CitenzoWhat makes content "citable" for AI?
When an AI assistant answers a question, it lifts a passage from a page and attributes it to a source. A citable page is one it can do that with easily. That's less about keywords and more about shape: can the model find a clear answer, extract it cleanly, and trust it's current? This grader scores the signals that decide it.
What the Citability Grader checks
- Clear title & H1 — so AI knows the page's topic
- Question-style headings — content shaped like the questions people ask AI
- Scannable structure — headings, lists and tables AI can extract
- Structured data — JSON-LD that removes ambiguity
- Freshness — a visible or structured date
- Depth — enough substance to be worth quoting, in the raw HTML
How to make a page more citable
Answer real questions with direct, self-contained answers under question-style headings. Break key points into lists and tables — they're the easiest thing for AI to lift. Add FAQPage or Article schema, show a published or updated date, and make sure your content is in the raw HTML rather than rendered by JavaScript, since most AI crawlers don't run it. Then confirm crawlers can reach you at all with the Robots.txt Checker.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'citable' mean for AI?
A citable page is one an AI engine can easily read, understand and quote when answering a question. That means clear structure, direct answers, extractable lists, structured data and enough depth — so the model can lift a passage and attribute it to you.
How does the Citability Grader work?
It fetches your page the way a non-JavaScript crawler does and scores it on the signals that make content easy to cite: a clear title and H1, question-style headings, scannable lists and tables, structured data, a visible date, and enough depth. It's all heuristics — no LLM, no keys.
How do I make my content more citable?
Answer real questions with direct, self-contained answers under question-style headings; break points into lists and tables; add FAQPage or Article schema; show a date; and make sure the content is in the raw HTML, not rendered by JavaScript.
Does structured data make a page more citable?
It helps — schema removes ambiguity about what your content means, so engines parse and attribute it more reliably. It's one signal among several; structure and direct answers matter just as much.
Why did a real page score low?
Often because the page returns little content without JavaScript — many AI crawlers don't run JS — or because it blocks automated requests. The grader reports what a plain crawler actually receives, which is close to what AI sees.