We created the Bay View Metals website for Wayne back in 2014. The design or structure hasn’t really altered during that time, other than adding some new photographs.
Following a meeting with Wayne last year, we completed some SEO changes to help him rank better for local searches. As a result of this, he is now the top result for ‘scrap metal collection Morecambe’ and we were delighted to achieve the top citation in Google AI for him too. This result is a combination of the on-page content changes and SEO improvements we made.
A citation is where a website (and business) is directly referenced by the AI answer in Google search.
In the image, you can see that a search for ‘free scrap metal collection Morecambe’ provides an overview summary that mentions Bay View Metals, then their website is the first link under the commercial heading. The link takes the viewer directly to Wayne’s website where they can then contact him to arrange the collection.
How does this citation help Bay View Metals?
Being cited by AI increases brand visibility and authority, even if it doesn’t always drive immediate clicks.
AI citations provide business exposure to audiences who discover content through AI-powered search methods. Earning these citations requires having high-quality, relevant content, as AI search prioritizes sources that accurately and helpfully answer user queries.
Benefits of AI citations for SEO
Differentiation from competitors: Earning citations can help you appear even if you don’t have the largest backlink profile, as AI can cite sources that aren’t on the first page of traditional search results.
Increased visibility and authority: AI citations can get your brand in front of a wider audience, even if they don’t click through immediately.
Brand awareness and recall: Being cited in AI responses can help build brand recognition and strengthen your brand’s image.
Potential for organic discovery: Content that gets cited by AI often ranks well in traditional search results too, creating a double benefit.