{
  "url": "aeoptimizer.com/faq/how-do-i-tell-the-difference-between-a-real-ai-citation-of-my-site-and-just-a-ca",
  "name": "How do I tell the difference between a real AI citation of my site and just a casual brand mention?",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "speakable": {
    "@type": "SpeakableSpecification",
    "cssSelector": [
      "h1",
      ".faq-question",
      ".faq-answer",
      "[itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\"]"
    ]
  },
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "name": "How do I tell the difference between a real AI citation of my site and just a casual brand mention?",
      "@type": "Question",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "text": "To distinguish a genuine AI citation from a simple mention, look for explicit links or attribution to your domain or content. A citation usually includes your URL or clearly credits your brand as the source of a specific statement, while a mention might just reference your name in passing.\n\nContext: For tracking, you should treat linked citations, attributed sources, and recommendations separately, because each carries different visibility and traffic potential.\n\nKey factors:\n- Linked URL cards or clickable references to your site.\n- Text attributing a statement directly to your brand or resource.\n- Inclusion in “top” or “recommended” lists with clear association.\n- Plain mentions of your name without links or attribution.\n\nPractical guidance: In your logging sheet, use separate columns for linked citation, attributed source, recommendation, and mention-only. This lets you see not just whether you appear, but how strong each appearance is.\n\nSoft positioning: A more nuanced classification prevents you from overestimating weak mentions and underestimating high-value, linked citations.",
        "@type": "Answer",
        "description": "Treat citations as explicit links or clear attribution to your domain or content, and treat mentions as references to your name without a URL or source credit. In your tracking, log linked citations, attributed sources, recommendations, and mention-only separately to understand the real strength of each appearance."
      }
    }
  ],
  "description": "Treat citations as explicit links or clear attribution to your domain or content, and treat mentions as references to your name without a URL or source credit."
}