In the world of classic SEO, a backlink was worth gold. If another website linked to you, Google saw that as a vote of confidence. In the AI age a new equivalent is emerging: the LLM citation. A mention of your name, website or expertise in an answer from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity or another AI.
What is an LLM citation?
LLM stands for Large Language Model, the technology behind AI systems such as ChatGPT. A citation is a mention: the AI names your business, your website or your content as a source or as an answer to a question. Sometimes with a link, sometimes only as a name. Both forms are valuable.
Why are citations so important?
If someone asks ChatGPT “which marketing agency in The Hague specialises in AI findability?” and ChatGPT names you, you have a citation. That person never needs to search on Google. They already know you through the AI. That is direct visibility without you having to do anything in that moment.
How do you build citations?
LLM citations do not happen by chance. They are the result of: a consistent presence across multiple platforms, factual and structured content on your website, mentions in external sources such as trade publications and directories, and a recognisable entity in the web’s knowledge graph. It is a combination of reputation, structure and visibility.
How do you measure LLM citations?
This is a relatively new field. Tools such as MYLO, which we develop ourselves for our clients, make it possible to track how often and in what context your business is mentioned by AI systems. This makes LLM visibility measurable and comparable.
