Fix Playbook

Build authority and citations

Build a public evidence layer that makes the business safer to recommend.

Use this playbook when competitors have stronger review profiles, richer third-party mentions, or more credible sources in assistant answers.

Authority sources to prioritize

Source type	Examples	Why it matters
Platform profiles	Google, Apple, Bing, Yelp, TripAdvisor	Core local entity and reputation surfaces.
Reviews	Recent authentic customer reviews	Reputation, recency, and local prominence signals.
Local institutions	Chambers, tourism boards, schools, local partners	Credible local corroboration.
Vertical directories	FindLaw, Zocdoc, Houzz, Mindbody, OpenTable	Category-specific assistant evidence.
Local media	Awards, interviews, event coverage, roundups	External source diversity and trust.
Official records	Licenses, registrations, certifications	Verifiable expertise and identity.

Workflows

1. Profile governance. Claim, complete, and monitor core profiles.
2. Review operations. Ask every real customer through compliant channels, respond consistently, and monitor recent-review coverage.
3. Local PR. Seek concrete, factual mentions: new location, award, charity event, expert interview, local guide, or partnership.
4. Vertical citations. Identify the directories assistants already cite in the category and fix or create profiles there.
5. Website proof. Link to verifiable credentials, licenses, press, provider pages, and third-party proof.

What not to do

Avoid fake reviews, review incentives, keyword-stuffed profiles, fabricated awards, irrelevant schema, low-quality directory spam, or paid "best of" placements that do not create real trust. These can raise noise while lowering confidence.

How to verify

Did authority become visible in answers?

Re-scan recommendation prompts. Track source diversity, citation-backed mention rate, authoritative source share, and competitor comparison changes.

Re-run check

Related: Authority support, Citation confidence