---
name: ai-list-inclusion-outreach
description: Get your company added to the third-party "best X" lists and roundups that ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Google AI answers already cite for your buyers' questions. Finds the cited lists, ranks them, drafts a short tailored request for each, routes it to the right channel, and tracks sends and follow-ups. Sends nothing without approval, and only from the owner's own accounts. Use for AEO and GEO off-site work, "why aren't we mentioned in AI answers", or listicle and roundup outreach.
---

# AI List Inclusion Outreach

AI answer engines lean heavily on third-party roundups ("best X agencies", "top Y tools") when a buyer asks an unbranded question. Being named on those pages is often the fastest off-site lever. This skill turns citation data into a short, honest outreach campaign.

Expect a low reply rate: many lists are published by companies that rank themselves #1. In one real campaign 7 of 10 requests were sent and 1 publisher replied. The value is in picking the right lists and keeping the message short.

## Inputs
- The company name, a one-line category ("a content agency for B2B SaaS"), the site URL, and one or two proof points that can be checked.
- A list of buyer prompts (unbranded questions the buyer would type).
- Citation data, if available: an AEO tracking tool's citation-source export. Without a tool, run the prompts logged out in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude and Google, and record every cited URL.
- Whose accounts will send (email and LinkedIn), and who approves.

## Step 1. Find the cited lists
From the citation data, keep third-party pages that are lists, roundups or directories, and that you're not on. For each, record: URL, publisher, which prompts and engines cite it, the list's stated criteria, whether it has an "other notable" or "honorable mentions" section, and whether it includes outside companies (not just the publisher's own products).

## Step 2. Rank
Priority goes up when:
- several engines cite it, or it's cited for several prompts,
- it includes outside entries or has an "other notable" section,
- its criteria match a proof point you can show.

Skip:
- sites that look compromised (injected spam, broken pages),
- lists where every entry is the publisher's own product,
- pages with no human contact route other than a sales-intake form (budget, phone, start date).

## Step 3. Find the route
For each list, in order of preference:
1. The author's email, if published.
2. A LinkedIn DM to the author or editor.
3. A general editorial or contact email.

Rules:
- If the site only has a "book a call" or "book a demo" form, use LinkedIn instead.
- Never submit the same contact form twice; a second submission reads as spam.
- Never submit sales-intake forms to ask for editorial changes.

## Step 4. Draft
One message per list, tailored to that list's criteria. Template:

> Hi [Name], I run [Company], [one-line category]. Would you consider adding us to [the specific section of] your [list name]? [Optional: one proof point, only if the list ranks on proof.] Happy to exchange links and provide any more info you need. [URL]
> [First name]

Rules:
- Who you are, one proof point if relevant, one direct ask. Nothing else.
- No compliments about their article, no "hope you're well", no "happy to help", no labels like "Details:".
- **Don't mention your pricing.** You're asking for a mention, not selling.
- On LinkedIn, drop the sign-off; the name is already shown.
- Run the slop-edit skill on every draft if it's installed.

## Step 5. Approve, then send from the owner's accounts
- Show each recipient, route and message for approval. Nothing goes out before that.
- Send only from the owner's own signed-in accounts. Confirm the signed-in account belongs to them before each send. Never use anyone else's account.
- If the owner sends manually, give them a copy-ready list in send order.

## Step 6. Track and follow up
Keep a tracker (doc or sheet):

| List | URL | Engines/prompts citing | Route | Contact | Sent | Follow-up due | Reply | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|

Follow up once, about 7–10 days later, in the **same thread** as the original. One line: "Hi [Name], just checking whether you'd consider adding [Company] to [list]. Happy to send anything you need."

## Handling replies
- **Link-exchange offers:** low penalty risk if relevant, but reciprocal link schemes are against Google's link-spam policy. For AI answers, what matters is being named on the page, not the backlink. Before agreeing, ask which site, which page and what anchor text.
- **Paid placement offers:** flag to the owner; don't accept or decline on their behalf.
- **Corrections to existing mentions:** fix facts first (name, category, location) so the entity stays consistent across the web.

## Report
After each round: lists found, ranked shortlist, sent / skipped (with reason), replies, wins (now named on the page), and the next round's candidates from fresh citation data.