What are 'cited sources' and why do they matter?

When AI models answer a question, they draw on content from across the web — GetMint surfaces those sources so you can see exactly what is shaping the answers about you.

Sources vs. citations — the difference:

• Sources are all the URLs an AI model accesses while generating a response.
• Citations are the sources the model explicitly names in the answer itself.

Why this matters more than traditional SEO: in AI search, being mentioned can matter as much as being linked. Your brand can appear as a cited source without a classic backlink — and you can be talked about without your own site being the source. What counts is showing up across the trusted pages that models consult when they answer.

How to use the sources view:

1. For a topic where you're underperforming, look at which URLs the AI cited.
2. Notice the patterns — are they review sites, comparison articles, industry media, or competitor blogs?
3. Those are the pages you want to be present in or featured on. Earning a mention there is often the fastest way to move your visibility.

Two ways to act on it:

• Create your own content that directly answers the question, so the model can cite you.
• Get featured on the external sources models already trust — GetMint's Content Studio can help you place content across partner media (150,000+ outlets) where AI engines source information.

Tracing the sources behind a gap is the single most actionable thing you can do in the dashboard.

Key takeaways

• Sources are URLs an AI model accesses; citations are the ones it explicitly names in its answer.
• In AI search, being mentioned can matter as much as being linked — your brand can be a cited source without a classic backlink.
• The cited-sources view tells you where to publish or pitch — review sites, comparators, industry media, competitor blogs.
• Tracing sources behind a gap is the single most actionable thing on the dashboard.