Do I need to be on every domain AI engines cite, or just a few?

Just a few. Citation concentration research shows the top 15 domains capture roughly two-thirds of all AI citation share, and which 15 matter depends heavily on your category. Run a prompt audit first, then focus on the 8 to 12 domains that actually surface for your specific queries.

How long does it take to see a new off-site mention show up in an AI answer?

It varies widely by engine and source type. Reddit threads and review platform updates can surface in Perplexity or ChatGPT answers within days to a few weeks. Wikipedia and academic citations often take a full quarter or longer to build and reflect in outputs.

Is Reddit really worth this much investment for a B2B software company?

Often yes. Reddit citation share isn't limited to consumer categories, B2B buyers research on niche subreddits too, and Perplexity in particular leans on Reddit heavily for comparison-style B2B prompts. Check your own prompt audit before assuming it doesn't apply.

Can I just pay an agency to post fake reviews or Reddit comments for me?

No. Beyond violating most platforms' terms of service, models and platforms are increasingly effective at detecting inauthentic, bulk-generated activity, and getting flagged can suppress your visibility rather than help it. Authentic, gradual activity outperforms manufactured volume.

Does digital PR still matter if community platforms are gaining citation share?

Yes, journalism and trade press still represent a meaningful share of AI citations, particularly for authority and "leader in category" queries. It's one category among several, not a replacement for community and review-platform work, or a substitute for it.

How do I know which off-site mentions are actually driving citations versus just sitting there unused?

You need prompt-level monitoring, not just backlink tracking. Track which domains get cited across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude for your specific prompts over time, which is exactly the gap a dedicated GEO audit is built to close.

Should schema markup be part of this off-site strategy?

Not directly, schema is an on-page signal that helps AI crawlers extract your content accurately, while off-site mentions are what earns model trust in the claims themselves. Do both, but understand they solve different problems in the citation pipeline.

What's the single highest-leverage first move if I'm starting from zero?

Run a prompt audit across the four major engines to see which domains are already being cited in your category, then build out your top 1 to 2 review platforms fully. It's the fastest, most controllable win before moving into slower community and reference-tier work.

How to Build Off-Site Mentions on the Domains AI Engines Trust