“What’s the best X?” is the most valuable prompt category in AI search. Users asking this question have high purchase intent and are ready to evaluate options. Getting your product into these answers is the highest-ROI GEO activity.
How AI Constructs “Best X” Answers
When a user asks “what’s the best CRM for small business?”, AI engines follow a consistent process:
- Scan multiple sources — Review sites, comparison articles, community discussions
- Identify consensus — Which products appear most frequently across sources
- Weight by authority — Institutional sources carry more weight than personal blogs
- Synthesize a list — Present 3-7 options with brief descriptions
- Add context — Explain why each option fits different use cases
What Gets You Into “Best X” Answers
Frequency of Mention
AI engines look for consensus. If your product appears in 8 out of 10 “best CRM” articles, you’ll be cited. If you appear in 2 out of 10, you probably won’t. This relates closely to what we cover in GEO for SaaS: How to Get Your Product Recommended by AI.
Action: Create and earn mentions in as many comparison articles as possible.
Review Platform Presence
G2, Capterra, TrustPilot, and industry-specific review sites are primary data sources for product recommendations.
Action: Complete profiles, collect reviews, maintain high ratings. For more on this, see our guide to Each AI Engine Has Different Taste.
Specificity Match
AI engines match products to specific use cases. “Best CRM for small business” produces different results than “best CRM for enterprise.”
Action: Create landing pages targeting specific use cases: “[Product] for small business,” “[Product] for startups,” “[Product] for agencies.”
Honest Positioning
AI cross-references sources. If every source says you’re great at X but weak at Y, AI will represent that accurately. Own your strengths and acknowledge limitations.
Action: Be transparent about what your product does best and who it’s for.
Content Strategy for “Best X” Queries
Create Your Own Comparison Content
Publish “Best [Category] Tools in [Year]” articles that include your product alongside competitors. Be genuinely helpful — include real pros and cons for each option. Our ChatGPT vs Perplexity vs Google AI Compared guide covers this in detail.
Title: Best Project Management Tools for Remote Teams (2026)
→ Quick recommendation for different needs
→ Comparison table (features, pricing, team size)
→ Individual review of each tool (including yours)
→ Selection criteria
→ FAQCreate “[You] vs [Competitor]” Pages
For every major competitor, create a dedicated comparison page: As we discuss in robots.txt for AI Crawlers — Complete Setup Guide, this is a critical factor.
Title: [Your Product] vs [Competitor] — Honest Comparison
→ Quick verdict: who should use which
→ Feature-by-feature comparison table
→ Pricing comparison
→ Real user feedback from both sides
→ FAQBuild Comparison Tables
AI engines extract tables more reliably than prose. Include comparison tables on product and blog pages:
| Feature | Your Product | Competitor A | Competitor B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $29/mo | $49/mo | $39/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | No | Limited |
| Team size | Unlimited | Up to 10 | Up to 25 |
| Integrations | 50+ | 30+ | 20+ |
Target Long-Tail “Best X” Queries
Generic “best CRM” is competitive. Target specific queries:
- “Best CRM for real estate agents”
- “Best CRM for freelancers”
- “Best CRM under $30/month”
- “Best CRM with email integration”
- “Best free CRM for startups”
Each long-tail query needs its own optimized content piece.
Platform-Specific Tactics
For ChatGPT “Best X” Results
- Ensure strong G2 and Capterra presence
- Get featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, or industry publications
- Create authoritative comparison content on your blog
- Include specific data points (user counts, ratings, pricing)
For Perplexity “Best X” Results
- Encourage genuine Reddit discussions about your product
- Create YouTube comparison videos
- Get mentioned in LinkedIn posts by industry professionals
- Encourage authentic community recommendations
For Google AI Overview “Best X” Results
- Schema markup on product pages (SoftwareApplication, AggregateRating)
- Structured comparison tables in clean HTML
- Fast page load times
- Recently updated content with current pricing
Measuring Your “Best X” Performance
Monthly, check these queries across AI engines:
- “Best [your category]”
- “Best [your category] for [each use case]”
- “Top [your category] tools”
- “[Your product] vs [each competitor]”
Track whether you’re mentioned, what position you’re in, and what AI says about you. If you want to go deeper, Website Migration SEO Checklist (2026) breaks this down step by step.
FAQ
How many “best of” articles do I need to appear in?
Aim for presence in at least 5-8 of the top 10 comparison articles for your category. The more sources that mention you, the higher AI’s confidence in recommending you.
Should I create biased comparison content favoring my product?
No. AI cross-references sources and detects bias. Honest comparisons build more AI trust than promotional content. Acknowledge competitor strengths where they exist.
Can a new product with no reviews win “best X” queries?
It’s harder but possible. Focus on creating the most comprehensive comparison content in your category, build community presence on Reddit and LinkedIn, and collect initial reviews aggressively.