Original research for AI citations: publish a method others can verify.
Original research becomes a credible citation candidate when it answers a relevant question with data the publisher can lawfully use, explains the sample and method, reports limitations and exposes findings in readable HTML. A large number without definitions is weak evidence. The strongest report lets another person understand what was counted, when, from which population and what the result does not prove.
Founder of Eli · Researched and reviewed · 10 August 2026
Product facts
Original data
External sources
Clear limits
Checkable decision source
The question this page answers
Publish original research that can earn AI citations
Which question deserves a study?
Choose a decision your audience repeatedly faces and a dataset that adds information unavailable in existing guides. Define the event, population, time window and exclusions before calculating the headline result.
What must the methodology disclose?
Describe collection, normalization, sample size, missing data, privacy treatment and known bias. Distinguish observations from causal claims. Provide tables or downloadable aggregates when disclosure is safe.
- Defined sample
- Collection window
- Exclusions
- Limitations
How should the report be distributed?
Publish a canonical report, a concise press or founder summary and charts that preserve labels and context. Earn independent discussion through legitimate outreach. Do not manufacture mentions or recycle the same claim across low-value pages.
Questions buyers ask next
Does a large dataset automatically create authority?
No. Definitions, representativeness, method and limitations determine whether the number is useful.
Can customer data be used?
Only with a lawful basis, appropriate agreements, privacy controls and aggregation that prevents improper disclosure.
Should charts replace the written findings?
No. Put the finding, method and labels in accessible HTML and use charts as supporting evidence.
Primary sources
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