Source types
Last updated [DATE]
Source types sort cited sites into six groups so you can see what kind of site answers rely on: own, competitor, UGC, reference, editorial or corporate. The rules are versioned (source-types-v1), so a type can change if the rule changes.
How to: Find gaps and listicles
The six types
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Own | Any of your brand's domains |
| Competitor | A domain of a tracked competitor |
| UGC | Sites where users write the content, such as forums, Q&A and social posts |
| Reference | Encyclopedias, directories and documentation |
| Editorial | News, magazines and review publications |
| Corporate | Other companies' own sites |
[CLASSIFICATION RULES — brand-detection to confirm exact definitions of UGC, reference, editorial, corporate]
Why it matters
- Own and competitor sources are never shown as gaps. See Gaps.
- A mix of editorial and UGC sources suggests answers lean on third parties, not on brand sites.
Example
A fictional forum thread on Corvane is typed UGC. A fictional product page on Tarnfield's domain is typed competitor.