Citation Consistency Score

Extended definition

Citation Consistency Score measures stability of AI visibility: whether the same queries yield citations predictably or randomly. High consistency means querying 'best X for Y' cites you 85% of the time; low consistency means citation rate varies wildly (40% one week, 5% the next, 70% the week after). Consistency depends on authority strength (high authority = consistent citations), retrieval reliability (stable retrieval ranking), and generation determinism (how much randomness engine uses). Measurement requires repeated sampling: query same prompts multiple times, across days, measuring citation variance. Low consistency indicates marginal authority (sometimes cited, sometimes beaten by competitors) or high engine randomness. High consistency indicates strong positioning that reliably beats competitors.

Why this matters for AI search visibility

Consistency determines whether visibility is reliable business asset or random occurrence. Low consistency means visibility exists but can't be counted on—problematic for forecasting or claiming victory. High consistency enables confident strategic planning: if citations are consistent, you can reliably assume visibility in business plans. Consistency also diagnoses optimization: improving consistency often matters more than improving average citation rate. A brand cited 60% of time consistently beats one cited 70% randomly because reliability enables strategic leverage. For competitive analysis, consistency comparison reveals authority differences: market leader's consistent citations signal entrenched position, challenger's inconsistent citations show fragile gains. Tracking consistency over time shows authority solidification: improving consistency means you're securing position, declining consistency warns of eroding authority.

Practical examples

• Citation consistency analysis shows 92% consistency for core product queries, validating reliable visibility for primary business driver
• Low consistency (34% variance) despite good average citation rate reveals marginal positioning; authority building needed for reliability
• Consistency improvement from 45% to 87% over 9 months indicates authority solidification, transforming random visibility to dependable asset