Definition
Citation Flow is a metric designed to predict how influential a webpage or domain might be based on the quantity of external links pointing to it. Often paired with Trust Flow, Citation Flow helps determine the overall value and authority of a website in search engine optimization (SEO) analysis.
What is it?
Developed by the SEO platform Majestic, Citation Flow evaluates the raw link popularity of a site by examining how many other domains are linking back. It does not, however, directly measure the quality of those links—this is where its counterpart, Trust Flow, comes into play. A site with a high Citation Flow score likely has numerous incoming links, but without a solid Trust Flow score, it’s unclear whether those links come from reputable or relevant sources. By looking at both metrics together, marketers gain insight into both the volume and the caliber of a site’s backlink profile.
How is it used?
SEO professionals use Citation Flow to gauge how widely a website’s content is referenced online. During link-building or outreach campaigns, they might look for high Citation Flow scores as one sign that a prospective partner site has broad influence. Yet it’s equally important to cross-reference Trust Flow, ensuring that inbound links originate from sites with solid reputations. In practice, a balanced ratio of Citation Flow to Trust Flow often signals a healthier link profile, guiding digital strategies that focus on earning quality links, maintaining site credibility, and ultimately improving search engine rankings.
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