Quality and evidence · Branch Q.B, Accuracy and evidence chain
Q-06 Claims must map directly to evidence, using primary sources where possible
Every critical claim must be linked close to the source or methodology that genuinely supports it. Where possible, the original or primary source must be preferred over a secondary summary.
- Scope
- All public content
- Priority
- Gate. A FAIL stops publish or launch.
- Quality bucket
- Accuracy and evidence chain
- Legacy coverage
- SEO-19, GEO-18, GEO-26
Why it matters
A citation that does not actually back the claim next to it gives readers false comfort and sends them down dead ends. Google's guidance on helpful content and AI features favours content that is trustworthy and well sourced, and AI answer engines are more likely to repeat a claim correctly when its evidence is clear. Preferring primary sources avoids the errors that creep in through second-hand summaries.
How to implement
- Build a claim-source map and trace each critical claim to its original source.
- Check the source date and that the model, SKU, country or version matches.
- Place citations inline or as numbered footnotes, and add Source or Checked date columns to tables where needed.
- Link your own measurements to a methodology page.
- Remove source lists that are not tied to specific claims, and explain any use of a secondary source.
Checklist
- Keep a claim-source mapping.
- Prioritise the primary source.
- Check the source date and the model or version match.
- Use inline citations or footnote numbers.
- Add a Source or Checked date column to tables where needed.
- For your own measurements, link to the methodology.
- Do not add a source list as decoration without claim mapping.
- Find the original source of the claim.
- Check the match for model, SKU, country and version.
- Keep the date of the official document.
- If you use a secondary source, state why.
How to audit
- Pick 20 random citations and open each to check that it genuinely supports the claim.
- Pick 20 random claims and check how many steps it takes to reach the evidence.
- Run a source hierarchy audit.
- Verify a random sample of critical claims.
How UltimateSEO checks this automatically
This control needs human evidence: the claim-to-source map showing each critical claim, its source and whether the source is primary.
States used: PASS, FAIL, UNKNOWN, NOT_APPLICABLE or BLOCKED. UNKNOWN is never shown as a pass. How states work.
Sources
Part of The UltimateSEO Framework v4.1, revised 2026-10-07. Evidence states, control states and the publish gate are explained on the hub.