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llms.txt GeneratorCitation persistence benchmark
The benchmark pattern reveals a stark contrast between individual URL persistence and overall brand visibility. While 73.5 percent of citations are one-and-done with a median lifespan of 0 days, brand presence decays at a slower rate with a half-life of 31 days. This indicates that while specific URLs are highly perishable, general brand awareness maintains a longer, albeit still temporary, footprint.
Research tracker page for The Half-Life of AI Citations study, focusing on the Citation persistence benchmark.
The key numbers.
- One-and-done citations
- Citations that appear once and vanish.
- 73.5%
- Median citation lifespan
- Most citations disappear immediately.
- 0 days
- Mean citation lifespan
- Average URL lifespan across the sample.
- 6.8 days
- Brand half-life
- Average time for brand presence to halve from peak.
- 31 days
The ranked view.
- 173.5%
One-and-done citations
The majority of URLs never return after their first appearance.
- 20 days
Median URL lifespan
The typical citation disappears immediately.
- 36.8 days
Average URL lifespan
Even the mean persistence is short.
- 431 days
Brand half-life
Brand presence decays more slowly than individual URLs.
- 56.8%
Still-active citations
Only a small minority persist to the end of the window.
What changed
High Rate of One-and-Done Citations
The benchmark recorded that 73.5 percent of citations appear once and vanish, establishing that the majority of URLs never return after their first appearance.
Citation Lifespan Metrics
The median citation lifespan is 0 days, meaning most citations disappear immediately. The mean citation lifespan is slightly longer at 6.8 days, though only 6.8 percent of citations remain active at the end of the observation window.
Brand Presence Decay
Brand half-life is measured at 31 days, demonstrating that brand presence decays more slowly than individual URLs but still requires active monitoring.
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| One-and-done citations Citations that appear once and vanish. | 73.5% |
| Median citation lifespan Most citations disappear immediately. | 0 days |
| Mean citation lifespan Average URL lifespan across the sample. | 6.8 days |
| Brand half-life Average time for brand presence to halve from peak. | 31 days |
| Still active citations Small share of URLs still active at the end of the window. | 6.8% |
Population and method
Built from 857,138 reports, 108,650 citations, 10,991 brands, and 8 tracked models across a 10-month observation window.
Where the evidence stops
Decay describes observed persistence, not the full causal mechanism behind why a citation disappears.
Brand- and domain-level averages can hide very different retention patterns by query class or model.
Some of the stickiest or most volatile domains come from niche query pockets and should be read as examples, not universal leaders.
Cite this tracker.
Source study: Citation Decay“The benchmark pattern reveals a stark contrast between individual URL persistence and overall brand visibility. While 73.5 percent of citations are one-and-done with a median lifespan of 0 days, brand presence decays at a slower rate with a half-life of 31 days. This indicates that while specific URLs are highly perishable, general brand awareness maintains a longer, albeit still temporary, footprint.”
Mack Grenfell · Citation persistence benchmark
The Half-Life of AI Citations · Trakkr Research · Updated 30 March 2026