Empirank

Original Study · 16 Aug 2026

Google Maps’ Top 3 Had an 11.7× Higher OpenAI Mention Rate Than Businesses Outside the Top 100

We tested 3,000 US businesses across 30 markets and 10 industries. The association remained large after review volume and referring-domain count were considered, putting Maps ahead of raw link volume as a local AEO priority.

Study sample
3,000 businesses
Measured outcome
Business mentions
AI platform
OpenAI

What this means for marketers

Treat local rankings as part of your AI visibility strategy. Strengthen your Google Business Profile, review program, local landing pages, and market-level tracking together.

  • Protect the local top three. Treat Maps visibility as a commercial priority, not a reporting footnote.
  • Keep your Google Business Profile complete, accurate, and aligned with the services and locations on your website.
  • Build a consistent review-acquisition program. Review volume remained a positive signal after ranking position was included.
  • Create strong local landing pages that make your expertise, service area, and business identity easy to verify.
  • Track Maps rank and AI mentions together by market. Use a fixed prompt set and repeat it over time.
  • Report trends across a prompt panel instead of using a single AI screenshot as proof of visibility.

What we tested

Are businesses that rank higher in Google Maps named more often when search-enabled AI recommends local businesses? The study covered 3,000 businesses.

What the result does not prove

Rankings and AI answers are snapshots. Measure the same markets and prompts repeatedly instead of treating one result as a permanent rule.

  • This study measured an association. Stronger brands and better-run local businesses may perform well in both systems.
  • Maps rankings are snapshots and can change across search contexts and over time.
  • The panel included website-owning businesses found through three frozen discovery queries in each market and industry.
  • Businesses not seen in the top 100 were grouped together; their exact rank is unknown.