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AI Shortlist Plays / Pages AI searches retrieve

Should we publish comparison and alternatives pages?

Yes, if you can be fair. Buyers ask AI engines to compare named suppliers, and the engines need a page that does it. Write comparisons that state real drawbacks, including your own, and say which option suits which buyer.

Effort: 4 to 6 hours per page

Who does it: Product marketer or content lead

Best for: B2B firms of 20 to 500 people

Evidence: Medium (Google Search Central, read 8 November 2026)

01 / WHY IT MATTERS

Why it matters.

Google’s guidance on writing reviews asks writers to “discuss the benefits and drawbacks of something, based on your own original research”, to “explain what sets something apart from its competitors” and to “cover comparable things to consider, or explain which might be best for certain uses or circumstances.” That is a usable template for a B2B comparison page.

A one-sided page that declares itself the winner gives an engine nothing balanced to quote, and gives a buyer a reason to distrust the rest of your site.

02 / SELF-CHECK

The 10-minute self-check.

Ask ChatGPT: “Compare [you] with [your main competitor] for [your buyer].” Then check:

  • Does the answer use any page from your site?
  • Does it state your strengths correctly?
  • Does it state a weakness you could answer with evidence?
  • Do you have any page that compares options in your category?
03 / STEPS

Steps.

  1. Pick the two or three comparisons buyers actually ask about, from sales calls.
  2. Agree the criteria a buyer uses: scope, cost model, time to first result, support, proof.
  3. Fill the table honestly, with sources for every claim about a competitor. Leave out what you cannot source.
  4. Add a section on who each option suits best, including when the other firm is the better choice.
  5. Date the page and review it every six months, or when either side changes.

We plan comparison pages as part of SEO for B2B companies, with one owner page per question.

04 / OUR OWN SITE

What we saw on prolinkage.com.

05 / MEASURE

How to measure it.

  • Engine read-back: run your comparison questions monthly; record whether your page is cited.
  • Search Console: impressions for “[you] vs [them]” and “alternatives to” queries. Monthly.
  • Sales feedback: do prospects quote the page on calls? Quarterly.
07 / SOURCES

Sources.

AI Shortlist Plays

The self-check shows what you can see yourself.

What the engines say across repeated runs, which sources they read and who they name instead is harder to see from inside. Our free AI Visibility Snapshot runs a sample of your buyers’ questions and is reviewed by a person.

More than a decade of experience, across businesses and markets.