How to get the most out of sources in Balu AI

Your competitors are already in AI answers – are you?

You just noticed your competitor showing up in ChatGPT answers for the exact prompts you’re targeting – but your brand is nowhere to be found.
You’ve been staring at endless lists of sources cited by LLMs, but don’t know where to start?

There’s a smarter way to take action with Balu AI – you just need to know where to look.

The truth: the websites and URLs AI models cite as sources are where your brand must be mentioned.
A Reddit thread requires a completely different playbook than a CNN article or a Wikipedia page.

Here’s how to uncover which sources really matter – and what to do about each one.

Step-by-Step GEO Framework

Step 1: Identify the Categories

Head over to Sources in your Balu AI dashboard. You’ll see the top domains LLMs rely on for answers. Most fall into these categories:

• User Generated Content (UGC) & Social Media
  Reddit, YouTube, Quora, Pinterest, TikTok. Review platforms like G2, Capterra, OMR Reviews.

• Editorial
  News outlets, blogs, magazines – long-form content written by journalists and editors.

• Corporate & Commercial
  Company websites, case studies, partner content, e-commerce listings.

• Reference
  Wikipedia, Crunchbase, IMDB, industry directories.

• Institutional
  Academic and government sites (.edu / .gov domains).

• Competitors
  (we’ll tackle this in a future playbook).

• Your own site
  The ultimate GEO win – your website cited as a source.

Step 2: Apply the Right Tactic per Source

UGC & Social Media
Decide: can you engage directly, or do you need influencers?

• Reddit: tread carefully. Some subreddits allow company replies, most don’t.

• LinkedIn: CEO- and team-driven content shines. Build personal brands across the team.

• YouTube / TikTok / Instagram: work with influencers if you don’t have in-house video power. Smaller creators often outperform big names for engagement.

• Social listening: catch organic mentions and amplify them.

Editorial
If AI cites CNN, BBC, Handelsblatt, or TechCrunch – digital PR is your way in. Pitch journalists, build relationships, keep a brand kit ready.

Corporate & Commercial
Become a case study, a partner mention, or secure stronger affiliate placement.

Reference
Directories and databases matter. Keep your listings up to date (Crunchbase, Wikipedia, industry-specific portals).

Institutional
Think long-term: data partnerships, research collaborations, sponsorships.

Step 3: Monitor Over Time

Once you’ve acted, track progress with Balu AI:

• New sources: which fresh content LLMs pick up.

• Visibility shifts: does your brand appear more often in AI answers?

• Sentiment: are mentions more positive over time?

Start Small, Scale Fast

• Pick one source type and test with a single prompt tag.

• Go for quick wins: directories & UGC you can influence today.

• Loop in PR, social, and partnerships teams for scale.

Pro tip: stay ethical. No fake accounts, no shortcuts. GEO is a trust game.

The Goal

To win in AI Search, your brand needs organic mentions across high-trust sources.
Start with easy wins → grow into long-term editorial & community presence → measure the results in Balu AI.