This AI citations case study shows how cromsalvatera.com.au earned 14,800 citations in Microsoft Copilot and partner AI experiences in three months, according to Bing Webmaster Tools. It covers the data, what the cited pages had in common, what the numbers do and do not prove, and how the same approach now targets commercial topics.
See the SEO, AEO and GEO Retainer
The AI Citations Data
Bing Webmaster Tools includes an AI Performance report, in beta in 2026. It shows how often a site is cited as a source in Microsoft Copilot and partner AI experiences, which pages are cited, and the grounding queries behind those citations.
- Period: 16 June to 13 September 2026
- Total citations: 14,800
- Average cited pages per day: 3
- Grounding queries recorded: 37
- Top grounding query: 4,600 citations with a 43.9% citation share
- Highest citation share on a tracked query: 68%
Microsoft labels the report as a sample of overall activity, so the figures are best read as a trend and a relative measure.
Which Pages Earned the AI Citations
Almost all citations came from a small cluster of practical Australian guides about Facebook Marketplace, covering Sydney, Melbourne and New South Wales, plus tips for selling items online. The grounding queries were a mix of local, informational, commercial and how-to intent.
These guides were written years before AI answers existed, originally to attract search traffic. They still earned a large share of AI citations for their queries, often more than 40% of all citations Copilot gave for a question.
What the Cited Pages Had in Common
The grounding queries and the cited guides point to four shared traits:
- Local specificity. Named cities and states matched the exact wording of the grounding queries.
- Direct, practical answers. Steps and tips appeared early and in plain language.
- Clear structure. Descriptive headings and short sections made passages easy to extract.
- Topical clusters. Several related pages covered one subject from different angles.
These traits are observations from one site. They match published guidance from Google and Microsoft about helpful, well-structured content, and they are the starting point for testing on commercial pages.
What This Case Study Does and Does Not Prove
The data proves that a small independent site can earn a large, measurable share of AI citations for specific questions. It also shows that AI visibility can now be tracked with first-party data from Microsoft.
The citations were for consumer topics unrelated to the services Crom sells, and daily citations declined from June to September. Because of this, the result demonstrates the mechanics of earning citations. Commercial results need their own proof, which is the next phase below.
The Next Phase: Moving AI Citations to Commercial Topics
In September 2026 the site was restructured around AI marketing and SEO, AEO and GEO. Off-topic content was removed, service pages were rebuilt answer-first, entity schema was consolidated and a fixed benchmark of 30 buyer questions was defined for ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google AI Mode.
This page will be updated with the new citation data, grounding queries and benchmark results as they come in.
How to Check AI Citations for Your Own Site
Verify the site in Bing Webmaster Tools, open the AI Performance report and review citations, cited pages and grounding queries. Pair it with Google Search Console and a monthly prompt benchmark for a fuller picture.
Businesses that want this measured and improved properly can start with an AI Marketing Audit.
Does Being Cited by AI Bring Traffic?
Sometimes. AI answers often satisfy the question without a click, so citations work more like brand exposure and trust signals than traditional rankings. The commercial value comes when a business is cited or recommended for questions its buyers ask before choosing a provider.
Can Any Business Get Cited by ChatGPT or Copilot?
Any business with accessible, well-structured, trustworthy content can become a candidate. No one can guarantee citations, because each AI system chooses its own sources. Consistent measurement shows whether the work is moving the numbers.
