How to get onto the "best of" lists that AI assistants quote

When we asked ChatGPT and Gemini which agencies they recommend, a large part of their answers came from "best X" articles and comparison lists. The same is true in most categories. If buyers ask assistants for recommendations in your market, the lists those assistants read are some of the most valuable pages on the web for you.

Find the lists that matter

1. 1Ask ChatGPT, with search on, and Perplexity your main recommendation questions.
2. 2Record every "best X", "top X" and comparison article they cite.
3. 3Search Google for the same questions and note which lists rank on page one.
4. 4Keep the ones that appear in more than one place. Those are your targets.

Check who wrote each one

Some lists are independent editorial pieces. Some are written by a competitor who ranks itself first. Some are paid directories. That changes how you approach them. An independent author wants accuracy and new information. A competitor's list is unlikely to include you fairly, and isn't worth chasing.

Make a case the author can use

• Keep it short and specific to their article.
• Say exactly which section you'd fit and why, with facts they can check.
• Offer something useful: data, a clear example, a quote for their next update.
• Link to proof, such as reviews and case studies, rather than adjectives.

Become worth listing

Authors update lists when something new is worth adding. Publishing original research, a useful free tool, or clear public pricing gives them a reason to include you. Reviews on the platforms authors check are often the deciding factor.

Track the result

Keep a sheet of target lists, the date you contacted the author, and the outcome. When a list adds you, re-run the buyer questions that cite it over the following weeks and see whether the assistants pick up the change.

A short outreach email that works

"Hi [name], I read your guide to [topic], especially the section on [specific point]. If you update it, [company] might fit your section on [section]: we [one factual line], with [proof, such as reviews or a client result]. Happy to share [useful data or a short quote] if it helps. Thanks either way."

Keep it under 100 words, specific to their article, and easy to say yes or no to. Follow up once, a week or two later, and then leave it.

Outreach to the sources AI cites is the core of our off-site work. See our GEO agency page.