Someone just asked Perplexity about your industry. The answer cited three sources. You weren't one of them.
Your competitor was. With a [1] link pointing right to their site.
That's the Perplexity game. And it's different from ChatGPT.
What makes Perplexity different
Perplexity was built specifically as an AI search engine. Not a general assistant that sometimes searches the web. A search engine that happens to use AI.
Every query triggers a web search. Perplexity finds sources, synthesizes an answer, and shows numbered citations: [1] [2] [3]. Users can click through to see where the information came from.
This matters for you. Unlike ChatGPT (which may or may not search the web depending on the query), Perplexity always searches. Your current content matters every single time.
Why Perplexity matters
Perplexity is growing fast. Users trust it because answers come with visible sources. The citations create accountability that other AI tools lack.
For your business, Perplexity citations deliver qualified traffic. Users who click those citation links have specific intent. They're not browsing. They're researching something they care about.
Getting cited also builds authority. When Perplexity positions you as a source, you're not just mentioned. You're presented as part of the answer. That's different from being recommended.
And Perplexity's user base skews toward early adopters and decision-makers. These are people comfortable with AI tools, often with purchasing power.
What gets cited on Perplexity
Comprehensive, authoritative content
Perplexity cites sources it trusts. That means in-depth coverage of topics, not surface-level summaries. Original research or unique insights. Clear expertise signals that show you actually know what you're talking about.
Thin content doesn't get cited. A 500-word overview won't compete with a thorough guide.
Well-structured content
Make it easy for Perplexity to extract and cite your information. Clear headings that match what users actually search for. Direct answers to common questions, not buried in paragraphs. Bulleted lists and tables for quick reference. FAQ sections that address specific queries.
Fresh content
Perplexity searches in real-time. Fresh content has an advantage. If your best guide hasn't been updated since 2022 and someone else published a 2024 version covering the same topic, guess which one gets cited?
Domain authority
Just like Google, Perplexity uses authority signals. Being linked from other authoritative sites helps. Industry publications, educational references, trusted news sources. These boost your citation chances.
Content that matches query intent
Perplexity tries to match sources to what users actually want. If users ask "best X for Y", content that directly addresses that comparison is more likely to be cited than generic product pages that don't answer the question.
Tracking Perplexity visibility
Unlike Google rankings, Perplexity citations vary by query phrasing and timing. Same question, different day, potentially different sources cited.
You need systematic tracking to understand your Perplexity presence. Which prompts cite you? Which don't? How does it change over time?
Mentionable monitors your visibility across Perplexity and other AI platforms. You see the prompts where you're getting cited, the ones where competitors win, and trends over time.
Perplexity vs Google SEO
Some things translate. Quality content helps everywhere. Authority matters in both.
But Perplexity rewards different things than Google.
Google cares about technical SEO factors. Perplexity cares about content substance.
Google ranks pages. Perplexity cites them.
Google emphasizes keywords. Perplexity emphasizes topical authority.
Meta tags matter for Google's search results. For Perplexity, it's whether your content actually answers the question.
The overlap exists, but Perplexity specifically rewards substantive, current content more than technical optimization.
Perplexity is a growing channel
As AI search grows, Perplexity represents a significant discovery channel. Users asking research questions, comparing options, seeking recommendations. Decision-stage queries where being cited can directly influence purchases.
Optimizing for Perplexity now builds visibility in a channel that will likely grow substantially. The businesses getting cited today are building authority that compounds as more users adopt AI search.
