How to get your business on "best in town" lists

Updated October 17, 2026

Ask ChatGPT for “the best dentist in Phoenix” and look at where the answer comes from. Very often it’s a list: “The 10 best family dentists in Phoenix” on a local news site, a city blog, or a site like Expertise.com. Ahrefs, a company that studies search, looked at the pages ChatGPT reads when people ask for recommendations, and “best of” lists were the most common kind.

Being on those lists gives AI a reason to name you. Getting on them is mostly a matter of asking.

Step 1. Find the lists

Search Google for “best [your trade] in [your town]” and “top [your trade]s in [your town]”. Open the first ten results and keep every list that’s about your town and your kind of business.

Step 2. See who made each list

A local news site, magazine or blog: a real person wrote it. Find their name at the top or bottom of the page.
A “best of” website: look for Nominate, Suggest a business or Contact.
Another business’s blog (like a realtor’s list of trusted contractors): write to the owner.

Step 3. Send a short, personal email

Mention their list by name, say who you are and what you do, and give three facts: how long you’ve been in business, your Google rating and number of reviews, and one real thing that makes you different. Keep it under 120 words. No attachments.

Step 4. Remind them once

No answer after a week? Send one short, polite reminder. Then stop. Lists get updated every few months, so you can try again later.

Two honest rules

If a site asks you to pay, it’s an ad. That’s allowed, but it’s your choice, and many lists are free to ask.
Never write fake reviews to climb a list. It’s against Google’s rules and the law.