What are sources and why do they matter?
Updated
Short answer
Sources are the URLs an engine cited to build its answer. They are the clearest signal of what shapes your category, and usually most of them are not your own site. Changing what those pages say is often faster than changing your own.
Kinds of source you will see
- Review and comparison sites.
- Forums and community threads.
- Articles and list posts from publishers.
- Documentation and help pages.
- Competitors' sites, and your own.
How to act on them
- Sort by how often each page is cited for your category prompts.
- Read the top pages: do they mention you, and is it accurate?
- Correct what is wrong, and earn inclusion where you are missing.
- Use the Earned and Owned views to split outreach work from work on your own site.