Free US Backlinks and Listings 2.0

Government and procurement

• SAM.gov. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
• GSA / GSA Advantage. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against (Needs an awarded MAS contract; fee on sales)
• SBA Small Business Search (SBS). A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
• Cal eProcure (California). A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
• New York State Contract Reporter. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
• MyFloridaMarketPlace. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
• Grants.gov. Not a public listing: an account for genuine grant applicants. Only relevant if you apply for federal grants (Yes (applicants only))

Directories and citations

• Google Business Profile. The listing behind Google Maps, the local pack and Google's AI answers for local searches. Free (Google says listing on Google is free)
• Bing Places for Business. Bing powers Copilot and is widely reported to feed ChatGPT search, so this listing is an AI lever as much as a Bing one
• Apple Business. Controls how you appear in Apple Maps, Siri and Spotlight, which is where iPhone users and Apple's assistant look you up
• Yelp. Third-party reviews are the kind of outside proof AI answers tend to draw on when they compare businesses
• Better Business Bureau. Third-party reviews are the kind of outside proof AI answers tend to draw on when they compare businesses
• Manta. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
• ChamberofCommerce.com. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
• Yellow Pages (Thryv: also shows on Superpages and DexKnows). Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
• MerchantCircle. Makes your products eligible for free shopping results that AI shopping features draw on. Eligible, not guaranteed
• Foursquare (places database). A data aggregator: one submission feeds many downstream apps, maps and directories
• Nextdoor Business. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
• Alignable. Confirms your brand exists on a well-known platform. Small direct value; only worth it if you fill it in properly
• Angi. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
• Hotfrog. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches
• Cylex USA. Another copy of your name, address and phone that search engines and AI tools can cross-check. Low on its own, useful when every listing matches

Chambers and associations

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Editorial features on CO- by the US Chamber are earned, not a directory listing; local chamber membership is separate and paid
• SCORE. Earned only: a client success story written about you, not a listing you sign up for
• SBDC. Earned only: a client success story written about you, not a listing you sign up for

PR and editorial

• Qwoted. Earns quotes and mentions in real publications: other people vouching for you, which is what AI answers lean on (Yes (free tier))
• Featured. Earns quotes and mentions in real publications: other people vouching for you, which is what AI answers lean on
• Source of Sources (SOS). Earns quotes and mentions in real publications: other people vouching for you, which is what AI answers lean on
• MentionMatch (was Help a B2B Writer). Earns quotes and mentions in real publications: other people vouching for you, which is what AI answers lean on
• SourceBottle. Earns quotes and mentions in real publications: other people vouching for you, which is what AI answers lean on (Yes (free tier))

Startup and tech

• Product Hunt. A startup profile on a platform AI tools read when someone asks about new tools or companies
• Crunchbase. A company record AI tools often cite for founding date, founders and funding
• G2. Often cited by AI answers for "best software" questions
• Capterra. Software review sites are among the pages AI tools commonly cite when someone asks "best X software"
• GetApp. Software review sites are among the pages AI tools commonly cite when someone asks "best X software"
• Software Advice. Software review sites are among the pages AI tools commonly cite when someone asks "best X software"
• AlternativeTo. Software review sites are among the pages AI tools commonly cite when someone asks "best X software"
• Clutch. Often cited by AI answers for "best agency" questions
• GoodFirms. Agency and service directories are commonly cited when someone asks AI for the best provider in a category
• Wellfound. A startup profile on a platform AI tools read when someone asks about new tools or companies
• Indie Hackers. A startup profile on a platform AI tools read when someone asks about new tools or companies
• Trustpilot. Trustpilot now sells itself on AI visibility; its review pages are often cited when AI compares businesses

New in 2.0

• Georgia: Team Georgia Marketplace. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
• Illinois: BidBuy. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
• North Carolina: electronic Vendor Portal (eVP). A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
• Ohio: OhioBuys. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
• Pennsylvania Supplier Portal. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
• Michigan: SIGMA Vendor Self Service. A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against
• SBA certifications (WOSB, VetCert, HUBZone, 8(a)). A government record with your business name on it, the kind of trusted source search engines and AI answers can check you against (Yes, if eligible)
• D-U-N-S Number (Dun & Bradstreet). Feeds the facts search engines and AI assistants use to work out who your business is
• Data Axle (US listing update). A data aggregator: one submission feeds many downstream apps, maps and directories
• Google Merchant Center (free listings). Makes your products eligible to show in free shopping results, which AI shopping features draw on. Eligible, not guaranteed: Google says free listings don't guarantee your products are shown
• Microsoft Merchant Center (free listings). Makes your products eligible for free shopping results that AI shopping features draw on. Eligible, not guaranteed
• Perplexity Merchant Program. Makes your products eligible for free shopping results that AI shopping features draw on. Eligible, not guaranteed
• ChatGPT Shopping merchant feed. Makes your products eligible for free shopping results that AI shopping features draw on. Eligible, not guaranteed (Free to list; fee on Instant Checkout sales)
• Wikidata. The open database behind Wikipedia infoboxes and many knowledge panels; AI tools use it to identify entities. Only if you meet its notability rules
• LinkedIn Company Page. A company record AI tools read for who you are and who works there
• OpenStreetMap. A data aggregator: one submission feeds many downstream apps, maps and directories
• YouTube channel. AI tools often cite YouTube videos. A channel with your site linked is the start
• HERE Map Creator. HERE maps sit behind many car navigation systems and apps; one more place your business details should be right
• TomTom MapShare. TomTom map data feeds sat navs and apps; one more map to get right
• HARO (Help a Reporter Out). Earns quotes and mentions in real publications: other people vouching for you, which is what AI answers lean on
• NPI Registry (healthcare providers). A public government record of your practice, specialty and address, the kind of source health answers can check you against

Paid, but worth knowing about

Not free, so they're not in the main list. Only worth it if they fit what you do.

• Local chamber of commerce membership. A member-directory link from a trusted local body that ties you to a place (Paid membership, varies by chamber)
• Texas Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL). Only if you genuinely supply the State of Texas ($70 a year per location)
• ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service. The main UK journalist request service; free alternatives are Qwoted, Featured, SourceBottle and MentionMatch (Paid subscription for sources, priced by category)
• AMIBA / Local First alliances. Independent business alliance member listing ($50 a year (AMIBA))
• BetaList. Early-stage startup launch listing (All submissions now paid (refund if not selected))