> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.crowdreply.io/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Understanding citation categories and domains

When you look at your [Citations](https://crowdreply.io/citations) page, you'll notice that cited domains are organized into categories. Understanding these categories helps you make sense of where AI models get their information and where to focus your engagement.
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#### What are citation categories?

Every domain that AI models cite is classified into a category based on the type of source it is. CrowdReply automatically categorizes hundreds of domains so you can quickly understand the landscape of sources influencing AI answers.
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#### The categories

**Social**
Community and social media platforms where users discuss and share content.
* Examples: reddit.com, quora.com, twitter.com, linkedin.com, facebook.com, stackoverflow.com, producthunt.com
* **Why it matters:** These are your primary engagement targets. AI models heavily cite social discussions because they contain real user opinions and recommendations.

**News**
Journalism and news publications, including tech, business, and industry media.
* Examples: techcrunch.com, forbes.com, bloomberg.com, wired.com, theverge.com, cnbc.com
* **Why it matters:** News citations indicate that AI models value editorial authority for your industry. Getting featured or mentioned in press can boost your citation coverage.

**Review**
Product review and comparison platforms.
* Examples: g2.com, capterra.com, trustpilot.com, trustradius.com, alternativeto.net, wirecutter.com
* **Why it matters:** When AI models cite review sites, they're pulling competitive comparison data. Having a strong presence on review platforms (good ratings, detailed profiles) influences how AI talks about your brand.

**Blog**
Blog and content publishing platforms.
* Examples: wordpress.com, blogspot.com, medium.com, substack.com, ghost.io
* **Why it matters:** Blog citations show that AI models are finding relevant long-form content. Your own blog or guest posts on these platforms can become citation sources over time.

**Academic**
Research, scientific, and academic publications.
* Examples: scholar.google.com, nature.com, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, arxiv.org, researchgate.net
* **Why it matters:** Most relevant for healthcare, science, and education brands. Academic citations carry high authority with AI models.

**Wiki**
Reference and encyclopedia sources.
* Examples: wikipedia.org, britannica.com, investopedia.com
* **Why it matters:** Wiki sources are commonly cited for foundational definitions and concepts. Having your brand mentioned on Wikipedia (where appropriate) can influence AI answers.

**Marketplace**
E-commerce, app stores, and job/service platforms.
* Examples: amazon.com, apps.apple.com, play.google.com, shopify.com, npmjs.com
* **Why it matters:** Relevant for product brands. AI models cite marketplace listings when recommending specific products to purchase or download.

**Government**
Government agencies and public health organizations.
* Examples: cdc.gov, nih.gov, fda.gov, who.int, nhs.uk
* **Why it matters:** Primarily relevant for health, finance, and regulatory topics. These carry extremely high authority.

**Documentation**
Technical documentation and developer resources.
* Examples: developer.mozilla.org, docs.aws.amazon.com, learn.microsoft.com, kubernetes.io, reactjs.org
* **Why it matters:** Relevant for developer tools and technical products. If your documentation is well-structured and publicly accessible, it can become a cited source.

**Competitor**
Domains belonging to your competitors (based on the competitor domains you configured in your project settings).
* **Why it matters:** When a competitor's own website is cited, it means AI is pulling directly from their content. This highlights areas where competitors have a content advantage.

**Corporate**
Company websites that aren't classified as competitors.

**Community**
Forum and community sites not classified under Social.

**Other**
Domains that don't fit neatly into the above categories.
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#### How to use categories strategically

**Focus engagement on Social**
Social platforms especially Reddit are where you have the most control. You can directly engage on cited threads to build your brand's presence.

**Monitor Review platforms**
If review sites are heavily cited, make sure your brand has a strong profile on G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, etc. Good ratings and detailed listings influence what AI models say about you.

**Track Competitor citations**
If your competitor's own website is being cited frequently, it means their content is well-optimized for AI. Study what content they have that's getting cited and consider creating similar (but better) content.

**Don't ignore News**
Being mentioned in tech publications or industry media creates high-authority citations. PR and media outreach can complement your engagement strategy.