Sources are the citations that AI systems reference when responding to prompts. Large language models like ChatGPT or Claude can rely on their trained datasets, but increasingly they use real-time web retrieval. They pull from live search results and synthesize multiple pieces of content to generate a response.
When you ask an AI system a question, the sources represent the web URLs and content references it used. In Search Party, sources are stored in the Sources section. They are organized across two dimensions:
Domains: the broader sites being cited
Pages: the specific URLs cited
For each prompt you’re analyzing, Search Party shows which sources are most prominent and how often they are being cited.
Key Benefits
Provide transparency into which websites influence AI responses
Surface domains and pages most often cited by LLMs for your tracked prompts
Enable actionable strategies to strengthen brand visibility in AI-driven environments
Common Use Cases
Content strategy: If a source or page is cited frequently, create similar high-quality content on your own site to compete for that visibility
Partnerships and outreach: Contact source page owners to earn mentions or placements for your brand
Competitive analysis: Monitor which domains are consistently cited to understand whose content is shaping the conversation
Why It Matters
Think of sources as the new backlinks. Traditional SEO focused on earning links to boost Google rankings. In the AI era, the game shifts: being mentioned in sources increases the likelihood of your brand appearing in LLM responses. No link required.