How to Get Your Site Cited in AI Platforms (We've done the research so you don't have to!)

Adam McCarthy
2 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 15 hours ago

TL;DR:

AI platforms are changing how content is discovered and cited

ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity, and others are surfacing content differently than traditional search engines. Each platform favors different types of sources (e.g., Wikipedia, YouTube, Reddit).

Getting cited by AI requires more than traditional SEO

You need clear branding and content attribution. Site architecture must be structured for AI comprehension (schema, headers, etc.). Original insights and unique value are key to earning citations.

Data is essential to guide optimization

Identify which AI platforms are sending traffic to your site. Prioritize efforts where engagement and conversions are strongest. Use referral patterns to inform off-site strategy (e.g., Reddit or LinkedIn content).

It’s not just a Google problem anymore — it’s a multi-platform ecosystem

Each AI tool has its own algorithms, preferences, and user base. Adapting your strategy to this new landscape is essential for long-term visibility.

Key Takeaway:

To stay visible in the age of AI, marketers need to shift from a Google-only mindset to a diversified strategy that considers how each AI platform finds, evaluates, and cites content. Success depends on pairing structured, brand-attributable content with platform-specific engagement — because AI engines are building their own rules for what’s worth surfacing. If you want to be cited, you need to know who’s looking, what they’re valuing, and where they’re pulling from.

Getting your site cited by AI platforms is just the latest challenge bubbling up from the ongoing AI revolution. But you may ask, isn’t AI supposed to be making our jobs easier and more efficient? Well, maybe for some — but for us marketers and SEOs, “good” marketing has only gotten harder and more time-consuming.

The very tools promising simplicity and efficiency are layering on new complexity, like a dense Seattle fog. The good news? We already have the tools we need to optimize for this brave new world (dystopian reference intended). Audience definition, data analysis, and yes, even AI, are more essential than ever — and SEO now takes more thought, strategy, and patience than it did even a year ago.

Setting aside, for a moment, the decreasing visibility of traditional search engine results due to AI, it’s important to remember that there are now dozens of new tools that can potentially surface your content. ChatGPT is the biggest, but there are many up-and-coming stars. The AI platforms people use — and how those platforms reference sources — varies widely by industry, by site, and even by the type of authority they trust (for example, ChatGPT tends to cite Wikipedia, while Google’s AI Overviews lean more toward Reddit).

To optimize for AI, you first need to know which AI platforms are driving traffic to your content. And to figure that out, you need to dive into your analytics — because not all AI platforms, industries, or traffic sources behave the same. We explored this deeply in our own client AI traffic analysis a few months ago.

From there, you need to understand how each AI tool works — what it surfaces, what it cites, and how to earn those citations — each one has a different audience and different priorities (because of course they do). Fortunately, we’ve done the research so you don’t have to.

What We Know: Rankscale.ai’s AI Citation Study

Rankscale.ai recently analyzed nearly 8,000 AI-generated citations across 57 diverse queries to understand how different AI engines select and reference content. Their findings show meaningful differences in how these platforms treat sources:

ChatGPT favors established, high-authority sources like Wikipedia and Reuters.
Google’s Gemini leans into multimedia content such as YouTube videos and expert blogs.
Perplexity often cites review-style content (think: NerdWallet, Consumer Reports).
Google’s AI Overviews tend to draw from community-driven platforms like Reddit and LinkedIn.

These findings underscore a key point: AI engines aren’t just replicating traditional search behavior. They’re developing their own algorithms and citation patterns based on unique training data and usage contexts.

So What? You Just Want Your Content Found.

Where does that leave you when it comes to optimizing your site so that AI platforms want to cite your content?

Well, for starters, you won’t be surprised to learn that traditional SEO strategies may no longer be enough. To increase your odds of being cited by AI tools, you’ll want to update your strategy to further emphasize a few core areas:

Core AI Optimization Recommendations

Clear Branding
Make sure content is clearly attributable to a recognizable brand or author. Use consistent naming conventions, include bylines, and maintain a clear "About" or "Author" section.
Structured Site Architecture
AI engines thrive on clean, logical structure.
- Use schema.org markup and semantic HTML
- Ensure strong internal linking
- Label your headers and subheaders clearly
- Include meta data that aligns with your on-page content
Original Insights & Unique Content
AI prefers citing sources that offer something new.
- Share proprietary data, case studies, or unique takes
- Avoid regurgitating what’s already on the first page of Google
- Aim for value-added content rather than keyword stuffing

Use Data to Guide AI Optimization Strategy

To know where to focus your energy, tap into your analytics and AI platform referral data:

Traffic Trends
Which AI tools are sending you traffic? Is one growing quickly? Are you underperforming on tools that your competitors seem to be benefiting from?
Engagement Rates by Source
Which AI-driven traffic sources are actually engaging or converting on your site? That’s probably where you want your optimization focus to go.
AI-Informed Off-Site Strategy
If Google AI Overviews are sending strong traffic, and they favor Reddit and LinkedIn content, it may be time to step up your participation on those platforms. Don’t just optimize your site — optimize your presence everywhere AI is listening.

This Isn’t Just a Google Shift. It’s a Whole New Paradigm.

The rise of AI tools represents not just a threat to Google’s dominance, but a fundamental shift in how information is discovered and trusted. We’re seeing a move from a centralized, search-engine-first world to a fragmented, multi-AI universe. This requires new thinking, new strategies, and new measurement frameworks.

Rooted Rock’s Perspective: Thriving in a Fragmented Digital World

We believe the future of search and content visibility lies in understanding the full ecosystem, not just focusing on a single algorithm.

Effective digital marketing now requires:

In-Depth Data Analysis Identify which AI platforms matter to your audience — and how they interact with content.
Tailored Content Strategies Create content that aligns with the style and priorities of each AI engine.
Continuous Adaptation Stay on top of new AI features, citation behaviors, and platform rollouts. This isn’t a one-and-done optimization — it’s an ongoing evolution.

At Rooted Rock Marketing, we’re committed to helping you navigate this fast-changing environment. As AI continues to reshape how people access and engage with content, staying ahead means aligning your content with both audience intent and AI behavior.

Yes, it’s complex. But that complexity is also opportunity.

Each AI engine — and each of its user communities — represents a new path to reach your audience. We’re here to help you map that landscape and succeed in it.

About the Author

Adam McCarthy is an SEO Specialist at Rooted Rock Marketing. With over 20 years of marketing experience, Adam loves diving into data analysis, especially when it leads him to some unexpected results.

About the Editor

Shelly Cihan is Founder and Lead Strategist at Rooted Rock Marketing. For over a decade she has dedicated her professional career to learning, executing, and speaking about SEO and Digital marketing.