> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getcited.in/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Authority Signal

> Any indicator that a source is trustworthy and expert on a topic — editorial bylines, domain reputation, citation by other authoritative sources.

**Authority signal** is any indicator that a web source is trustworthy, expert, and reliable on a given topic. In the context of AI visibility, authority signals include editorial bylines from known experts, publication on established domains, [citation](/glossary/citation) by other authoritative sources, and a track record of accurate, well-structured content on the topic.

## Why it matters

LLMs weight authoritative sources more heavily when selecting which brands to mention and [cite](/glossary/citation-rate). A brand mentioned in a Forbes article, a Wikipedia entry, or an industry-specific publication carries more weight in AI-generated answers than a brand mentioned only on its own website or on low-authority aggregator sites. Authority signals are the currency of AI [citability](/concepts/foundations/ai-citation-sources).

## How it applies in practice

Cited's [source preference hierarchy](/concepts/foundations/ai-citation-sources) ranks sources by authority tier: established editorial publications at the top, structured reference sites second, industry-specific publications third, brand-owned content fourth, and aggregators fifth. Brands pursuing higher [mention rates](/glossary/mention-rate) and [citation rates](/glossary/citation-rate) should invest in earning coverage on higher-tier sources rather than relying solely on owned content.

## Related concepts

* [What sources LLMs cite](/concepts/foundations/ai-citation-sources) — the 5-tier source preference hierarchy
* [E-E-A-T](/glossary/e-e-a-t) — Google's framework for evaluating authority
* [Editorial citation](/glossary/editorial-citation) — when an authoritative source cites your brand