Definition
Perplexity is an AI-powered answer engine that searches the web in response to a question and writes a summarized answer, typically with numbered citations linking to the pages it used. Users can ask follow-up questions, and the product also offers longer research modes. It documents its own crawler, PerplexityBot.
For example, a buyer asking Perplexity for the best CRM for field sales teams in India might see an answer citing a review site, a Pipekart blog post and SalesNiti's pricing page. Those cited links show which pages are currently shaping the answer for that question.
Why it matters
Because Perplexity shows its sources prominently, it is one of the easiest places to see which pages shape AI answers in your category. If competitors or third-party review sites are cited and you are not, you can study what those pages contain. Citations can also bring referral visits. Answers change as the web changes, so tracking the same questions over time is more useful than a single check.
What to do
- Check that robots.txt and firewall rules allow PerplexityBot if you want to be cited.
- Ask Perplexity your key buyer questions and record every cited source.
- Review Perplexity referral traffic in analytics to see which pages receive visits.
Common questions
How does Perplexity choose its sources?
Perplexity has not published a full description of how it selects sources, and results vary by question and over time. It searches the web and cites pages it considers relevant. Accessible, clearly written pages with specific answers give it more to work with, but citations are not guaranteed.
Does Perplexity send traffic to websites?
It can. Cited sources are shown as clickable links, and some users click through to read more. The amount varies by topic and query. Check referral traffic from perplexity.ai in your analytics to see which pages receive visits and how that changes over time.