Writing Specific, Citable Content
Specificity is the #1 factor in citability. Here's how to transform vague content into citable facts.
Why Specificity Matters
AI systems need something concrete to quote. Vague statements offer nothing to cite.
Vague (not citable):
"CRM systems can significantly improve sales performance."
Specific (citable):
"Companies using CRM systems see an average 29% increase in sales according to Nucleus Research."
Techniques for Specificity
1. Add Numbers
Transform vague claims into quantified statements:
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| "Fast delivery" | "Delivery in 2-3 business days" |
| "Many customers" | "Over 10,000 customers" |
| "Significant improvement" | "37% improvement" |
| "Most users" | "78% of users" |
2. Include Dates and Timeframes
Context matters for AI citation:
Before: "According to recent research..." After: "According to a 2024 Gartner study..."
Before: "We've helped many businesses..." After: "Since 2020, we've helped 500+ businesses..."
3. Name Names
Be specific about entities:
Before: "Leading companies use this approach..." After: "Companies like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zendesk use this approach..."
4. Provide Context
Numbers need context to be meaningful:
Before: "We achieved 50% growth." After: "We achieved 50% revenue growth in Q4 2024, outpacing the industry average of 12%."
Format for Maximum Citability
The Citable Fact Format
[Specific metric] + [Context] + [Source]
Example:
"CRM adoption increases sales by an average of 29% (Nucleus Research, 2024)."
Bold Key Statistics
Make important numbers stand out:
Key finding: 67% of CRM implementations fail when user adoption isn't prioritized from the start (Gartner, 2024).
Use Comparison Format
Comparisons are highly citable:
"HubSpot Free CRM supports up to 1,000,000 contacts at no cost, compared to Salesforce's 10,000 contact limit on their Essentials plan."
Quick Specificity Checklist
For each key claim, check:
- Is there a specific number?
- Is there a date or timeframe?
- Is the source cited?
- Would someone want to quote this?
Key Takeaway
Every piece of content should contain at least one specific, verifiable fact that AI could cite. If you can't find one, add one.
Go deeper: The full GEO course covers comprehensive citability strategies.