Perplexity SEO: how to become a source Perplexity cites
Perplexity shows its sources under every answer. That makes it the clearest view of what AI reads about your category, and the easiest place to start.
The short answer
Perplexity searches the web for every question and shows numbered citations. It crawls with PerplexityBot and runs its own index, so it can cite pages that rank low on Google.
To get cited: let PerplexityBot in, publish pages that answer one buyer question directly with current facts, and be present on the review sites and threads that already show up as its sources.
How Perplexity answers
Each question starts a search. Perplexity reads the top pages from its own index, writes an answer from them and numbers each source it used. A company it names is almost always named on one of those sources.
So Perplexity SEO has two halves: be one of the pages it reads, and be mentioned on the other pages it reads.
Let PerplexityBot in
PerplexityBot builds the index; Perplexity-User fetches a page when someone asks about it. Allow both in robots.txt, and check that your firewall or CDN bot protection does not block them.
Serve the text in the HTML. A page that needs JavaScript to show its words reads as empty to most AI crawlers.
Write pages that answer one question
Perplexity quotes passages. A page that opens with a direct answer ("X is a payroll tool for remote teams of ten to two hundred people") gives it a passage to quote and a reason to cite you.
Use clear headings phrased like the questions buyers ask, short paragraphs, and tables for prices, features and comparisons.
Keep facts current
Answers about tools, prices and features are only as good as their sources. Show when a page was last updated, and update pricing, plans and integrations the day they change, so a newer page by someone else does not replace yours as the source.
Find and join its sources
Because every answer lists its sources, Perplexity is the easiest assistant to study. Ask your buyer questions and write down the cited pages. Usually a few review sites, roundups and community threads come up again and again.
Those are your list: complete the review profiles, pitch the roundup authors, and answer honestly in the threads where your product fits.
Measure it
Track two numbers per buyer question: how often Perplexity names you, and how often it cites your site. They move separately. Being cited without being named means your page is read but does not say clearly enough who you are for. The free check shows both, side by side with ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini.
Questions
Which crawler does Perplexity use?
PerplexityBot builds its index, and Perplexity-User fetches a page when a person asks about it. Allow both in robots.txt and check your firewall or CDN does not block them.
Do I need to be on Reddit for Perplexity?
Not always, but community threads are a common source in its answers. Check which sites it cites for your own questions first, and work on the ones that show up.
How do I see what Perplexity cites?
Every answer lists its sources. Ask your buyer questions and note the numbered sources under each answer: those are the pages to be on.