We've analyzed thousands of AI scan results to find out which directories get cited most often when AI tools recommend local businesses. The results might surprise you.
1. Foursquare — the hidden giant
Most business owners have never heard of Foursquare, but it powers a huge chunk of AI recommendations. Over 70% of ChatGPT's local business data comes from Foursquare (via their Places API). If you're not listed there, ChatGPT literally can't find you.
Foursquare listings are free. Go to business.foursquare.com to claim yours.
2. Google Business Profile — the foundation
Google's own AI products (Gemini, AI Overviews) pull directly from Google Business Profiles. But it goes beyond Google — other AI tools also cross-reference Google data to verify business information.
Your Google Business Profile is the single most important listing you can have. Make it complete: hours, photos, description, posts, and regular review responses.
3. Yelp — the review powerhouse
AI tools love Yelp because it has rich, structured data: ratings, reviews, photos, hours, and detailed business categories. When someone asks AI for "the best [category] in [city]," Yelp data is almost always part of the answer.
Key insight from our data: Businesses with 4+ star ratings on Yelp are 3x more likely to be recommended by AI tools than those with lower ratings.
4. TripAdvisor — essential for hospitality
If you're in food, travel, or hospitality, TripAdvisor is critical. Perplexity and ChatGPT frequently cite TripAdvisor reviews and rankings when recommending restaurants, hotels, and attractions.
Even if you're a small cafe or a local tour guide — if customers can review you on TripAdvisor, you should be there.
5. Your own website — the source of truth
AI tools crawl websites to verify and enrich the information they find in directories. A clear, well-structured website with:
- An About page stating what you do and where you're located
- A FAQ section answering common customer questions
- Service descriptions with details (not just prices)
- Consistent contact information (name, address, phone)
...gives AI tools the context they need to recommend you confidently.
What about the others?
Directories like Apple Maps, Healthgrades (for healthcare), OpenTable (for restaurants), and industry-specific directories also matter. The key principle: be where AI looks for businesses like yours.
How to check if it's working
After claiming your directory listings, run a free scan on AmIFoundOn.ai to see if AI tools are finding you. The scan checks ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews in under 60 seconds.
Subscribe to weekly monitoring and the system will track your progress over time — with recommendations that evolve based on what's actually working for your business.