What are the three forms of AI citation?
The first form is the mention from memory: the model knows the brand and names it without browsing the web. The second is the source citation: the AI reads a page during its search and displays it as a link. The third is the recommendation: the brand is suggested as a solution, often in a list.
These three forms do not carry the same value. Being cited as a source shows that your content is considered reliable. Being recommended is what generates meeting requests.
Mention or citation: what is the difference?
A mention is the appearance of the brand name in the text of the answer. A citation, in the strict sense, credits a piece of content as a source, usually with a clickable link. A brand can be cited as a source without being named in the answer, or named without any of its pages being cited.
What triggers an AI citation?
- Third-party sources: press articles, business directories, comparisons and reviews. An AI that recommends a provider relies heavily on what others say about it.
- Content that is easy to extract: short definitions, tables, questions and answers, paragraphs that make sense on their own.
- Sourced data: a dated, attributed figure is picked up more often than a general statement.
- A consistent description: the same presentation of the brand on its website, its profiles and in the press.
What we measure at Linker
From 26 to 30 September 2026, Linker's pages were cited 960 times as sources in the answers of the panel it tracks (Peec AI). Comparisons are the most cited format: in September 2026, two comparison articles accounted for 36% of the site's citations. A comparison that honestly names several players answers exactly the question “which one should I choose?”.
To go further
AI citation is measured alongside AI visibility and is part of a GEO approach. To see a comparison format in practice: the best PR agencies in France.
Last updated: October 2026
