Yext Research
The data behind local AI and search visibility
Quarterly benchmarks, industry deep dives, and original research on how brands get discovered, cited, and chosen in AI search – by consumers and the agents acting for them.
Topics Vary · Bespoke Research
Original research from our team
Methodology papers, technical write-ups, and one-off investigations from the Yext Research team. Published whenever we have something worth saying – not on a fixed schedule.
Featured paper
Introducing ELO for Google Rank
Across 21.6 million local search results, businesses actively managing their digital presence rank 2.71 positions higher within one mile, with the advantage reaching 6.20 positions in the most competitive markets.
MAR 26, 2026
Read paperElo Rank Study How We Got to the Numbers
A step-by-step walkthrough of 21.6 million search results, from raw data to validated findings. Every filtering decision is shown transparently so you can evaluate each step.
Building a Monthly Digital Brand Visibility Observatory
Background and methods for collecting 2 billion monthly data points for the Scout Index
Optimizing Keyword Selection for Local SEO
The local competition advantage: select optimal keywords based on local competitors.
Yext Research Journal - July 2025
Search science for local brand visibility.
AI Citations · Updated quarterly
How AI cites your business
Cross-model benchmarks across OpenAI, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude. We classify every cited URL into four control categories and track the share each quarter.
Featured issue
AI Citation Behavior Across Models: Evidence from 17.2 Million Citations
Each AI Model Cites Differently. That Matters More Than Most Businesses Realize.
APR 28, 2026
Read the full reportPast Issues
When AI Shops for You: The Retail Battle for Citations
265,000 AI citations tell us how generative models decide which retailers to trust and quote.
Corresponding Author: Adam Abernathy, 2025
AI Citations, User Locations, & Query Context
Location-Level Analysis of 6.8 Million AI Citations Reveals Why Geographic Context Should Be the Foundation of Brand Visibility Strategy
Christian Ward, Anthony Rinaldi, Adam Abernathy, and Alan Ai, 2025
What is Yext Research
Research built on data no one else has access to
Yext Research runs on the same measurement infrastructure as Scout -- 10+ billion data points across 12 million business locations, observed across four AI models and traditional search. The output: quarterly benchmarks, methodology papers, and industry deep-dives that surface what's actually happening as AI agents reshape how customers find and choose brands. Evidence, not theory.
Why does this matter?
Most data on how brands get discovered across AI comes from small samples, scraped queries, or surveys. None of it captures what happens at enterprise scale – across millions of locations, every major AI model, and the moment an agent picks one brand over another on a consumer's behalf. Yext sees this from the inside, and turns that visibility into the only ongoing program of benchmarks, methodology, and industry research built on real performance.
Partner Program · By application
Yext Research Partners
Great research is a team effort. That's why we're working with some of the brightest minds in the industry. If accepted into the program, Yext Research Partners can:
Access our enterprise-scale local search dataset
Collaborate with our research and engineering teams
Publish independent findings that move the industry forward
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See what’s changing in search, grounded in real user behavior.