Top Source Types Cited In AI Answers: Ecommerce
Discover which source types get cited most in AI search answers across 15 ecommerce 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 track my workout performance?")
- Consideration search queries: describe searches where the user is comparing potential solutions (e.g. "Are smartwatches better at tracking workout performance than smart rings?")
- 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. "What are the best smartwatches focused on tracking climbing performance?")
We ran hundreds of queries daily across 15 ecommerce 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 ecommerce 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 Ecommerce categories were included in the research?
Key findings based on user intent
Our biggest takeaways from this study
What makes ecommerce brands show up in early-stage ("problem-aware") queries
Top 3 most cited website types
At the awareness stage, the most cited include Business (46%), Niche Publisher (22%), and Institutional (14%).
Most cited type of page
How-to guide is the most cited page type, making up 40% of all awareness stage citations.
What makes ecommerce brands visible in mid-funnel ("solution comparison") queries
Top 3 most cited website types
At the consideration stage, the most cited include Business (47%), Niche Publisher (20%), and Publisher (14%).
Most cited type of page
Comparison is the most cited page type, making up 53% of all consideration stage citations.
What makes ecommerce brands surface in purchase-ready ("brand vs. brand") queries
Top 3 most cited website types
At the decision stage, the most cited include Business (37%), Niche Publisher (33%), and Publisher (21%).
Most cited type of page
Listicle is the most cited page type, making up 100% of all decision stage citations.
