WebCite
Business Profile
Core Value Proposition
WebCite provides on-demand archiving and permanent linking of web references to ensure cited material remains accessible to readers in the future.
Target Customer
{"Authors (citing authors)","Editors and copyeditors","Publishers","Readers","Libraries and digital preservation organizations (e.g., Internet Archive partners)"}
Key Differentiator
Offers two URL formats for archived references (opaque and transparent), integrates DOIs via refdoi, free service for authors, supports both manual archiving and batch archiving via manuscript upload, and collaborates with digital preservation partners for long-term access.
Implementation Timeline
Not specified in the provided content.
Pain Points
- 1Web references can disappear or become inactive (404 errors) over time.
- 2Cited webpages may change content, causing readers to see something different than the original citation.
- 3Lack of routine, long-term preservation of cited digital objects; need for proactive archiving.
Key Features
- 1Manual archiving of a single cited webpage via an archive page
- 2Batch archiving by uploading a manuscript to archive all cited non-journal URLs
- 3Automatic replacement of live URLs with archived copies in the manuscript
- 4Two formats for WebCite URLs: opaque (short, non-revealing) and transparent (embedded in the URL)
- 5DOI/refdoi integration and option to resolve via dx.doi.org
- 6Access to archived copies by date and date-based search
- 7Self-archiving capability and one-click citation button (Cite this page)
Target Customer Industries
Decision Makers
- 1Editor
- 2Copyeditor
- 3Publisher
- 4Author
Client Results
- 1Permanence of cited web material and reduced risk of link rot
- 2Readers can access the exact version cited by the author via archived copies
- 3Access to archive search and date-specific snapshots
- 4Potentially measurable impact statistics for cited web pages (from WebCite consortium goals)
Competitive Advantages
- 1Free for individual authors to cite and archive
- 2Two URL formats and optional DOIs for archived references
- 3Crawler capability for retrospective archiving
- 4Partners with Internet Archive and other libraries for digital preservation
- 5Applicable to both static and dynamic content, with self-archiving options
Key Benefits
Case Studies & Success Stories
Biomed Central uses WebCite logo to link to archived copies in every webreference
Example cited in the Journal of Biology showing integration across Biomed Central journals.
Journal of Medical Internet Research archives all URLs since 2005
Demonstrates comprehensive archival of journal articles' URLs.
Additional Product Information
Product Description
WebCite is an on-demand archiving system for web references, enabling authors, editors, and publishers to preserve cited web material and attach archived copies to scholarly references.
Target Market
Scholarly authors, editors/publishers, librarians, and digital preservation organizations seeking long-term citability and accessibility of web references
Unique Value Proposition
A free, on-demand archiving service with durable, citable web references, dual URL formats, DOI integration, and partnerships with major digital preservation networks.
Technical Requirements
Not specified in the provided content.
Pricing Model
Free for authors; premium members may access advanced features (archive search, assign DOIs, ad controls).
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DOI System
DOI Foundation provides a system for resolving DOI names which are used to uniquely identify digital objects and ensure stable and persistent links.
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