“Best-of” Lists: The #1 Factor for AI Search Visibility in 2026

In the recent 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors report from Whitespark, one of the biggest shifts in local search was highlighted very clearly: for visibility in AI-driven interfaces, the most important factor is presence of your business in expert-curated “best of” or similar lists.

In simple terms, if your business is featured on respected lists (for example “Best Plumbers in Sydney”, “Top Accountants in Melbourne”, then your chances of being surfaced by AI-powered search (such as generative search summaries, voice assistants, chat-based results) improves.

For local businesses in Australia — especially home services and small businesses— this finding should reshape how you allocate your local-SEO efforts

Why Does This Factor Now Outrank Others?

The rise of AI search and “answer-engine” behaviour

The report emphasises that AI-augmented search experiences (such as Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews, Chatgpt and Perplexity) are becoming more dominant in local queries. The filter now isn’t just “who appears in the local pack” but “who appears when the AI decides to answer the query and surface a business as part of that answer”.

Because these AI-modules rely heavily on trusted sources, lists curated by experts act as strong signals of authority and endorsement. Being included gives your business a “trusted mention” that AI is much more likely to pick up.

Expert lists = structured endorsement

Getting on a best-of list involves essentially being vetted, recommended, or selected alongside your competitors. That extra layer of curation is exactly what AI algorithms lean on when assessing relevance + trust.

Traditional signals still matter—but they’re behind

Yes, things like your Google Business Profile (GBP), reviews, citations, on-page SEO still matter—very much so. But, for AI search visibility, the “list inclusion” factor is now high priority". For example, the survey noted:

The three biggest factors influencing AI-driven local search visibility are:

1. Being featured in expert-curated “best of” or similar lists
2. Having a dedicated page for each service you offer
3. Earning prominence on industry-relevant domains.

What This Means for Australia-Based Local Businesses

If you are a local tradie, or small business owner, here’s how you should interpret and act on this shift.

Prioritise inclusion in expert-curated lists

• Identify credible “best of” lists in your industry and region
• Reach out to those list publishers: show the value your business offers, ask for inclusion, follow their criteria (if publicly stated).
• Build content or case-studies you can present to list curators to demonstrate why you belong.
• Once included, monitor that your listing stays live and correct (correct business name, link, service area).

Make sure your website supports your list presence

• Create a dedicated service page for each key service you offer. That’s the second big factor for AI visibility.
• On that page, include context showing your credentials (years in business, local area served, testimonials) so that when you get listed, the AI engine has easily consumable, authoritative content to reference.
• Ensure your website domain is industry-relevant and “well known”: if possible get mentions on industry-relevant domains (publishers, associations) so you become a reference in your niche. This supports the third major factor.

Continue the Local SEO fundamentals

• These “list inclusion” signals are now dominant in AI visibility, you still must keep fundamentals strong:
• Fully optimise your GBP: correct categories, up-to-date hours, service listings, high-quality photos, geo-tagged visuals.
• Encourage high-quality, recent customer reviews that reflect the service and the location.
• Maintain consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across your website, citations and profiles.
• Drive engagement signals: clicks, website visits from your profile, directions requests. Behavioural signals were flagged as increasingly important.

Action Plan for 2026: Turning the Insight into Steps

Here’s a simple 5-step local marketing action plan you should roll out in 2026:

Why This is a Game-Changer for Tradies & Local Business Marketers

For tradies and small business owners like you—plumbers, accountants, locksmiths, small B2B service providers—this shift means your Local SEO strategy must evolve. It’s no longer enough to just optimise GBP + citations + reviews (although you must). You now need an “authority nudging” strategy: getting featured, referenced or endorsed by curated lists or expert round-ups.

It plays particularly well in Australia because many local niches are under-leveraged in this way: there are fewer curated lists, that gives you an opportunity to get ahead.

By prioritising list inclusion, you’re effectively giving yourself a signal that AI-systems will view as high-trust. That elevates their chance of being surfaced in the new “AI search summary” experiences that are becoming more common in 2026.

Conclusion

The bottom line: in 2026, inclusion in expert-curated “best of” lists isn’t just a prestige badge — it’s a top ranking factor for AI-powered local search visibility, according to Whitespark’s latest survey.

If you are a local home service or small business in Australia, your Local SEO playbook should incorporate this dimension now. It’s a competitive advantage that many are yet to adopt.