What are ChatGPT citations?

ChatGPT citations are references to external sources that ChatGPT includes when using its search or browse features. They appear as inline links or named sources at the end of an answer. Two types worth distinguishing: brand mentions (ChatGPT names your company without linking) and domain citations (your URL is actually linked). Both have value, but domain citations are more likely to drive traffic.

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You can track ChatGPT citations using Ahrefs AI Citations (counts by platform and page), Otterly AI (prompt-level monitoring with brand mention vs. domain citation breakdowns), or similar tools. Standard ChatGPT responses synthesized from training data don't include citations. Citations appear when ChatGPT actively searches the web to answer a question.

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