Citation audit
We run your 50 buyer questions in Perplexity and log every numbered source, including the ones that aren't you.
You getCitation log by question
SEO for Perplexity · Canada
SEO for Perplexity: earn the numbered citation
Perplexity shows its sources in plain view, numbered and clickable. That makes it one of the few AI tools where being cited can send a buyer straight to your page.
- 6 AI platforms
- 50 questions, EN + FR
- No obligation
Perplexityanswer
Which Windsor machine shops do CNC prototypes for automotive suppliers?
Most guides recommend Your Brand for clear, published answers1, with Competitor A a close second2. Pricing pages and recent reviews matter3.
1yourbrand.caService page
2industry guideComparison
3news siteArticle
In short
SEO for Perplexity is about getting your pages chosen as one of the numbered sources behind its answers. Perplexity runs a live search for most questions, so your page has to be reachable by PerplexityBot, current, and written in clear passages that can be quoted without extra context. Perplexity doesn't publish its ranking formula, so we work from what it documents and what we can measure.
- Retrieval
- Live search for most questions
- Sources shown
- Numbered, clickable citations
- Crawlers
- PerplexityBot and Perplexity-User
- Ranking formula
- Not published
Why it matters
Why Perplexity behaves differently from other AI tools
ChatGPTAI OverviewsAI ModeGeminiPerplexityCopilot
Most AI assistants blend sources into an answer and show links only sometimes. Perplexity puts numbered citations right next to its claims, so a reader can check which page said what. It also runs live retrieval for most questions instead of leaning on what a model learned during training. A page you update this week can be read the next time someone asks.
That openness cuts both ways. If a Toronto competitor's guide is cited for the question your sales team answers every day, the buyer can see it and click it. If your page is slow, blocked or vague, it simply isn't chosen. Perplexity hasn't published how it ranks sources, so anyone claiming to know the formula is guessing. What we can do is remove the reasons a page gets passed over.
How it works
How SEO for Perplexity works
Four conditions make a page a strong candidate for a Perplexity citation.
- 01
Reachable by PerplexityBot
PerplexityBot is the search crawler and Perplexity-User handles fetches triggered by a user. We make sure neither is blocked by robots.txt, a CDN or a security plugin.
- 02
Current and dated
Live retrieval favours information that is plainly up to date. Visible review dates and refreshed figures help a reader, and a retrieval system, trust the page.
- 03
Quotable passages
Each section opens with a sentence that answers one question completely, so it still makes sense when lifted out on its own.
- 04
Specific to the asker
Named cities, standards, materials and service limits help match a page to a precise question rather than a generic one.
What we do
What our Perplexity optimization covers
Built around citations you can see and count, in English and French.
Bot access check
Server logs and bot rules reviewed for PerplexityBot and Perplexity-User, with fixes for anything blocking them.
You getAccess fixes and log notes
Passage editing
We tighten the sections Perplexity should quote, making each one self-contained and specific.
You getEdited sections on key pages
Freshness routine
A simple schedule for reviewing pages whose details change, such as service areas, availability or regulations.
You getReview calendar
Competing source review
When a directory or a competitor gets the citation, we study why and decide whether to outdo it or get listed on it.
You getSource-by-source notes
French citation tracking
French questions often cite different sources, so we track them separately and fill gaps on your French pages.
You getFrench citation results
Side by side
Perplexity and ChatGPT search: what changes for your site
| Perplexity | ChatGPT search | |
|---|---|---|
| Search crawler | PerplexityBot | OAI-SearchBot |
| User-triggered fetches | Perplexity-User | ChatGPT-User |
| How sources appear | Numbered citations beside claims | Inline source links, varying by answer |
| Retrieval | Live retrieval on most questions | Searches the web when a question needs it |
| Ranking method | Not published | Not published |
| Where we start | Access, freshness, quotable passages | Access, Bing indexing, consistent facts |
Allowing one company's crawler does nothing for the other, so we check both.
Working with us
Our Perplexity workflow
No lock-in surprises. You see the plan, the work and the results.
Get an AEO quote- Phase 1
Record today's citations
We capture which sources Perplexity numbers for each question, in both languages, before touching anything.
- Phase 2
Unblock and refresh
Crawler access comes first, then the pages with outdated details that could be costing you trust.
- Phase 3
Rewrite for quotation
Key passages are edited so each can stand alone, with the specifics a careful reader expects.
- Phase 4
Count again
Each month we rerun the questions and compare the citation lists line by line.
How do I get cited by Perplexity?
Let PerplexityBot crawl your site, keep key pages current and write sections that answer one question clearly in their first sentence. Being listed accurately on sources Perplexity already cites in your field also helps. There's no form to request a citation.
What is PerplexityBot and should I allow it?
PerplexityBot is Perplexity's search crawler, the one that finds pages to use in answers. If you want to be cited, allow it on your public pages. Perplexity-User is separate and fetches pages when a user's request calls for it.
How does Perplexity decide which sources to cite?
Perplexity doesn't publish its ranking formula. From the outside, pages that are reachable, relevant to the exact question, current and easy to quote tend to do well, and that's where we focus our work.
Does updating a page help it show up in Perplexity?
It can, because Perplexity retrieves pages live for most questions rather than relying only on older training data. Updates should be real, such as new details or corrected facts. Changing a date without changing the content helps nobody.
Why does Perplexity cite a directory instead of my own website?
Directories often answer comparison questions directly and are easy to crawl. Sometimes the best move is a clearer page of your own; sometimes it's an accurate, complete listing on that directory. We look at each case.
Is Perplexity worth optimizing for if I run a small Ontario business?
Usually, because the work overlaps with what helps the other platforms: crawler access, clear answers and accurate facts. Perplexity's visible citations also make it a handy way to see which sources AI tools trust in your niche.
See which sources Perplexity cites in your field
Start with our free AI visibility check and we'll show you who gets the numbered citations today.