Top Source Types Cited In AI Answers: B2B Tech
Discover which source types get cited most in AI search answers across 15 B2B tech categories. See how different domains perform at each buyer intent stage.
United States
ChatGPT| Source link type | All Search Queries%no. of links | Awareness Search QueriesQuestions from users who are problem-aware but not solution-aware.%no. of links | Consideration Search QueriesQuestions from users comparing different products or solutions.%no. of links | Decision Search QueriesQuestions from users ready to choose a vendor or brand.%no. of links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
*This study was conducted using On Target AI and is focused on the Unites States market.
Research foundation
Behind the numbers: uncovering real AI search queries.
1.
What types of search queries did we run?
We reverse-engineered actual user queries instead of guessing what people search for.
- Awareness search queries: relate to users who are problem aware, but not aware of the solution (e.g. "How can I streamline my invoicing process?")
- Consideration search queries: describe searches where the user is comparing potential solutions (e.g. "What's the difference between cloud-based and on-premise CRM systems?")
- Decision search queries: relate to specific searches where the user knows the solution they want to pick, but they are still investigating specific details before choosing a vendor/brand (e.g. "Which project management tool is best for remote teams under 50 people?")
We ran hundreds of queries daily across 15 B2B tech categories, to capture AI answers and source links included in the AI answer at each intent stage.
2.
Where did we find these queries?
We used On Target AI to identify common ways people ask questions or describe pain points, and tied them back to search intent:
We analyzed the most engaged posts and comments to extract authentic user queries.
We looked at real product reviews and active social media communities to find common ways people describe their issues, or ask questions.
We reviewed survey responses, interview transcripts, and customer support logs from leading B2B tech brands to uncover additional queries buyers actually use.
The result?
A dataset grounded in real-world conversations and customer intent - not assumptions or keyword tools.
3.
What B2B Tech categories were included in the research?
Key findings based on user intent
Our biggest takeaways from this study
What makes B2B tech brands show up in early-stage ("problem-aware") queries
Top 3 most cited website types
At the awareness stage, the most cited include Business (75%), Niche Publisher (7%), and Knowledge source (6%).
Most cited type of page
How-to guide is the most cited page type, making up 80% of all awareness stage citations.
What makes B2B tech brands visible in mid-funnel ("solution comparison") queries
Top 3 most cited website types
At the consideration stage, the most cited include Business (75%), Niche Publisher (8%), and Institutional (4%).
Most cited type of page
Article is the most cited page type, making up 80% of all consideration stage citations.
What makes B2B tech brands surface in purchase-ready ("brand vs. brand") queries
Top 3 most cited website types
At the decision stage, the most cited include Business (68%), Niche Publisher (15%), and Publisher (6%).
Most cited type of page
Listicle is the most cited page type, making up 93% of all decision stage citations.
