Topic evidence page
Source-backed creator statements and evidence excerpts related to Directory listicles.
If you're a local service business, you hate Yelp. That's what I've learned doing SEO for about 100 local service businesses. Yelp is the worst. A lot of businesses have written them off entirely. However, as all search becomes AI search, that's getting harder to do. That's because when someone goes to ChatGPT or even Google's AI mode and asks for a recom...
OpenIf you're a local service business, you hate Yelp. That's what I've learned doing SEO for about 100 local service businesses. Yelp is the worst. A lot of businesses have written them off entirely. However, as all search becomes AI search, that's getting harder to do. That's because when someone goes to ChatGPT or even Google's AI mode and asks for a recom...
OpenIf you're a local service business, you hate Yelp. That's what I've learned doing SEO for about 100 local service businesses. Yelp is the worst. A lot of businesses have written them off entirely. However, as all search becomes AI search, that's getting harder to do. That's because when someone goes to ChatGPT or even Google's AI mode and asks for a recommendation for a local service business, Yelp is by far the most cited website. Google even cites it more than Google Business Profiles. Now, how often AI cites...
views you get, you will always be underneath the sponsored results. So if you want to show up at the top, you have to run ads on Yelp. Now, this won't put you at the top consistently unless you're spending a lot of money, but it will increase the chance that you show up at the top. I know you hate Yelp and you swore you'd never give them a dollar cause they're extortionists that hide all your positive reviews unless you pay them. I can't tell you whether or not it's a good idea to pay Yelp. I'm just here to prov...
If you want your business to be found online, you need to understand the role that business directories play these days, cause it's a big one. I'm talking about directories like Google Maps, Yelp, and Clutch. These directories have always mattered, but they matter a lot more now as search becomes AI search. I think by the end of 2026 all search will be AI search. Understanding how this AI depends on these business directories to recommend either you or your competitors is crucial. First thing to understand is th...
e looking to hire a business like yours. Then pay attention to the websites that AI cites. These websites more or less determine whether or not the AI is going to recommend your brand or your competitor's brand. And for pretty much every industry, it's going to include directories. Now before I get to step 2. I know what you're thinking, TJ. Why would I look at Google AI Mode? No one uses AI Mode. Fair enough, but remember, we're operating under the assumption that all search will be AI search by the end of 2026...
lly paying for placement, you're running ads on their platform, but as a result, they'll place you at the top of these listicles. And if this is a directory that AI is citing often, it's probably worth paying for placement. And I know you hate Yelp and you swore you'd never pay them money cause they just rip you off. It's no longer just about the lift you get on the platform, but the lift you get from AI search, which is potentially much bigger. But at the very least, you should be completing your entire profile...