Introduction — Why AI Rarely Relies on a Single Website
When a buyer asks ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Perplexity for the best vendor in your category, the AI does not read your homepage and decide. It retrieves from dozens of sources — search indexes, knowledge graphs, review aggregators, industry directories, government registries, and press archives — then synthesizes an answer from corroborated nodes. Your website is one input. If it is the only input, AI lacks confidence to recommend you.
This is the definitive resource on where AI systems discover information about companies and how to get your business listed in every source that matters. Whether you run a SaaS startup, marketing agency, manufacturer, export business, consultancy, healthcare practice, law firm, or e-commerce brand — the listing strategy differs by vertical, but the underlying principle is identical: distribute your entity across the sources AI already trusts.
Why AI rarely relies on a single website
Large language models trained on web data learned that single-source claims are unreliable. A company can say anything on its own website. AI systems apply corroboration filters: before recommending a brand, they look for independent confirmation from review platforms, directories, press mentions, and structured data repositories. Perplexity explicitly cites URLs — if your brand appears only on your domain, you will not be cited. ChatGPT Search and Gemini retrieve from indexed third-party sources with established domain authority.
The implication for marketers: website optimization alone is insufficient. You need entity distribution — the same accurate NAP (name, address, phone), category description, and trust signals replicated across every platform AI retrieves from. Inconsistency creates entity fragmentation; AI may treat misspelled or conflicting listings as different businesses.
How AI builds confidence through multiple sources
AI confidence scoring works like a trust graph. Each listing, review, press mention, and registry entry is a node. Edges connect nodes when data matches: same company name, same URL, same address, same category. The denser and more consistent the graph, the higher the confidence score when AI evaluates whether to recommend you. HubSpot appears in CRM recommendations not because of hubspot.com alone — but because G2, Capterra, Wikipedia, Wikidata, Crunchbase, LinkedIn, and thousands of press articles all confirm the same entity serving the same category.
Confidence also increases with source diversity. Ten reviews on one platform is weaker than reviews on Google + G2 + Clutch + a chamber directory + a trade association listing. AI treats cross-platform corroboration as stronger evidence than volume on a single platform.
Why external validation matters
External validation is any third-party source that confirms your business exists, serves a category, and is trusted by customers or peers. Reviews are the most visible form. But directories, association memberships, government registrations, certifications, and press mentions all function as validation nodes. AI systems weight external validation higher than self-published content because it reduces hallucination risk — recommending a company that turns out to be fraudulent damages user trust in the AI product.
Businesses that invest only in content marketing while ignoring listing strategy often see this pattern: strong organic traffic, zero AI mentions. Content gets retrieved occasionally; validation nodes determine whether AI recommends you as a trusted choice.
The listing coverage problem — a diagnostic pattern
In Altus Connect audits, we consistently find the same gap: companies with polished websites and active blogs score 15–25 on the 100-point listing checklist. Their competitors — often with inferior websites — score 60+ because they invested in G2 reviews, chamber memberships, and industry directory profiles years ago. AI recommends the competitor because corroboration density wins over content quality when trust filters apply.
Listing strategy is not a replacement for good content. It is the distribution layer that makes content citable. A benchmark report published only on your blog is one node. The same report promoted via G2 profile, LinkedIn article, and trade association newsletter creates four retrievable nodes — multiplying AI discovery probability.
Related guides: Authority Signals AI Trusts · How AI Understands Your Brand · Local AI Visibility.
Download: AI Listing Master Checklist — 100 Points
10 categories × 10 items: entity foundation, Google/local, general directories, industry/trade, SaaS/B2B, reviews, associations, government, knowledge graph, monitoring. Target 70+ / 100.
Download checklistOpen printable version"Your website is one node in a graph AI traverses before recommending you. G2, Google Business Profile, Wikidata, chamber directories, press mentions — each listing is a corroboration signal. Businesses invisible to AI are usually invisible to the sources AI retrieves from."
— Saurabh Mittal, Founder, Altus Connect
Explain AI Information Sources — Nine Types AI Retrieves From
Before submitting to directories, understand the source categories AI systems query. Each type serves a different function in the trust graph.
1. Search engines
Why AI trusts it: ChatGPT Search, Gemini, and Perplexity browse indexed web pages. Search rankings influence retrieval order — pages on authoritative domains get fetched first.
Examples: Google Search index, Bing index, Brave Search.
How to get listed: Publish crawlable HTML content, submit sitemap, earn backlinks, deploy schema markup. Not a directory submission — an index inclusion strategy.
Approval difficulty: Medium — requires ongoing SEO, not one-time submission.
Expected impact: Very High — foundation for all web-retrieval AI systems.
2. Knowledge graphs
Why AI trusts it: Structured entity databases (Wikidata, Google Knowledge Graph, DBpedia) provide machine-readable Organization identity AI uses for entity resolution.
Examples: Wikidata, Google Knowledge Panel, Crunchbase (semi-structured).
How to get listed: Submit Wikidata item with references; optimize for Knowledge Panel eligibility via schema, Wikipedia, and corroborating sources.
Approval difficulty: Hard — Wikidata requires notability references; Knowledge Panel is algorithmic.
Expected impact: Very High — entity resolution unlocks all other signals.
3. Industry publications
Why AI trusts it: Editorial validation — press mentions confirm category relevance and market presence. Perplexity cites news and trade publications frequently.
Examples: TechCrunch, Harvard Business Review, vertical trade magazines, local business journals.
How to get listed: PR outreach, founder expert pitches, HARO/Connectively responses, bylined guest articles.
Approval difficulty: Hard — editorial gatekeeping.
Expected impact: High — especially for B2B and category-leader positioning.
4. Directories
Why AI trusts it: Structured business listings with NAP, category, and often reviews. AI retrieves directory pages for "best [category] in [city]" and vendor shortlist queries.
Examples: Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, Thomasnet, G2, chamber directories — see full category table below.
How to get listed: Claim or create profiles; maintain NAP consistency; complete every field including description, categories, and website URL.
Approval difficulty: Easy to Medium — most are self-serve.
Expected impact: Very High — core listing strategy for this guide.
5. Review sites
Why AI trusts it: Third-party customer validation. AI extracts review text for sentiment, use-case keywords, and trust scoring. Volume and recency matter.
Examples: Google Reviews, G2, Capterra, Clutch, Avvo, Healthgrades, TripAdvisor, Trustpilot.
How to get listed: Claim profile, launch review generation campaign, respond to all reviews.
Approval difficulty: Medium — profile is easy; review volume takes 60–90 days.
Expected impact: Very High — often the highest-weight signal for recommendation queries.
6. Government databases
Why AI trusts it: Official registration confirms legal existence. Critical for regulated industries and B2B procurement queries.
Examples: Secretary of State business registries, SAM.gov, professional licensing boards, FDA registries, SEC EDGAR.
How to get listed: Register business legally; ensure listing is searchable; link verification from website.
Approval difficulty: Medium — legal registration required.
Expected impact: High for regulated/trust-sensitive queries; Medium for general B2C.
7. Industry associations
Why AI trusts it: Peer validation within vertical. Membership directories confirm category affiliation and often display credentials.
Examples: Trade associations, medical societies, bar associations, manufacturing councils, ISO registrars.
How to get listed: Apply for membership; complete member directory profile with bio and URL.
Approval difficulty: Medium — membership fees and eligibility requirements.
Expected impact: Very High for vertical-specific AI queries.
8. Research publications
Why AI trusts it: Primary data and expert attribution. Original research becomes exclusive citation material AI cannot find elsewhere.
Examples: Company-published benchmarks, white papers with methodology, academic citations, industry survey reports.
How to get listed: Publish HTML research with sample size and date; promote for backlinks; submit to industry aggregators.
Approval difficulty: Hard — requires original data production.
Expected impact: Very High for data-driven and comparison queries.
9. Social and professional networks
Why AI trusts it: Entity corroboration and founder authority. LinkedIn company and founder profiles are among the most-retrieved business sources.
Examples: LinkedIn, Crunchbase, X/Twitter business profiles, YouTube channel pages.
How to get listed: Complete profiles with consistent NAP, category description, and website link.
Approval difficulty: Easy.
Expected impact: High — especially for B2B and founder-led brands.
How the nine source types work together
AI does not query one source type in isolation. A typical recommendation path for "best CRM for small business" might retrieve: G2 comparison pages (review sites + directories), HubSpot's Wikipedia entry (knowledge graph), TechCrunch articles (industry publications), and Google-indexed blog posts (search engines). The brand with presence across all four source types wins. Missing any layer reduces confidence — not to zero, but enough to lose against a competitor with fuller coverage.
Build source coverage in this order: (1) directories and review platforms for entity + trust foundation, (2) knowledge graph and schema for machine-readable identity, (3) industry associations and government registries for vertical/regulatory validation, (4) press and research for citation authority and exclusive data nodes.
"AI does not ask: does this company have a good website? It asks: do independent sources confirm this company exists, serves this category, and is trusted by others? Listing strategy is entity distribution — placing your brand where AI already looks for answers."
— Saurabh Mittal, Founder, Altus Connect
Directory Categories — Complete Listing Reference
The table below covers all 11 directory categories with submission guidance. Use it to build your listing spreadsheet: track platform, URL, submission date, approval status, NAP match, and last verified date.
| Category | Why AI trusts it | Examples | Submission process | Approval difficulty | Expected impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Business Directories | Third-party business registries with structured NAP data; AI uses for entity resolution | LinkedIn, Crunchbase, Manta, Kompass, Dun & Bradstreet | Self-serve claim or create profile; verify via email or phone | Easy | Medium–High |
| Local Directories | Geographic corroboration for local queries; feeds Google Knowledge Graph | Google Business Profile, Yelp, Apple Maps, Bing Places, Yellow Pages | Claim via postcard, phone, or video verification | Easy–Medium | Very High (local) |
| SaaS Directories | Category-specific software rankings with reviews AI weights heavily | G2, Capterra, GetApp, TrustRadius, Product Hunt | Create vendor profile; customers leave reviews | Medium (review volume needed) | Very High (SaaS) |
| B2B Directories | Vendor/supplier validation for procurement and B2B queries | Thomasnet, IndiaMART, Alibaba, GlobalSpec, Clutch | Register as supplier; complete capability profile | Medium | High (B2B) |
| Manufacturing Directories | Industry-specific capability and certification data | Thomasnet, IndustryNet, MFG.com, regional manufacturing associations | Apply with capabilities, certifications, NAICS codes | Medium | High (manufacturing) |
| Export Directories | International trade validation; government-backed trust | Export.gov, ITA trade directories, national export promotion agencies | Register through trade promotion body or chamber | Medium–Hard | High (export queries) |
| Professional Associations | Credential verification; E-E-A-T for regulated professions | AMA, ABA, state bar, medical boards, CPA societies | Membership required; directory profile included | Medium (membership) | Very High (regulated) |
| Industry Bodies | Category authority; peer validation within vertical | Trade associations, ISO registrars, industry councils | Apply for membership; submit company profile | Medium–Hard | High |
| Chamber of Commerce | Local business legitimacy; regional AI queries | US Chamber, local chambers, BNI, rotary business directories | Join chamber; complete member directory listing | Easy–Medium | Medium–High (local/regional) |
| Review Platforms | Third-party trust corroboration; highest AI weight for recommendations | Google, G2, Clutch, Avvo, Healthgrades, TripAdvisor | Claim profile; launch review campaign | Medium (reviews take time) | Very High |
| Industry-Specific Examples | Vertical authority nodes AI retrieves for niche queries | Avvo (legal), Healthgrades (health), Houzz (home), Zillow (real estate) | Claim vertical-specific profile; optimize for category keywords | Varies by vertical | Very High (vertical) |
Listing best practices across all categories
- NAP consistency: Identical name, address, phone on every listing — match your website exactly
- Category accuracy: Select primary category that matches how buyers search AI (not internal taxonomy)
- Description: Entity-clear — who you serve, what you do, where you operate, one proof point
- Website URL: Always link to canonical homepage or relevant landing page
- sameAs linkage: Include all profile URLs in Organization schema on your website
- Review every 90 days: Listings decay — profiles get merged, categories change, competitors add reviews
Deep dive: General Business Directories
General business directories establish baseline entity presence. LinkedIn is the highest-priority — AI retrieves LinkedIn company pages for nearly every B2B query. Complete every field: logo, banner, description (300+ words), specialties, website, founding year, company size. Crunchbase adds funding and category data AI uses for startup and SaaS queries. Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S number is required for many B2B procurement platforms and feeds commercial credit databases AI may reference for enterprise vendor validation.
Deep dive: Local Directories
For any business with geographic service area, Google Business Profile is the single highest-impact listing. Complete verification, select accurate primary category, add 50+ photos, publish weekly posts, and launch review campaign targeting 50+ reviews in 90 days. Apple Business Connect and Bing Places feed secondary local indexes Gemini and Copilot may query. NAP on Yelp, Facebook, and Foursquare must match GBP exactly — discrepancies trigger entity merge issues in local AI queries.
Deep dive: Review Platforms
Review platforms are the trust engine of AI recommendations. AI reads review text — not just star ratings — extracting use-case keywords ("great for enterprise," "excellent support for manufacturing"). Encourage customers to mention specific outcomes in review text. Respond to every review within 7 days — response rate signals active business management. Deploy AggregateRating schema on website only when it exactly matches live review data; mismatched schema is a trust negative.
Industry-Specific Listing Strategies
Generic directory lists waste time. Prioritize sources AI retrieves for your vertical.
SaaS companies
Priority listings: G2, Capterra, GetApp, TrustRadius, Product Hunt, AlternativeTo, Crunchbase, LinkedIn, GitHub (if open-source component). Review strategy: In-app review prompts after NPS 9–10; target 50+ G2 reviews before optimizing profile copy. Unique signal: SOC 2 Type II listing on trust center with verification link. AI query pattern: "best [category] software for [use case]" — G2 and Capterra pages dominate retrieval.
Marketing agencies
Priority listings: Clutch, GoodFirms, DesignRush, Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, chamber directory, industry association (AMA, 4A's for larger agencies). Review strategy: Clutch requires client interviews — budget 2–3 client referrals per quarter. Unique signal: Case studies with named clients on Clutch profile. AI query pattern: "top marketing agency for [industry]" — Clutch category pages and Google local pack.
Manufacturers
Priority listings: Thomasnet, IndustryNet, regional manufacturing associations, ISO registrar directory, Dun & Bradstreet, Kompass, GlobalSpec. Listing detail: Include NAICS codes, capabilities, certifications, and equipment list — AI matches manufacturing queries to capability keywords. Unique signal: AS9100, ISO 9001, or industry-specific certification in registry. AI query pattern: "[component] manufacturer in [region]" — Thomasnet and association directories.
Exporters
Priority listings: National export promotion agency directory (ITA, Export Britain, etc.), chamber of commerce, Alibaba/Global Sources/IndiaMART depending on market, trade association, SAM.gov if US federal supplier. Listing detail: Export markets served, HS codes, MOQ, certifications (CE, FDA, etc.). Unique signal: Government trade registry validation. AI query pattern: "[product] exporter from [country]" — trade directories and export promotion listings.
Consultants
Priority listings: LinkedIn (founder + company), Clutch (if agency model), industry association directory, speaking bureau listings, guest article author pages. Founder authority: Consultant brands are founder-dependent — Person schema, LinkedIn activity, and podcast appearances matter more than company directory volume. AI query pattern: "[specialty] consultant for [industry]" — founder entity + association directory.
Healthcare practices
Priority listings: Healthgrades, Vitals, Zocdoc, Google Business Profile, state medical board registry, hospital affiliation directory, insurance network directory. Compliance: HIPAA-safe review requests; never incentivize reviews. Unique signal: Board certification and state license verification links. AI query pattern: "best [specialty] doctor in [city]" — Healthgrades and Google dominate.
Legal firms
Priority listings: Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, state bar association directory, Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, Super Lawyers (if applicable). Unique signal: Bar admission number linking to state bar verification. Ethics note: Follow state bar advertising rules for all directory content. AI query pattern: "[practice area] lawyer in [city]" — Avvo and bar directory retrieval.
E-commerce brands
Priority listings: Google Business Profile (if physical presence), Trustpilot, Amazon Seller Central (if marketplace), Better Business Bureau, niche review sites (Wirecutter mentions, category forums). Schema: Product schema with AggregateRating on product pages. Unique signal: Third-party product reviews on independent sites. AI query pattern: "best [product type] brand" — review aggregators and comparison content.
Cross-industry listing principles
Regardless of vertical, three principles apply. First, claim before create — search each platform for existing unclaimed listings (especially GBP and G2) before creating duplicates. Second, one owner internally — assign a listing manager responsible for NAP consistency, quarterly audits, and review campaign coordination. Third, track in a spreadsheet — platform name, profile URL, login email, submission date, approval status, review count, last verified date. Without tracking, listing coverage decays silently.
AI Source Types — Relative Retrieval Weight
Top Listing Platforms by Vertical — AI Retrieval Priority
AI Source Prioritization Framework
Not all listings deserve equal effort. Use this matrix to sequence work when time and budget are limited. Complete all High Impact / Easy items before touching Low Impact categories.
| Quadrant | Listings to prioritize | When to execute |
|---|---|---|
| High Impact / Easy | Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, Organization schema, primary review platform (G2/Google), chamber directory | Week 1–2 — do first |
| High Impact / Difficult | Wikidata, Wikipedia, tier-1 press, analyst directories, 100+ review volume, government registries | Month 2–6 — sustained effort |
| Low Impact / Easy | General free directories (Manta, Hotfrog), social profiles, secondary citation sites | Week 3–4 — batch in one session |
| Low Impact / Difficult | Obscure paid directories, low-traffic niche sites, directories with no AI retrieval history | Skip or deprioritize — audit before investing |
How to run an AI Citation Gap Analysis
Compare your listing coverage against brands AI currently recommends for your top 20 category prompts:
- Run 20 standardized prompts across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity
- Record every brand recommended and every URL cited (especially on Perplexity)
- For top 3 recommended competitors, audit their listings: which directories, review platforms, and registries appear in citations?
- Mark gaps — sources where competitors appear and you do not
- Prioritize gap closures using the matrix above
Altus Connect includes AI Citation Gap Analysis in every AI Visibility Audit — mapping your source coverage against category leaders with a prioritized listing roadmap.
90-Day Listing Roadmap — Week by Week
Execute this sequence to go from sparse listing coverage to 70+ on the 100-point checklist. Adjust industry-specific steps (Week 5, 7, 9) for your vertical using the industry sections above.
- Week 1: Entity audit — NAP, Organization schema, About page rewrite. Claim Google Business Profile and LinkedIn.
- Week 2: Claim primary review platform (G2, Clutch, Google reviews campaign). Deploy sameAs in schema.
- Week 3: Submit to chamber of commerce and primary industry association. Claim Apple Maps and Bing Places.
- Week 4: Batch general directories (Crunchbase, Manta, Kompass). Complete NAP consistency audit.
- Week 5: Industry-specific directory (Thomasnet, Avvo, Healthgrades, etc.). First AI mention rate baseline.
- Week 6: Secondary review platform. Publish case study with client name linking to profile.
- Week 7: B2B or SaaS marketplace profiles. Submit Dun & Bradstreet if B2B.
- Week 8: Government registry verification (Secretary of State, license boards). Link verification on website.
- Week 9: Export or trade directory if applicable. Press page with any existing mentions.
- Week 10: Wikidata research and draft submission. Founder Person schema + LinkedIn linkage.
- Week 11: Tertiary directories batch. Review campaign push (target 50+ primary platform reviews).
- Week 12: AI Citation Gap Analysis — compare your listings vs top 3 AI-recommended competitors.
- Week 13: Retest AI mention rate. Update listing spreadsheet. Plan next 90-day cycle.
90-day success metrics
- Listing coverage: 70+ / 100 on master checklist
- Review volume: 50+ on primary platform, 4.5+ average
- NAP consistency: 100% match across top 20 listings
- AI mention rate: 20%+ improvement from baseline on category prompts
- Perplexity citations: At least one URL cited for primary category query
90-Day Listing Roadmap — Three Phases
Days 1–30
Foundation
Entity, GBP, LinkedIn, primary reviews
Days 31–60
Expansion
Industry dirs, B2B platforms, government
Days 61–90
Optimization
Wikidata, gap analysis, mention retest
Download: AI Listing Master Checklist — 100 Points
10 categories × 10 items: entity foundation, Google/local, general directories, industry/trade, SaaS/B2B, reviews, associations, government, knowledge graph, monitoring. Target 70+ / 100.
Download checklistOpen printable versionMaster Checklist — 100-Point Listing Coverage
The downloadable checklist covers 10 categories with 10 items each. Summary by category:
- Entity & Website Foundation (10): Schema, About page, NAP, founder page, press page
- Google & Local Presence (10): GBP, Apple Maps, Bing, 50+ Google reviews
- General Business Directories (10): LinkedIn, Crunchbase, BBB, D&B, Manta, Kompass
- Industry & Trade Directories (10): Vertical directories, chamber, association, trade show
- SaaS & B2B Platforms (10): G2, Capterra, Clutch, TrustRadius, marketplaces
- Review Platforms (10): Primary + secondary review sites, schema, case studies
- Professional Associations (10): Membership directories, license verification
- Government & Official Registries (10): Secretary of State, licensing boards, SAM.gov
- Knowledge Graph & Data Sources (10): Wikidata, sameAs, Knowledge Panel, founder linkage
- Monitoring & Citation Verification (10): AI mention tracking, gap analysis, quarterly audits
Scoring bands: 0–39 Sparse (AI likely ignores you) · 40–69 Building (partial retrieval) · 70–89 Strong (regular AI mentions possible) · 90–100 Comprehensive (category authority coverage). Re-score monthly during the 90-day roadmap and after every major listing batch submission.
Common listing mistakes
- Inconsistent business name — "Acme Inc." vs "Acme Solutions" creates entity splits
- Duplicate GBP listings — merge immediately; duplicates confuse AI entity resolution
- Empty profile fields — partial listings score lower than no listing on some platforms
- Wrong category selection — AI matches category tags to query intent
- Ignoring review platforms — directories without reviews are weaker validation nodes
- One-and-done submission — listings require quarterly verification and updates
- Paid spam directories — low-authority sites AI never retrieves from
- No sameAs in schema — website disconnected from profile graph
- Stale listings — outdated phone numbers or closed locations erode trust scores over time
Your website is one source. AI uses dozens. Listing strategy is entity distribution — placing accurate, consistent business data everywhere AI retrieves from. Start with High Impact / Easy quadrant, execute the 90-day roadmap, and track coverage with the 100-point checklist.
"If AI cannot find you in the sources it trusts, it cannot recommend you." — Saurabh Mittal
Get Your AI Visibility Audit + AI Citation Gap Analysis
Altus Connect maps every source AI uses to evaluate your category — scores your listing coverage, identifies citation gaps vs competitors, and delivers a prioritized 90-day listing roadmap.
Request AI Visibility AuditFrequently Asked Questions
Where does AI get information about businesses?
AI retrieves from search engine indexes, knowledge graphs (Wikidata, Google Knowledge Graph), review platforms (Google, G2, Clutch), industry directories, government registries, professional associations, press publications, research reports, and social/professional networks — cross-referencing multiple sources before recommending.
Why does AI not rely on my website alone?
AI applies corroboration filters. Self-published website content is one node; AI requires independent validation from reviews, directories, and third-party sources to reduce hallucination and fraud risk before recommending a brand.
What is the most important listing for AI visibility?
Depends on vertical. Generally: Google Business Profile (local/all), primary review platform for your industry (G2 for SaaS, Clutch for agencies, Avvo for legal), LinkedIn company page, and Organization schema on your website.
How do I get listed in AI knowledge graphs?
Submit a Wikidata item with notability references, deploy Organization schema with sameAs links, build corroborating listings on Crunchbase and LinkedIn, and pursue Wikipedia only if you meet notability guidelines.
What is NAP consistency and why does it matter?
NAP (Name, Address, Phone) must be identical across every listing and your website. Inconsistent NAP creates entity fragmentation — AI may treat listings as different businesses.
How long does listing strategy take to affect AI mentions?
High Impact / Easy listings (GBP, LinkedIn, schema) can show lift in 2–4 weeks. Review volume and industry directories typically require 60–90 days. Full coverage (70+ checklist) aligns with the 90-day roadmap.
What is the AI Source Prioritization Framework?
A 2×2 matrix: High/Low Impact × Easy/Difficult. Complete High Impact / Easy first (GBP, LinkedIn, primary reviews), then High Impact / Difficult (Wikidata, 100+ reviews), batch Low Impact / Easy, skip Low Impact / Difficult.
What directories matter for SaaS companies?
G2, Capterra, GetApp, TrustRadius, Product Hunt, Crunchbase, and LinkedIn. G2 and Capterra dominate AI retrieval for software comparison queries.
What directories matter for local businesses?
Google Business Profile, Apple Maps, Bing Places, Yelp, chamber of commerce, local association directories, and industry-specific local platforms.
What is an AI Citation Gap Analysis?
Comparison of your listing and citation coverage against brands AI currently recommends for your category prompts — identifying sources where competitors appear and you do not, with prioritized closure plan.
Should I submit to every free directory?
No. Focus on directories AI actually retrieves from for your vertical. Use the prioritization matrix — skip Low Impact / Difficult and obscure paid directories with no retrieval history.
How do reviews relate to directory listings?
Reviews amplify directory authority. A G2 profile with 100 reviews is a far stronger AI node than an empty profile. Launch review campaigns immediately after claiming primary platform.
What is the 100-point master checklist?
Downloadable checklist with 10 categories × 10 items covering entity foundation, Google/local, directories, reviews, associations, government registries, knowledge graph, and monitoring. Target 70+ / 100.
How often should I audit my listings?
Quarterly full audit (NAP, categories, review count, profile completeness). Monthly AI mention rate retest. Update listing spreadsheet every time you submit or claim a new profile.
What does the Altus Connect AI Visibility Audit include?
Complete listing coverage score, AI Citation Gap Analysis vs category competitors, 100-point checklist scoring, AI mention rate across 4 platforms, and prioritized 90-day listing roadmap.