What does a stale directory citation mean?
It means the generated answer treated an outdated listing as a current source.
Typical pattern: the footnote is a 2019 chamber row with the old phone, while the website already shows the new one. The facts in the sentence came from that row.
Is this the same as linking to a directory?
No. That sibling is a correct mention whose supporting href is a directory even when the facts are fine.
Use why AI mentions the business but links to a directory when the problem is attribution. This page is a stale source feeding wrong facts.
Is this ordinary citation cleanup?
It is the same listings work, triggered by an AI footnote instead of a customer screenshot.
First-pass inconsistency is why business information differs across the web. Re-syndication after a fix is why old information keeps coming back.
Cite
Which supporting link did the answer show? Google’s generative features attach links from retrieved pages. Other chat tools vary.Fresh
Do those directory facts still match the shop? Old hours, a former name or a closed address means the listing is the problem.Listing
Correct or suppress that row if you can NAP that keeps returning after cleanup is a sibling re-syndication job.Yes
A mention that links away is a different page Use the attribution guide when the facts are fine but the href is a directory.Next
Keep the site indexed and snippet-eligible Google documents those as requirements to appear as a supporting link.
Why would retrieval prefer that listing?
Google’s generative features retrieve from the Search index. A directory URL that is indexed and looks relevant can be chosen as a supporting link.
Source: AI features and your website. Eligibility to appear as a supporting link still requires the official page to be indexed and snippet-eligible. There is no extra AI schema. Source: Optimizing for generative AI features.
What should you do?
Correct or document the stale listing, and keep the official URL crawlable, indexable and consistent with the profile.
Google still wants structured data to match visible text. Do not noindex the whole site to “stop AI.” Preview controls are documented if you must limit snippets. Source: AI features and your website.
Cited-source decision table
| What you see | What it usually means | Decision | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Footnote is a 2018 directory with old NAP | Stale listing still retrieved | Edit or suppress that row | That the official site is “ignored forever” |
| Facts in the sentence are fine; href is a directory | Attribution, not stale facts | Use the mention-link guide | That this page is the href job |
| Official URL is noindex or blocked | Site not eligible to be cited | Restore ordinary Search eligibility | That GEO markup will replace indexation |
| Listing keeps reverting after edits | Re-syndication | Use the returning-NAP guide | That another duplicate listing will win |
What should I not do?
Action checklist
- Save the answer and the cited directory URL.
- Compare those facts with the shop today.
- Edit the listing if you can; document it if you cannot.
- Confirm the official URL is indexed and snippet-eligible.
- If the facts were fine and only the href is wrong, switch guides.
- Do not purchase fake citations.
When professional help makes sense
Help is useful when a data provider keeps republishing the old row that AI keeps citing. It cannot choose Google’s supporting link, and it cannot promise the next Overview will cite the homepage.
Sources and further reading
- Google Search Central: AI features and your website
- Google Search Central: Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search
- Google Business Profile Help: How Google sources business information
AI Overviews still citing a directory you already corrected?
Otepsphere can find the stale source and keep the official URL eligible to be cited — without selling fake AI citations.
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