What counts as a visible citation, and when would I see one?

What counts as a visible citation, and SEEONE

A visible citation is when the AI displays or separately reports the page as a source. Not every retrieval includes a citation—the reporting keeps discovery, retrieval, and referral separate so signals don't get inflated. If you see a retrieval with a citation or a confirmed referral, that's stronger, but it's not proof of interest or a sale. Interpret signals over time rather than drawing conclusions from a single event.

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Use this answer as a practical starting point. Current prices, availability, inclusions, ownership details and next steps should be confirmed directly with SupplyOnly.com where they affect a decision.

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Previous questionIs every AI retrieval the same thing as a citation?

No. Retrieval means an AI-related system requested a public resource from the Digital Twin. A visible citation means an AI platform actually displayed or independently reported the page as a source. A confirmed referral means a browser reached the Digital Twin with an identifiable AI-service referre…

Natural follow-up · ClarifyHow should I explain the three signals to a client clearly?

There are three signals you should describe: discovery, retrieval, and referral. Discovery is when an AI or crawler spots a public resource. Retrieval is when the AI fetches material to answer, but it may not show it as the source. Referral means an identifiable AI service arrived with a browser ref…