Sources
See the sources AI trusts.
AI recommends what its sources say. rankyn shows the sources behind each answer, the gap where a competitor is named and you are not, and how to close it.
“Best magnesium for better sleep?”
- Test portalMagnesium supplements tested: our top picksNamedNot named
- Health magazineMagnesium for sleep: what actually worksNamedNot named
- Reddit threadWhich magnesium glycinate do you take?NamedNot named
Where AI answers get their facts
AI answers lean on a few kinds of sources, from your own website to what others write about you. Each kind has its own way in, and rankyn shows which ones the answers for your buying intents actually cite.
- Your own websiteWay inProduct pages with clear facts, prices and availability the AI can read and quote.
- Retailers and marketplacesWay inComplete listings that carry the same facts as your own pages.
- Tests and comparisonsWay inSamples and test data for the editors who write the roundups.
- Review portalsWay inReviews from real customers, collected and answered.
- Forums and communitiesWay inOpen answers as the brand in the threads where shoppers ask.
- VideoWay inReviews and how‑tos by creators who test products like yours.
What rankyn determines
- Which sources are citedrankyn shows the sources each answer cites, combined over at least three runs so a source that comes and goes is not missed.
- Where you are missingrankyn marks which sources name your competitor and not you. That is the gap the answer is built on.
- Which fix followsEach gap becomes a fix: get into the source, with the concrete how and the priority.
Fixes with a way in
A source gap comes with a fix, not just a warning. Each fix states the priority and the concrete step to get your product into the source the AI trusts.
Fixes
- Get into the test portal’s roundup.Send a sample and your lab results to the editor. The roundup is updated regularly.High
- Join the Reddit thread.Answer openly as the brand, with your test data. Not an ad.Medium
- Pitch the health magazine.Offer an expert quote on magnesium and sleep.Medium
How a source is counted
rankyn counts sources by four rules that keep the gaps real. An absence only counts when enough answers back it.
| Source | Run 1 | Run 2 | Run 3 | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Test portaltestportal.example | ||||
| 3Health magazineRedirect link resolved to the site | ||||
| 1Reddit threadreddit.com | ||||
| 2Your domainyourstore.example | ||||
| 4Retailer listingReturned as retrieved | Not counted |
- At least three runsThe view combines the sources cited in at least three runs. AI cites differently from one answer to the next, so one run alone could miss a source or show you as absent by chance.
- Your domain, yes or norankyn shows whether your own domain is among the cited sources, and which sources name your brand or your competitor.
- The real domainRedirect links in an answer are resolved to the site behind them, so the source you see is the one the AI actually used.
- Retrieved is not citedWhere a surface returns sources it retrieved rather than cited, rankyn marks them as retrieved and never counts them as citations.
Know who the AI cites.
Start with a free audit to see where you stand, then follow the sources behind every answer in your plan.
Questions about sources
Which sources rankyn reads, how it counts them, and what you can do about a gap. Can’t find your answer? Write to hello@rankyn.ai.
Why do sources matter?
Sources are what AI recommends from, and rankyn shows which ones each answer cites. You see the evidence behind who wins the recommendation and where you are left out.
How does rankyn count a source?
rankyn combines the sources cited across at least three runs and checks whether your own domain is among them. Sources a surface only retrieved, without citing them, are marked as retrieved and never counted as citations.
What is a source gap?
In rankyn, a source gap is a cited source that names your competitor and not you. rankyn shows these gaps per buying intent, so you see exactly where the answer leaves you out.
What can I do about a source gap?
rankyn turns every source gap into a fix with a priority and the concrete step to get your product into the source, such as sending a sample to a test portal the AI cites.
Why does rankyn use several runs?
rankyn reads sources over at least three runs because AI cites differently from one answer to the next. A single run can miss a source, so saying you are absent needs more than one answer.