Brand mentions and AI search: where to be named so assistants name you
AI assistants write answers by reading pages that already name a few businesses, so the goal is simple: be one of the names on those pages. This guide shows you where to get mentioned, how to do it honestly, and how to track whether it worked.
Why mentions matter more than before
A search engine ranks pages, so links to your page mattered most. An assistant writes an answer by reading pages that already name businesses, so what matters is whether your name appears on those pages, linked or not, and what is said next to it.
An unlinked mention on a page an assistant cites can do more for AI visibility than a link from a page it never reads. That flips the old habit of chasing links from anywhere. Now you want your name on the specific pages assistants pull from.
For example, a dentist in Leeds might be named in a local magazine article about teeth whitening. That article has no link to the dentist's site, but if an assistant reads it when answering "best teeth whitening in Leeds," the mention counts.
Find out which pages the assistants read
Ask the assistants your customers' questions and note the sources they cite. For a local service it is usually a mix of review sites, directories, a best-of article or two, and sometimes a forum thread.
Vasukai's Sources page lists them per question and marks which ones name competitors but not you; the free citation gap tool does it for one question. See the AI citation gap tool.
That list is your outreach list. Everything below is a way of getting on it.
Review sites and directories
Claim and complete every profile the assistants cite: Google Business Profile first, then the review and directory sites for your trade and country. Same name, address, phone and description everywhere; the assistants match names across sites.
Ask customers for reviews that mention the specific service and place, because answers quote those words. For example, a plumber in Dublin might ask a customer to mention "emergency boiler repair in Dublin" in their review, not just "great service."
Keep your profiles updated. If you move or change hours, update every listing. Assistants cross-check details, and mismatches can push you out of an answer.
Best-of lists and comparison articles
Assistants lean on list articles, the best X in Y pages, because they are already an answer. Find the ones cited for your questions and ask to be included, with a reason the writer can use: a speciality, an opening hour, a price, a location gap.
Write your own comparison page too, fair to competitors, because a page that honestly compares options is the kind assistants cite. For example, a wedding photographer in Vancouver might write "How to choose a wedding photographer in Vancouver" and include what to look for, with a short note on their own style.
Google's guidance warns that seeking inauthentic mentions is not as helpful as it looks and that spam systems act on them. Paid placements dressed as editorial, fake reviews and link schemes are the things to avoid; a real listing on a real list is fine.
Forums, local press and your own pages
Reddit, Quora and trade forums are read by several assistants. Answer questions there as yourself, usefully, and mention the business only when it is the answer. Vasukai's Site and mentions page shows the Reddit and Quora threads Google returns for your name.
Local press and trade publications are cited for named businesses more than for generic advice; a short, factual story is enough. For example, a bakery in Cape Town might get a mention in a local food blog about new openings.
On your own site, state your name, what you do, where and for whom in text on every main page, so that when an assistant reads a mention elsewhere it can confirm it on yours. For example, a yoga studio in Austin might write "Austin Yoga Studio offers beginner and advanced classes in East Austin for adults and teens" on its homepage.
Measure it
Track mention rate and share of voice per question over time, and the cited sources, so you can see which mention produced a change. See AI visibility metrics.
For example, a lawyer in Toronto might notice that after being added to a local legal directory, they start appearing in answers to "best business lawyer in Toronto."
Review your list monthly. Assistants change which pages they read, so a source that mattered last quarter might not matter now.
Questions
Do unlinked mentions help Google rankings too?
Google has said mentions can be a signal of a real brand, but links remain the stronger signal for ranking pages. For AI answers the mention itself is what is read.
Should I pay to be in a best-of list?
Paid listings that are labelled as such are legitimate; paid placements presented as editorial are what Google warns against, and readers notice too.
How long before a new mention shows in AI answers?
It varies by assistant and by how often it re-reads the page; weeks is normal. Weekly checks show when it lands.
Which sites matter most?
The ones the assistants cite for your questions, which differ by trade and country. Look them up rather than guess.
