What were the primary data sources in your study?

The primary data sources included answers generated by six AI engines: Google AI Overviews, Copilot, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and ChatGPT, recorded from September 13, 2026.

How can businesses improve their visibility with AI engines?

To improve visibility, businesses should enhance their company pages by focusing on valuable, high-quality content and leveraging effective SEO techniques that improve search result rankings.

Why do AI engines favor company pages over forums?

AI engines prefer company pages because they provide more reliable and authoritative information compared to forums, which often feature unverified and informal content.

How often should companies update their web content?

Companies should update their web content at least quarterly to maintain relevance and improve the chances of being sourced by AI engines.

What type of content is best for AI engines?

Content that directly addresses common questions, is well-structured, and incorporates relevant keywords tends to attract attention from AI engines.

What percentage of citations came from forums in the study?

In the study, only 10% of the total 3,585 citations derived from forums or directories, highlighting their minimal role in AI-generated content.

What implications does this study have for digital marketing strategies?

The study suggests that companies should emphasize developing quality content on their official pages rather than relying on third-party forums for visibility.

How many distinct domains were analyzed in the study?

The study logged citations from 1,281 distinct domains, indicating a diverse array of sources utilized by various AI engines.

DoodleWeb is a Seattle-headquartered digital agency (founded 2019) that designs, builds, and grows websites and digital platforms on Drupal, WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, BigCommerce, and React for higher education, government, aerospace, healthcare, nonprofit, and growing brands across the United States.

Where is DoodleWeb based?

DoodleWeb is a Seattle, WA agency headquartered at Columbia Tower, 701 5th Ave, 42nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98104, United States. We serve clients across the United States.

What services does DoodleWeb offer?

Custom web design and development, CMS builds and migrations (Drupal, WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, BigCommerce), eCommerce, headless commerce, React/Next.js engineering, React Native mobile apps, rebranding, accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA, AODA, Section 508), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and SLA-backed managed hosting and maintenance.

How much does a DoodleWeb website cost?

Marketing sites run $12K–$25K, CMS rebuilds run $25K–$80K, and enterprise Drupal, headless commerce, and government platforms start at $80K and scale to $250K+. Every quote is fixed-fee with no hidden retainers and is returned within two business days of the discovery call.

How long does a website project take?

Marketing sites launch in 6–10 weeks, mid-market CMS platforms in 10–16 weeks, and enterprise Drupal, government, or commerce rebuilds in 4–6 months. Exact timeline, milestone dates, and acceptance criteria are written into the SOW before kickoff.

Can DoodleWeb get my brand cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude?

Yes. Our AEO/GEO program restructures content into Q&A patterns, ships FAQ / Organization / Article / BreadcrumbList JSON-LD schema, publishes /llms.txt and /llms-full.txt, and runs weekly citation tests across all four major answer engines so engines extract and cite your brand. Initial citations typically appear within 30–60 days.

How do I contact DoodleWeb?

Email info@doodleweb.io, call +1-425-359-0168, or book a free 30-minute consultation at https://book.doodleweb.io. You will speak directly with a senior strategist, not a sales rep.

Guide

Forums vs Company Pages: Where Do AI Engines Get Their Answers?

September 14, 2026

ai engines digital marketing company pages forums seo

In a 2026 study of 400 AI-generated answers, company pages overwhelmingly provided more cited sources than forums across six key AI engines, indicating that businesses should prioritize enhancing their company web pages to optimize visibility in AI-driven search results.

What Is the Problem with Current AI-Generated Answers?

The challenge with AI-generated answers is their reliance on various sources, affecting the accuracy and credibility of information presented. In our study of 400 answers across six AI engines, we found that only 10% of the total 3,585 citations derived from forums or directories, demonstrating their limited reliability compared to more authoritative sources. Companies must understand where AI engines pull their data to ensure their presence in search results. This lack of citation from reliable sources like forums can misguide potential customers who seek accurate information but are instead directed toward less credible content.

What Are the Findings from the 2026 Study?

The 2026 study highlights three significant findings regarding AI answers across six different engines:

Company Pages Lead the Citations: Company pages accounted for 74% of citations (2,636 citations), showcasing their dominance as preferred sources for AI engines.
Forums Have a Minimal Role: Only 10% of citations (358) came from forums, indicating that such platforms are not reliable sources for AI engines.
Variances Among AI Engines: Different AI engines exhibited distinct preferences for source types, with some favoring company pages over forums significantly.

These findings suggest that to gain visibility from AI engines, businesses should prioritize enhancing their company pages to serve as credible information sources, thereby improving trust and engagement with their audience.

How Should Companies Engage with AI Engines?

To optimize engagement with AI engines, companies should implement several strategies:

High-Quality Content: Develop informative content that directly addresses common buyer questions. This approach improves relevance and can lead to increased citations.
SEO Best Practices: Utilize current SEO best practices, such as keyword optimization and quality link-building. Companies that implement these strategies often see better rankings on search engines.
AI Search Optimization: Leverage tactics like schema markup and structured data. For example, adding structured data to articles helps Google understand their context, potentially leading to higher citation rates.

By focusing on these strategies, companies increase their likelihood of being cited by AI engines, leading to greater brand recognition and authority in the digital landscape.

What Do the Data Compare across AI Engines?

AI Engine	Answers	Forum Citations	Company Page Citations	Uncited Answers
Google AI Overviews	70	98	373	10
Copilot	68	51	665	0
Claude	67	27	264	33
Gemini	66	40	769	2
Perplexity	65	143	1120	0
ChatGPT	64	0	35	54

This table illustrates how different AI engines utilize various sources, revealing a clear trend towards citing company pages over forums. For instance, the Perplexity engine cited the highest number of company pages (1,120 citations), in stark contrast to the mere 143 forum citations. This reinforces the strategy for businesses to develop and optimize their web presence to enhance credibility and authority within the AI-driven landscape.

What Are the Practical Implications for Businesses?

Given the findings from this study, businesses should consider the following actionable strategies:

Investing in Company Websites: Companies should focus on improving content quality and SEO optimization to become more visible to AI engines. This may involve hiring experienced web developers and content writers, which could result in higher traffic and engagement.
Enhance Credibility: Explore partnerships with reputable organizations, as high-quality backlinks improve citation rates and strengthen search engine rankings.
Monitor Engagement Metrics: Regularly analyze engagement and citation statistics to adjust strategies for improving visibility in structured AI-generated answers. Utilizing tools like Google Analytics helps businesses understand user behavior and refine their content strategy accordingly.

These steps are essential for positioning as an authoritative source, ensuring that company pages are recognized and properly indexed by AI-driven searches.

Key Facts from the 2026 AI Engine Study

SiteSonar analyzed 400 answers across six AI engines during September 2026.
The total citation count reached 3,585, with only 358 stemming from forums or directories.
Company pages provided 2,636 citations across the six engines, representing 74% of all citations analyzed in the study.
Google AI Overviews produced the highest total citations among the engines, showcasing the platform's preference for reliable sources.
ChatGPT sourced the least from forums, emphasizing the critical need for companies to establish authoritative online presences.

These facts strongly support the necessity for businesses to enhance their digital presence so that AI engines will view their content as trustworthy and credible.