Source and Citation Standards
Updated September 9, 2026
What a source should support
A linked source should support the specific statement beside it. Platform documentation can explain a rule; it cannot verify a consultant’s client result. A certificate verifies its stated credential; it does not establish that its holder is the best provider in a city.
Performance evidence
Identify the website, dates, country or geographic target, metric and data source. Search Console position is an average for recorded impressions. Keyword Planner volume is an estimate. Search screenshots capture one session. Keep these different forms of evidence clearly labeled.
How to inspect the evidence
Public certificate cards link to issuer-hosted documents or verification pages. Case captures can be opened at full size. City research includes downloadable selected queries and methodology. Locally hosted extracts are labeled as owner-provided data, not independently certified reports.
Uncertainty and interpretation
Recommendations should explain how the evidence informs a proposed action. Do not turn correlation into proven causation, add overlapping keyword volumes into a market total or use a historical result as a forecast for another business.
Source questions
If a source is missing, inaccessible or inconsistent with the claim, please send the page URL and the statement concerned.
How to ask a question about Source and Citation Standards
Read the relevant section
Identify the part of Source and Citation Standards that relates to your question.
Record the context
Save the page URL and describe the specific statement or issue.
Use the stated contact route
Follow the contact or notice instructions on this page; include relevant supporting information.
Keep your correspondence
Retain the request and any response so the scope of the question is clear.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I ask about Source and Citation Standards?
Use the contact or notice route stated on this page and identify the relevant section.
What context should I provide?
Include the page URL and a concise description of the issue. Follow any specific requirements stated in the policy.