> ## 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.

# Editorial Citation

> A citation to an editorial publication rather than a brand's own domain — the most common citation pattern in AI-generated answers.

**Editorial citation** is a [citation](/glossary/citation) to an editorial publication — a news site, review platform, industry blog, or reference site — rather than to a brand's own domain. When an AI answers "best skincare brands for oily skin" and cites a Forbes article or a Cosmopolitan review, those are editorial citations. This is the most common citation pattern in AI-generated answers.

## Why it matters

LLMs cite editorial sources more frequently than brand-owned content because editorial publications are perceived as more objective and authoritative. This creates a specific AEO/GEO optimization path: earning coverage in the publications that LLMs cite for your category. A brand that appears in 3 Forbes articles about its category will likely see higher [mention rates](/glossary/mention-rate) than a brand that publishes 30 blog posts on its own domain, because the AI weights the Forbes coverage more heavily.

## How it applies in practice

Cited's [source preference hierarchy](/concepts/foundations/ai-citation-sources) ranks editorial publications in tiers 1-3, above brand-owned content (tier 4). The [win editorial coverage playbook](/playbooks/win-editorial-coverage) provides tactical guidance on identifying which publications matter for your category and earning coverage that translates into AI visibility.

## Related concepts

* [What sources LLMs cite](/concepts/foundations/ai-citation-sources) — the 5-tier source preference hierarchy
* [Authority signal](/glossary/authority-signal) — what makes a source authoritative
* [Citation source](/glossary/citation-source) — the specific page or domain cited