DeepSeek Citation Optimization
Definition
DeepSeek citation optimization is the work of optimizing content so that DeepSeek AI cites it as the basis for its answers.
TL;DR
DeepSeek is an open-source LLM developed by a Chinese AI startup, with DeepSeek-V3 and DeepSeek-R1 (specialized for reasoning) as its main models. It cites sources in its answers via a web search feature, and because it is open source, it is used as a backend across a variety of third-party services.
DeepSeek Model Landscape
| Model | Characteristics | Citation-related |
|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek-V3 | General-purpose conversational model, high performance for the cost | Source citation based on web search |
| DeepSeek-R1 | Specialized in reasoning, step-by-step thinking | Multi-step search on complex questions |
DeepSeek rapidly grew its presence in the global AI market in early 2025 as the performance of the R1 model drew attention. Released as open source, it is being adopted as a backend model in a variety of third-party apps and services.
How DeepSeek Uses Information
1. Training data: Pre-trained on public web data. No official crawler has been made public, but it uses public datasets such as Common Crawl.
2. Web search (real-time citation): In the DeepSeek app/web, it cites real-time sources via a web search feature.
Optimization Strategy
DeepSeek citation optimization is largely shared with other AI platforms:
- BLUF structure: Place the core answer in the first sentence
- Structured data: Apply JSON-LD schema
- E-E-A-T: Source citations, author information, experience-based content
- SSR/SSG: Include content directly in the HTML
- Allow CCBot: Common Crawl is a major data source for training open-source LLMs
DeepSeek-specific characteristics:
- Because it is open source, indirect exposure through third parties is significant
- Because its official crawler is not clear, allowing CCBot is favorable for inclusion in indirect training data
- It is China-based, but its global user base is growing rapidly
Application to the Korean Market
In Korea, DeepSeek's use is growing among developers and startups as a cost-effective AI alternative. Domestic services that use the DeepSeek API as a backend are also on the rise. Because indirect exposure through third parties is more common than direct exposure, the quality and structuring of the content itself is key.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is there a dedicated DeepSeek crawler?
A. There is no officially announced dedicated crawler. Web content is indirectly included in training via the Common Crawl dataset. Allowing CCBot increases the likelihood of inclusion in DeepSeek's training data.
Q. Do I need to optimize for DeepSeek and ChatGPT separately?
A. They are largely the same. The BLUF structure, allowing bots, and E-E-A-T apply identically to all LLMs. There is currently almost no DeepSeek-specific additional work.
References
- DeepSeek official site: https://www.deepseek.com
- DeepSeek (2025). DeepSeek-R1: Incentivizing Reasoning Capability in LLMs. https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.12948