Best-of lists: how to get on them honestly
Best-of lists are 46% of what ChatGPT cites. Who writes them, how they pick, and the short, honest note that gets you considered.
Articles like “The 10 best plumbers in Denver” made up a quarter of everything AI cited in our Local AI Index, and nearly half of what ChatGPT cited. Expertise.com alone came up in 16% of all answers.
Who writes them
- Directories' own city pages, like Expertise.com, BestProsInTown or HomeGuide.
- Magazines and their home sections, like Forbes Home.
- Local news sites and bloggers.
- Marketing firms and lead sites that publish a list for every city.
How they pick
Read the list before you contact anyone. Many say how they choose: reviews, licences, years in business, or a nomination form. Some sell placement. If a list charges for a spot, it should tell its readers; if it doesn't, think twice before paying.
The note that works
Find who wrote it or who runs the site, and send a short, polite note with the facts that make you worth including. A few lines is plenty:
The note
Hi [name], I read your list of the best [service] in [city]. We're [business], [one sentence on what you do and where]. We have [rating] stars from [number] Google reviews, we've been in business since [year], and we're [licensed, insured, certified]. If you update the list, we'd be glad to be considered. Happy to answer any questions. [Your name], [phone]
If you hear nothing, follow up once after two weeks, then leave it. Lists are updated on their own schedule.
What never to do
- Don't pay for a placement that isn't disclosed to readers.
- Don't write fake reviews, or pretend to be a customer recommending yourself.
- Don't pester: one note and one follow-up.
Do this before the next lesson
- Pick the three best-of lists AI cited most for your question.
- Read how each one picks, and check you meet it.
- Send each one the note above, filled in with your real facts.
In Groow
Groow reads every best-of list AI cites for your questions, shows who's on each one and how to be added, and drafts the note to each author. Pitch them with Groow sends the notes you approve and tracks the replies.
Put this to work on your business
Groow checks how ChatGPT, Google and Google Maps see your business every week, tells you what to fix first, and drafts the work for your OK.