Get listed by local blogs and organizations

For nearly every town and trade there are 'best [service] in [town]' roundups, local blogs, and community and industry organisations, and being on them does two jobs at once: a trusted local link for Google, and a source the AIs quote when they recommend businesses.

The 'best of' roundups

Someone in your area has almost certainly written 'best plumbers in [town]' or 'top-rated cafes in [town]'. Being included is a strong signal to both Google and AI, these are exactly the pages models pull from for recommendations. Find them, and make the case to be added, usually strong reviews and a real local presence get you in.

Chambers, associations and community sites

Your chamber of commerce, trade association, and local community or council sites are authoritative and hyper-relevant. A listing on them is a citation and a link with real local weight, and they are often the first place both people and AI look for reputable local businesses.