How we ranked these
We ranked each platform by the strength of the evidence that AI tools use it, then by how cheap and quick it is to set up, not by how popular it is. Each one is tagged:
- Documented: the AI company or the platform has said so publicly, for example through a data deal or an app inside ChatGPT.
- Measured: it shows up in independent studies of what AI tools cite, mainly BrightLocal’s study of nearly 2 million local citations.1
- Inferred: there’s a sound reason to expect it matters, but no direct evidence yet.
The 12 places at a glance
Read across each row: the AI tool it feeds, how strong the evidence is, what it costs to list, and how soon to do it.
| Platform | Feeds | Evidence | Cost to list | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yelp | ChatGPT, Apple Maps | Documented, measured | Free listing | Do first |
| Google Business Profile | Google AI Overviews, AI Mode, Maps | Documented, measured | Free | Do first |
| Bing Places | Bing search and Maps | Documented for Bing, inferred for AI | Free | High |
| Apple Business Connect | Apple Maps, Siri | Documented | Free | High |
| Better Business Bureau | ChatGPT | Measured | Free profile, paid accreditation | High |
| Angi | ChatGPT (Angi app) | Documented, measured | Paid leads | Medium |
| Facebook page | Google AI Overviews, AI Mode | Measured | Free | Medium |
| Thumbtack | ChatGPT (announced app) | Documented, measured | Paid leads | Medium |
| HomeAdvisor | AI answers | Measured | Paid leads | Medium |
| Houzz | AI answers | Measured | Free profile | Medium for remodeling trades |
| Nextdoor | AI answers | Measured | Free business page | Medium |
| Yellow Pages | ChatGPT | Measured | Free listing | Low |
The 12 places, one by one
Yelp
Why it matters. Yelp is the single biggest source for ChatGPT’s local answers. It appeared in 80% of ChatGPT’s local answers in BrightLocal’s study, and appeared in the data behind ChatGPT’s business cards in 95.83% of Steady Demand’s test runs.12 In July 2026 Yelp agreed to license its reviews, ratings, photos and business details to OpenAI.3 Yelp also supplies data to Apple Maps.3
Watch out. Yelp doesn’t allow businesses to ask customers for reviews. Link to your Yelp page from your website and invoices instead, and reply to every review. Our guide on reviews and AI covers the rules for each platform.
- Claim the listing and verify it
- Choose the right categories and list every service
- Add your service area, hours and real photos
- Reply to every review
Google Business Profile
Why it matters. It’s the most-cited local source in Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode. It made up 28.5% of all local citations in BrightLocal’s study across all three AI tools, and 54% of citations for plumbers.1 Google’s own guidance for its AI features includes keeping your Business Profile up to date, and its new Ask Maps feature draws on places and reviews.45
Watch out. Google says local results are mainly based on relevance, distance and popularity, and that more reviews and positive ratings can help.6 Business name stuffing and fake addresses can get a profile suspended.
- Verify the profile and pick the most specific primary category
- Add every service, with descriptions
- Set your service area town by town
- Post real job photos regularly
Bing Places for Business
Why it matters. Microsoft relaunched Bing Places in October 2025. Listings appear in Bing search and Bing Maps, and Microsoft says it’s working on deeper links with Bing Maps and Copilot.7 OpenAI names Bing as one of the search providers behind ChatGPT search.8
Watch out. There’s no published evidence that Bing Places data feeds ChatGPT’s local answers directly. It’s still free and quick, and it covers Bing search and Bing Maps. Microsoft says deeper Copilot integration is planned.
- Import your Google Business Profile to save time
- Check that the name, address and phone match exactly
Apple Business Connect
Why it matters. Apple says Business Connect details appear “across Apple Maps, Messages, Wallet, Siri, and other apps.”9 Apple Maps is growing as a place to read reviews: 27% of consumers used it for reviews in 2026, up from 14%.10
Watch out. Yelp supplies data to Apple Maps, so your Yelp profile matters here too.3
- Claim your place card
- Add hours, photos and a short description
- Add a “Call” or “Book” action
Better Business Bureau
Why it matters. The BBB was cited 4,247 times by ChatGPT across 354 locations in BrightLocal’s study.1 Homeowners are also told to check BBB complaints before hiring a contractor.11
Watch out. A basic BBB profile is free. Accreditation is a paid membership, and isn’t needed to be listed.
- Claim your free profile
- Answer any complaints on record, calmly and in full
Angi
Why it matters. Angi launched an app inside ChatGPT in March 2026 that gives “localized skilled pro recommendations”.12 Angi was also cited 1,768 times by ChatGPT, and made up 2.2% of plumber citations, in BrightLocal’s study.1
Watch out. Angi charges for leads. Weigh the lead cost on its own merits. Angi is cited in ChatGPT answers, but there’s no evidence that a listing alone gets you named.
- Complete your profile and service list
- Collect reviews from Angi customers
Facebook page
Why it matters. Facebook is one of the top three local sources in Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode, and made up 3.1% of plumber citations.1
Watch out. An empty page does nothing. Keep the basics filled in and post occasionally.
- Fill in category, service area, hours and phone
- Post finished jobs a few times a month
Thumbtack
Why it matters. Thumbtack announced an app built with OpenAI that lets people find, contact and hire local pros inside ChatGPT.13 It was cited 1,764 times in BrightLocal’s study.1
Watch out. Thumbtack charges per lead. Check its current pricing for your trade before you commit.
- Complete your profile, with prices where you can
- Ask Thumbtack customers for reviews
HomeAdvisor
Why it matters. HomeAdvisor, which is part of Angi, was cited 1,806 times in BrightLocal’s study, and made up 0.9% of plumber citations.1
Watch out. Like Angi, it’s a paid lead service. Don’t pay for leads just for the listing.
- Keep your profile details matching your other listings
Houzz
Why it matters. Houzz was cited 2,097 times across 129 businesses in BrightLocal’s study.1 It matters most for remodeling, windows, roofing and other trades where homeowners compare photos of past work.
Watch out. A free profile is enough to start. The paid Houzz Pro software is optional.
- Upload real project photos with locations
- Ask past clients to review you on Houzz
Nextdoor
Why it matters. Nextdoor was cited 1,660 times across 194 businesses in BrightLocal’s study.1 It’s also where neighbors recommend tradespeople to each other.
Watch out. Recommendations come from neighbors, so you can’t control them. A complete page makes it easy for them to tag you.
- Claim your free business page
- Thank people who recommend you
Yellow Pages
Why it matters. Yellow Pages was cited 1,827 times in BrightLocal’s study, 711 of them by ChatGPT.1
Watch out. It’s a low priority. Claim the free listing once and keep the details consistent.
- Claim the free listing and match your other details
Two more worth knowing about
Reddit isn’t a listing, but it matters. OpenAI and Google both license Reddit’s data, and BrightLocal counted 35,144 Reddit citations across 1,204 businesses.14151 You can’t list yourself there, but you can answer questions openly in your own name.
Foursquare is often overrated. Many guides say Foursquare powers ChatGPT’s local results. In Steady Demand’s August 2026 test of 4,607 ChatGPT runs, Foursquare’s share was 0% on the main test and one citation in 1,728 runs on a cross-check.2 Claim it if you like, but don’t put it ahead of the list above.
Trade association and manufacturer directories (for example a shingle maker’s certified contractor list) aren’t measured in any AI study we could find. They’re still worth joining, because homeowners are told to check membership before hiring.11
Make every listing say the same thing
The listings above only help if they agree with each other and with your website. Before you finish, check that all of them show the same name, address, phone number, website, services and service area. Then set a reminder to check them again every quarter. Our step-by-step guide shows how to fit listings into the rest of the work.
Find out which listings AI is already using for your competitors in your town.
Get your free Town Score →Sources
Every figure on this page was checked against the source listed below on November 3, 2026.
- BrightLocal, Where to get local citations for AI search (1,967,762 citations, 1,355 locations), August 26, 2026. brightlocal.com
- Steady Demand, Test of where ChatGPT’s local business results come from (4,607 runs, 12 US cities), August 21, 2026. steadydemand.com
- Axios, via Yahoo Finance, Report on Yelp licensing its business data to OpenAI, July 23, 2026. finance.yahoo.com
- Google Search Central, AI features and your website, updated December 10, 2025. developers.google.com
- Google, Ask Maps and immersive navigation, March 12, 2026. blog.google
- Google Business Profile Help, Tips to improve your local ranking on Google. support.google.com
- Microsoft Bing, Introducing the new Bing Places for Business, October 2025. blogs.bing.com
- OpenAI Help Center, ChatGPT search. help.openai.com
- Apple, Introducing Apple Business Connect, January 11, 2023. apple.com
- BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2026 (1,002 US adults), February 11, 2026. brightlocal.com
- IBHS FORTIFIED, How to select a roofing contractor, December 3, 2021. fortifiedhome.org
- Angi, via GlobeNewswire, Angi launches the Angi app in ChatGPT, March 4, 2026. globenewswire.com
- Thumbtack, via AI Journal, Thumbtack partners with OpenAI to power home services in ChatGPT, October 6, 2025. aijourn.com
- OpenAI, OpenAI and Reddit partnership, May 16, 2024. openai.com
- Google, Expanded partnership with Reddit, February 22, 2024. blog.google
