Glossary Term

    Co-citation

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    Quick definition: Co-citation occurs when two websites are mentioned together frequently across the web, signalling to Google that they are topically related even without a direct link between them.

    What it means

    Co-citation is one of the entity-recognition signals Google uses to understand brand and topic relationships. If your real estate brand is mentioned alongside Zillow, Realtor.com, and the local MLS in editorial content, Google associates you with that category.

    Unlike a backlink, a co-citation does not require a hyperlink. The brand mention itself carries weight.

    Why it matters for real estate SEO

    Real estate agents who appear in "best realtor" roundups, local press features, and industry articles benefit from co-citation even when the article does not link to them. Earning brand mentions in authoritative real estate contexts is an underused ranking lever.

    Related guides

    Related terms

    Backlink
    A backlink is a link from another website pointing to yours, acting as a vote of confidence to Google.
    Anchor Text
    Anchor text is the visible, clickable words inside a hyperlink.
    Topical Authority
    Topical authority is how comprehensively your site covers a subject area in Google's eyes.
    Domain Authority (DA)
    Domain Authority is Moz's 1-100 score predicting how well a website will rank in Google.

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