> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.peec.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Listicle rank effect — position in cited listicles shapes AI visibility

> Peec's 200K-response study (Sep 2025–Mar 2026) — rank #1 in AI-cited third-party listicles lifts brand mention probability up to +16.5pp and moves brands up to 1.8 positions earlier in the answer.

A brand's position inside AI-cited third-party listicles is strongly associated with how AI engines present that brand. Peec analyzed nearly 200,000 AI responses — over 5.7 million data points across eight engines and three markets (B2B SaaS, Emerging MarTech, US Finance), collected September 2025 to March 2026 ([full study](https://peec.ai/blog/the-listicle-rank-effect-what-nearly-200-000-ai-responses-across-8-ai-engines-reveal-about-brand-visibility)).

* **Visibility:** Being in a frequently cited third-party listicle strongly raises mention probability. Rank #1 lifts: B2B SaaS +16.5pp, Emerging MarTech +13.4pp. Rank matters most in emerging/fragmented categories where engines have weak prior knowledge; in established B2B SaaS, inclusion matters more than exact rank; in sparse US Finance, a few trusted listicles carry outsized weight regardless of position.
* **Answer position (the most consistent effect):** Rank #1 exposure moves a brand earlier in the answer — US Finance 1.80 positions, B2B SaaS 1.17, Emerging MarTech 0.82 — consistent across all three markets.
* **Mention count:** Diverges by market (Emerging MarTech +0.67, B2B SaaS +0.43, US Finance +0.66 but statistically insignificant). Track visibility, position, and mention count as three separate metrics.

Caveats: observational associations, not causal proof; findings apply to *frequently retrieved* third-party listicles, not every listicle, and self-authored listicles were excluded. Methodology in the companion paper ([SSRN working paper](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6753841), May 2026). Engine differences and how many listicles are enough: [Listicle strategy by engine](/research/listicle-strategy-by-engine).

**Source:** [The Listicle Rank Effect: What nearly 200,000 AI responses across 8 AI engines reveal about brand visibility](https://peec.ai/blog/the-listicle-rank-effect-what-nearly-200-000-ai-responses-across-8-ai-engines-reveal-about-brand-visibility), Peec (Jan Ehrlinspiel), May 2026.