reviews (G2, Capterra)HighTrusted third-party opinions
UGC (Reddit, Quora)MediumReal user experiences
Your WebsiteMediumGood for branded queries
WikipediaMediumBackground/definition queries

​
Taking Action on Sources

​
When You Find a Gap

1

Evaluate the source

Is it a site where you could realistically get mentioned?
2

Check the content type

  • Editorial: Consider outreach, PR, or creating newsworthy content
  • Comparison/Listicle: Reach out to the author
  • UGC: Participate authentically in discussions
  • Review sites: Encourage customer reviews
3

Create supporting content

Make sure your website has content that supports the messaging
4

Monitor for changes

Track whether your visibility improves over time

​
Best Practices

Focus on Influence

Prioritize sources that AI cites frequently, not just any source where competitors appear.

Quality Over Quantity

Better to get mentioned well on 5 influential sources than barely on 50 low-impact ones.

Track Progress

Revisit the Sources dashboard monthly to see if your efforts are paying off.

Think Long-Term

Source influence changes over time. What’s important today may shift.