Top Source Types Cited In AI Answers: Consumer Services
Discover which source types get cited most in AI search answers across 9 consumer services 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 do I know if my plumbing needs professional attention?")
- Consideration search queries: describe searches where the user is comparing potential solutions (e.g. "What should I consider when comparing home insurance providers?")
- 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 moving companies have the best reviews in my area?")
We ran hundreds of queries daily across 9 consumer services 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 consumer services 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 Consumer Services categories were included in the research?
Key findings based on user intent
Our biggest takeaways from this study
What makes consumer services brands show up in early-stage ("problem-aware") queries
Top 3 most cited website types
At the awareness stage, the most cited include Business (58%), Niche Publisher (19%), and Publisher (7%).
Most cited type of page
Article is the most cited page type, making up 56% of all awareness stage citations.
What makes consumer services brands visible in mid-funnel ("solution comparison") queries
Top 3 most cited website types
At the consideration stage, the most cited include Business (66%), Niche Publisher (15%), and Institutional (7%).
Most cited type of page
Article is the most cited page type, making up 44% of all consideration stage citations.
What makes consumer services brands surface in purchase-ready ("brand vs. brand") queries
Top 3 most cited website types
At the decision stage, the most cited include Business (44%), Niche Publisher (21%), and Publisher (11%).
Most cited type of page
Category page is the most cited page type, making up 56% of all decision stage citations.
