How to Get Listed in
'Best Of' Roundup Articles
By Lesli Rose · April 12, 2026 · 10 min read
Roundup articles -- "Best Of" lists, "Top 10" compilations, comparison posts -- are the single most-cited format when AI systems recommend businesses. If you are not in the roundups that rank for your category, AI does not know you exist. Getting listed is not luck. It is a process.
I audit businesses every week, and the pattern is consistent. The businesses AI recommends are the ones that show up in third-party roundups. The ones AI ignores are sitting on great websites with zero third-party presence. Your website is only 15% of the equation. Roundups are where the other 85% lives.
Why Roundups Are the #1 Format AI Cites
When someone asks ChatGPT "what's the best CRM for small businesses?" or Perplexity "who are the top wedding photographers in Austin?" -- the AI does not crawl every website in the category and make its own judgment. It pulls from existing content that already answers that question. And the content that already answers that question is almost always a roundup article.
An analysis of 21,311 brand mentions across ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity found that nearly 90% of third-party citations come from three formats: listicles, comparison articles, and review content. Roundups check all three boxes. They are structured, opinionated, and organized exactly the way AI needs to extract a recommendation.
85% -- share of AI citations from third-party sources, not brand websites
~90% -- share of those third-party citations from listicles, comparisons, and reviews
6.5x -- how much more likely a brand is to be cited through third-party content than its own
How to Find the Roundups That Matter
Step one is knowing which roundups exist in your space. Here are the search queries I use for every client:
- ›"best [your category]" -- e.g., "best email marketing tools"
- ›"top [your category] 2026" -- recency matters, editors update these annually
- ›"[your category] alternatives" -- comparison articles where you could fill a gap
- ›"best [your service] in [your city]" -- critical for local businesses
- ›"[competitor name] alternatives" -- if your competitor is listed, you should be too
Take every article on the first two pages of Google results. These are the articles AI is pulling from. Make a spreadsheet with the article URL, the publication name, the author or editor, and whether your business is listed. That gap list is your action plan.
How to Identify the Right Person to Pitch
Most roundup articles have a byline. That is your starting point. Look for the author on LinkedIn, Twitter, or the publication's team page. If the article has no byline, look for the publication's editorial contact or use a general contact form.
For larger publications, the person who wrote the article is usually the person who decides what gets added. For smaller blogs and niche sites, the owner or editor handles everything. Either way, your pitch goes to a human -- not a submissions portal.
The Pitch That Gets You Listed
I have tested dozens of outreach templates. The ones that work share three traits: they are short, they lead with credentials, and they explain what gap the editor's list has without the sender.
Pitch template that works:
"Hi [Name], I saw your [article title] and noticed [specific gap -- e.g., no options for solopreneurs, no Canadian tools listed, nothing under $50/mo]. I run [your business] and we [one sentence on what makes you different]. We have [credential -- e.g., 200+ reviews on G2, featured in Forbes, 10 years in business]. Happy to send details if you're updating the piece. Thanks, [Your name]"
That is the entire email. No long pitch deck. No five paragraphs about your company history. Editors get dozens of these requests. The ones that win are the ones that respect the editor's time and clearly articulate why the list is better with you on it.
What Makes Editors Say Yes
- ›You fill a real gap. If every tool on the list is enterprise-priced and you serve small businesses, say that. Editors want comprehensive lists.
- ›You have real credentials. Reviews, press mentions, awards, certifications, years in business. Anything that proves you belong on the list.
- ›You add diversity to the list. If the list is all US-based and you are Canadian, that is an angle. If the list is all agencies and you are a solo consultant, that is an angle.
- ›You make it easy. Offer to send a short description, a logo, and a link. The less work the editor has to do, the more likely you get included.
The Follow-Up Strategy
Most people send one email and give up. That is a mistake. Editors are busy. They miss emails. They intend to respond and forget. A polite follow-up two weeks after your initial pitch doubles your success rate in my experience.
Keep the follow-up even shorter than the original pitch. One or two sentences: "Hi [Name], just following up on my note about [article title]. Happy to send any details that would help. Thanks!" That is it. If you do not hear back after two follow-ups, move on. There are always more roundups.
Real Example: The LinkedIn Consultant No AI Could Find
I audited a LinkedIn consultant who had written a book on personal branding, had a byline in Fast Company, and ran a six-figure consulting practice. When I asked ChatGPT and Perplexity to recommend LinkedIn consultants, this person did not appear. Not once.
The reason was simple. Despite having impressive credentials, they were not listed in any of the six major "best LinkedIn consultants" roundup articles ranking on Google's first page. Their competitors -- some with fewer credentials -- were in three or four of those articles. AI recommended the competitors because AI had third-party validation for them.
We pitched all six articles. Within 60 days, the consultant was listed in four of them. AI recommendations followed within weeks.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Pitch
- ›Generic pitches."I'd love to be featured on your site" tells the editor nothing. Reference the specific article and the specific gap.
- ›No credentials."We're a great company" is not a credential. Reviews, press, certifications, client results -- those are credentials.
- ›Asking to be ranked #1. Editors decide the order. Your job is to get on the list. Where you rank is their call.
- ›Pitching irrelevant articles. If the roundup is about enterprise CRMs and you sell to freelancers, it is not the right fit. Find the roundup that matches your audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are roundup articles and why do they matter for AI visibility?
Roundup articles are listicle-style posts like "Best Of" lists, "Top 10" compilations, and comparison articles. They matter because roughly 85% of AI citations come from third-party sources, and roundup articles are the single most-cited format. When ChatGPT or Perplexity recommends a business, it is usually pulling from a roundup or comparison article.
How do I find roundup articles in my industry?
Search Google for phrases like "best [your category]", "top [your category] tools", "[your category] alternatives", and "best [your service] in [your city]". The articles ranking on the first page are the ones AI systems pull from when making recommendations.
How do I pitch an editor to get included in a roundup article?
Keep the pitch short and credential-led. Introduce yourself in one sentence, explain what makes your business different from others already listed, and provide a specific reason the editor's audience would benefit. Reference the specific article and explain the gap you fill.
How long does it take to get listed in a roundup article?
Most editors update roundup articles quarterly or annually. A well-crafted pitch can get you included within weeks, but the typical timeline is 30 to 90 days. Following up politely after two weeks significantly improves your chances.
Find Out Which Roundups You're Missing
I'll map every roundup article in your category, show you where your competitors are listed, and build a pitch strategy to close the gaps.
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