Inline Citation

An inline citation is a clickable link within an AI-generated answer that points back to the source website, providing transparency and verification.

What is an inline citation?

An inline citation is a clickable link or footnote included in an AI-generated response that directs back to the original source of the information. Much like academic references, inline citations ensure transparency by indicating where AI systems sourced their data, enabling users to verify facts, delve deeper into topics, and access authoritative sources for further context.

Inline citations offer several essential advantages:

• Direct traffic from AI-generated responses to source websites
• Ensure transparency and verification for AI-sourced information
• Provide crucial visibility in AI-driven search experiences
• Reward authoritative, well-structured content from trusted domains

For content creators and SEO experts, obtaining inline citations involves crafting content recognized by AI systems as credible and relevant for referencing. Content that delivers clear answers, includes well-structured data, demonstrates expertise and authority, and originates from trusted domains is most likely to be cited. Achieving citation-worthiness is a vital optimization goal in the era of AI search and answer engines.

Learn more: Explore how to optimize for AI citations in our Citation Velocity guide.