The Citability Framework

Not all content gets cited by AI. Understanding what makes content "citable" is the key to GEO success.

The Four Factors

Content citability depends on:

1. Specificity — Concrete, extractable facts
2. Authority — Credible source signals
3. Clarity — Understandable, parseable structure
4. Verifiability — Claims that can be cross-referenced

1. Specificity

AI needs something concrete to cite.

Low citability:

"Our software helps many businesses improve productivity."

High citability:

"Our software reduced average task completion time by 34% across 1,200 users in 2024."

Making content specific:

• Include numbers and statistics
• Add dates and timeframes
• Name specific examples
• Provide exact figures, not ranges when possible

2. Authority

AI evaluates whether your source is trustworthy.

Authority signals:

• Author credentials: Professional titles, experience, education
• Organizational credibility: Known brands, industry expertise
• Content quality: Well-researched, properly sourced
• External recognition: Cited by others, backlinks

3. Clarity

AI must be able to understand and extract your information.

Clarity elements:

• Clear heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)
• Direct answers in first sentences
• One main idea per section
• Consistent terminology

4. Verifiability

AI cross-references claims against other sources.

Making content verifiable:

• Cite sources for statistics
• Link to primary research
• Use well-established facts
• Acknowledge uncertainty honestly

The Citation Test

Ask yourself: "If I were writing an article, what specific claim would I cite from this content?"

If you can't identify a citable claim, neither can AI.

Key Takeaway

Focus on creating content with specific, verifiable facts from credible sources, presented clearly. That's the formula for AI citation.

Learn more: Our full GEO course covers advanced citability techniques.