How Best-of Lists Rank in AI Search Results

Why Best-of Lists Are the Top Ranking Factor for AI Search

Best-of lists have emerged as the single most important factor for achieving visibility in AI-powered search results, according to recent research from Whitespark’s 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors report. This represents a fundamental shift in how AI engines evaluate and surface content compared to traditional search optimization. When AI systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Google AI Overviews generate answers, they prioritize information from sources that have been vetted, recommended, and curated by recognized experts. Being featured on a best-of list—whether it’s “Best Plumbers in Sydney,” “Top Accountants in Melbourne,” or “Leading SaaS Solutions”—signals to AI algorithms that your business or brand has earned trusted endorsement from authoritative sources, making it significantly more likely to be included in AI-generated responses.

The rise of AI-augmented search experiences has fundamentally changed what matters for online visibility. Unlike traditional search engines that primarily evaluate websites based on keywords, backlinks, and technical SEO factors, AI search engines rely heavily on trusted sources and expert curation as primary signals of authority and relevance. This shift means that being included in expert-curated lists now outranks many traditional SEO signals that previously dominated search visibility strategies. The reason is straightforward: AI models are designed to provide accurate, trustworthy answers by drawing from sources that have already been vetted and recommended by human experts. When your business appears on a respected best-of list, you’re essentially receiving a third-party endorsement that AI systems recognize and value highly.

How AI Engines Evaluate and Cite Best-of Lists

Different AI search engines have distinct preferences when it comes to sourcing information, but they all share a common appreciation for expert-curated content and authoritative recommendations. Understanding these preferences helps explain why best-of lists rank so prominently across all major AI platforms. ChatGPT, for instance, heavily skews toward established, authoritative, and factual sources, with Wikipedia dominating approximately 27% of its citations in research datasets. However, beyond Wikipedia, ChatGPT also relies significantly on reputable news outlets, industry publications, and expert-curated lists that provide neutral, reference-style information. This preference for authority-backed sources means that being featured on a well-respected best-of list increases your chances of being cited by ChatGPT when users ask questions related to your industry or service category.

Google Gemini takes a more balanced approach, blending authoritative sources with community input and professional reviews. In citation analysis, blogs account for approximately 39% of Gemini’s sources, with news sites making up 26%, and YouTube content representing a significant portion as well. Importantly, Gemini shows strong affinity for content that has been professionally reviewed and recommended, which includes best-of lists and comparison articles. Perplexity AI demonstrates an even stronger preference for expert and review curator content, with specialized review sites like NerdWallet, Consumer Reports, and Investopedia featuring prominently in its citation patterns. This means that if your brand appears on industry-specific best-of lists and expert review platforms, you’re directly aligning with Perplexity’s source preferences, making AI visibility more likely.

Google AI Overviews, which pulls from the widest mix of sources to mirror Google Search’s diversity, still shows strong reliance on curated content and expert recommendations. The platform cites blog-style articles (46%), mainstream news (20%), and community content (4%), but critically, it also incorporates content from professional review sites and best-of lists that have established authority in their respective niches. The key insight across all these platforms is that AI engines use best-of lists as signals of quality and trustworthiness, treating them as pre-filtered sources that have already undergone expert evaluation.

The Structural Advantage: Why Curation Matters to AI

The fundamental reason best-of lists rank so highly in AI search comes down to how AI models process and evaluate information. When an AI engine encounters a best-of list, it recognizes several important signals simultaneously. First, the list format itself provides structured information that AI can easily parse and understand. Second, the curation process implies expert evaluation, which AI systems interpret as a quality signal. Third, being featured alongside competitors on a respected list provides contextual authority—your business is being recommended in the same breath as other quality providers, which elevates your credibility in the AI’s assessment.

This structural advantage explains why traditional SEO signals, while still important, have become secondary to list inclusion for AI visibility. A website might rank #1 on Google for a particular keyword but still fail to appear in AI-generated answers if it hasn’t been featured on authoritative best-of lists. Conversely, a business featured on multiple respected best-of lists may appear in AI answers even if its organic search ranking is modest. This represents a paradigm shift in how visibility is achieved online, requiring businesses to adopt new strategies that prioritize expert curation and third-party endorsement alongside traditional SEO efforts.

Strategic Approaches to Securing Best-of List Placements

Successfully getting featured on best-of lists requires a deliberate, multi-step approach that goes beyond simply hoping to be discovered. The first critical step is comprehensive list identification and research. Businesses should conduct a thorough audit of all relevant best-of lists, comparison articles, buying guides, and roundup posts within their industry and geographic region. This involves searching for variations like “best [your service] in [your location],” “top [your industry] providers,” “leading [your category] companies,” and similar phrases. Creating a detailed spreadsheet of target lists—including the list publisher, their authority level, submission criteria, contact information, and current featured businesses—provides a clear roadmap for outreach efforts. This research phase is essential because it helps identify which lists are most likely to drive AI visibility based on their own authority and citation patterns.

Once target lists have been identified, the next phase involves preparing a compelling submission package that makes it easy for list curators to include your business. Rather than sending generic requests, successful submissions include a well-crafted business summary that highlights unique value propositions, relevant credentials, years in business, service areas, and customer testimonials. Including a case study or specific example of your work demonstrates concrete value and helps list curators understand why your business deserves inclusion. Providing direct links to dedicated service pages on your website gives curators easy access to detailed information they can reference when writing about your business. High-quality visuals, such as professional photos or branded graphics, also increase the likelihood of inclusion, as they make the list more visually appealing and professional.

The third critical element is ensuring your website supports your list presence by providing the detailed, authoritative content that AI engines expect to find. When a list curator or AI engine visits your website after seeing you featured on a best-of list, they should find dedicated service pages for each major offering, complete with credentials, testimonials, service areas, and relevant context. This creates a seamless experience where the list mention directs traffic to comprehensive information that reinforces your authority. Additionally, maintaining consistent business information across all platforms—including your website, Google Business Profile, citations, and social media—ensures that AI systems can easily verify and trust the information they find about your business.

Measuring and Monitoring AI Search Visibility from Best-of Lists

Tracking the impact of best-of list placements on AI search visibility requires different metrics than traditional SEO monitoring. Rather than focusing solely on keyword rankings or organic traffic, businesses should monitor their appearance in AI-generated answers across multiple platforms. Tools and services that track AI citations can reveal how often your brand appears in responses from ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Google AI Overviews. This data provides direct evidence of whether your best-of list placements are translating into AI visibility. Additionally, monitoring referral traffic from AI platforms through Google Analytics can show whether AI-generated answers are driving qualified visitors to your website.

Another important metric is share of voice within your category, which measures how often your brand appears in AI answers compared to competitors. If you’re featured on multiple best-of lists but your share of voice in AI answers remains low, it may indicate that your website content needs optimization to better support the list mentions. Conversely, if your share of voice is high, it confirms that your best-of list strategy is working effectively. Businesses should also track which specific lists are driving the most AI visibility, as this information helps refine future list-building efforts. Some lists may have higher authority with AI engines than others, and identifying these high-impact lists allows for more strategic allocation of outreach resources.

Integration with Broader AI Search Optimization Strategy

While best-of lists represent the #1 factor for AI search visibility, they work most effectively as part of a comprehensive AI search optimization strategy. The second most important factor identified in recent research is having dedicated pages for each service you offer, which ensures that when AI engines encounter your business on a best-of list, they can find detailed, relevant information on your website. This means creating service-specific pages that address common questions, provide detailed descriptions, include customer testimonials, and demonstrate expertise. The third major factor is earning prominence on industry-relevant domains, which includes getting mentioned in industry publications, professional associations, and authoritative niche websites beyond just best-of lists.

These three factors work synergistically: best-of list placements provide the initial authority signal that gets AI engines’ attention, dedicated service pages provide the detailed content that AI engines use to generate accurate answers, and mentions on industry-relevant domains reinforce your expertise and trustworthiness. Additionally, maintaining strong foundational SEO elements remains important, including a fully optimized Google Business Profile, high-quality customer reviews, consistent business information across platforms, and engagement signals like website clicks and directions requests. The key insight is that AI search optimization is not a replacement for traditional SEO, but rather an evolution that builds upon solid SEO fundamentals while adding new strategic priorities like best-of list inclusion and expert curation.