Which listing should you fix first?
Yelp, then your ChatGPT listing, then Bing Places, then your website. Google Business Profile matters for Google's AI answers, much less for ChatGPT's.
| Order | Where | Why it matters for ChatGPT | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yelp | Yelp licenses its data to OpenAI (Yelp). Yelp appeared as a source in 80% of ChatGPT's local answers (BrightLocal, 2026). | Claim the page. Fill in services, hours, service area, photos. |
| 2 | ChatGPT Business Hub | Lets you claim and correct your own listing inside ChatGPT. Local businesses: existing US listings only (OpenAI). | Claim it, verify, check the details. |
| 3 | Bing Places | Microsoft is one of the search providers ChatGPT sends queries to (OpenAI). Bing Places is "one of the primary sources" for Bing's local listings (Bing). | Import your Google Business Profile. |
| 4 | Your website | Business sites made up 93% of cited domains and 42% of all citations across ChatGPT and Google's AI answers (BrightLocal, 2026). | One page per service and area. Let OpenAI's crawler in. |
| 5 | Google Business Profile | The main local source for Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode, "hardly used by ChatGPT" (BrightLocal, 2026). | Keep it complete for Google. |
Other sites in ChatGPT's top 10 local sources: Tripadvisor, OpenTable, BBB, Angi, Trustpilot, Yellow Pages, HomeAdvisor and Apple (BrightLocal, 2026). If your trade has its own directory, check that too.
BrightLocal's numbers come from about 1,350 locations in the US, UK and Australia (BrightLocal). OpenAI publishes no source list of its own, so treat the order as the best current evidence, not a rule.
Yelp and ChatGPT: what the partnership is
Yelp signed a data deal with OpenAI, and Yelp content now shows inside ChatGPT answers.
"In 2025, we made progress monetizing our trusted content, as demonstrated by strong demand for our data licensing products, and we recently signed an agreement with OpenAI." (Yelp Q4 2025 Letter to Shareholders)
Yelp describes it as "surfacing Yelp’s trusted reviews, ratings, photos, and business details directly within the chat experience" (Yelp Official Blog). Restaurants can also take bookings: Yelp reservations in ChatGPT work in the US and Canada (OpenAI).
Yelp's own figures: 91% to 97% of Yelp citations on ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode and Perplexity come from prompts that name no business (Yelp for Business). That is the "best plumber near me" question, the one you want to win.
One trap: Yelp doesn't want you asking for reviews.
"We actually discourage business owners from asking their customers to write reviews." (Yelp for Business Support)
Put your effort into a complete page and good service. Ask for reviews on Google instead, within the rules in asking for reviews.
Does ChatGPT use Google Business Profile?
Barely. Google's AI answers do.
"While Google Business Profile is important for AI Mode and AIO, it’s hardly used by ChatGPT." (BrightLocal Local AI Visibility Study)
Google lists "Checking that your Merchant Center and Business Profile information is up-to-date" among its tips for AI features (Google Search Central). So keep it current for Google, but don't expect it to move ChatGPT. See Google AI Overviews for local services.
Bing Places for Business: is it worth it?
Yes, and you don't have to start from scratch: you can copy your Google profile across.
"Google sync lets you quickly import your business information from your existing Google Business Profile (GBP) and keep it up to date on Bing Places." (Bing Places Help)
- If your Google profile is verified, Bing verifies the imported listing automatically; publishing typically takes 7 to 12 days (Bing Places Help).
- Don't stuff keywords into your name. Bing says "we don't accept SEO techniques, like keyword insertion, applied to a business name" (Bing Places Help).
- Update it at least twice a year. Bing may prefer other sources if your data "hasn't been updated for more than 6 months" (Bing Places Help).
Can you claim your business in ChatGPT?
In the US, yes, through Business Hub in ChatGPT's sidebar. Claiming lets you correct your details and see how often ChatGPT shows you. It doesn't buy placement.
"It doesn’t guarantee increased visibility or give you direct control over ChatGPT’s independent recommendations. Advertising doesn’t influence ChatGPT’s independent answers." (OpenAI Help Center)
- Verify by business phone, business email, website domain or Shopify, then an ID check with Persona (OpenAI).
- Insights show mentions and website clicks over the past 28 days (OpenAI).
- Canada: "Local stores and restaurants can currently claim only an existing U.S. listing" (OpenAI). So a store with only a Canadian listing can't claim it yet; Yelp, Bing and its own website are what it can work on.
Your website: the source you fully control
ChatGPT can only cite your pages if its crawler can reach them.
"To make a website eligible for inclusion, allow OAI-Searchbot to crawl the site and confirm that the website host or content delivery network allows traffic from OpenAI’s published searchbot IP addresses." (OpenAI Help Center)
In practice: check your robots.txt and ask whoever runs your hosting or CDN. Then give each service its own page that names the service, the area and the price range or how pricing works.
Example
A plumber in Phoenix
Google profile: 150 reviews. Yelp: unclaimed, 4 reviews, no services listed. Bing: never set up. Order of work: claim Yelp and list every service, claim the ChatGPT listing, import the Google profile into Bing Places. Retest ChatGPT once Bing has published, about two weeks later.
A dentist in Toronto
Business Hub takes only existing US local listings for now. Same order without step 2: Yelp, Bing Places, then a page for each treatment the practice wants more of, such as implants or Invisalign.
A restaurant in Seattle
Turn on Yelp, OpenTable or Resy reservations. ChatGPT can show times from those three (OpenAI), so a guest can book without leaving the chat.
Different for you?
- You want to see whether ChatGPT names you today: run the 20-question test.
- ChatGPT names a competitor and not you: why, and what to change.
- You care about Google's AI answers more: AI Overviews and AI Mode for local services.
- Your Google profile doesn't show at all: Google Business Profile not showing.
- Someone quoted you a monthly fee for this: is GEO worth paying for?
- You'd rather have it done: SEO & GEO Agent.