AEO programs measure success in citations more than in raw mentions. A citation is the model telling the user where the information came from; every citation that lands on your domain is a high-quality piece of organic discovery. Citation tracking depth is the primary way AEO tools differentiate from each other.
AEO glossary
Citation
A citation is an explicit, linked reference inside an AI-generated answer pointing to a specific source URL, distinct from an unlinked brand mention.