Co-Citation
Co-citation is an SEO concept that occurs when two distinct websites are mentioned or linked to by a third, independent website. Search engines use co-citation to establish semantic relationships and topical relevance between entities. If your brand is consistently mentioned alongside industry leaders by authoritative publications, the algorithm begins to associate your brand with that high level of authority. This is the foundation of advanced entity-based SEO. It proves that link building is not just about the raw number of links, but about the neighborhood of authoritative sites your brand associates with.
Co-Citation Simplified
Co-citation happens when a third-party website links to both your website and a competitor’s website in the same article. It tells Google that your website and the competitor’s website are related and operate in the same industry.