From 79093e1d28ca818565ec9edd8f758cc78724b8e8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: tonyjbala Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2026 20:01:16 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Add Cold Audit protocol + Audit #1 (HVAC/Gilmore) --- cold-audit-protocol.md | 27 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 27 insertions(+) create mode 100644 cold-audit-protocol.md diff --git a/cold-audit-protocol.md b/cold-audit-protocol.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e25a7d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/cold-audit-protocol.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +# DOP Cold Audit Protocol — Live Evidence Standard +**Purpose:** Produce verifiable, first-hand visibility evidence for a target business to replace Tier-3 competitor self-reports in GTM materials. + +## Signals measured (each scored 0–5, human-verified) +1. **GBP completeness** — categories, hours, phone, attributes, posts, Q&A, review count/rating. (observed on Google Business Profile) +2. **Foursquare claim status** — is the listing claimed and correct? (ChatGPT draws ~70% of local data from Foursquare) +3. **Website schema** — LocalBusiness / Service JSON-LD present and correct (service types, area, hours). +4. **AI-answer presence** — does ChatGPT / Perplexity name the business for 3 high-intent queries? +5. **Citation consistency** — NAP (name/address/phone) across GBP, Foursquare, Yelp, Facebook, BBB, industry directories. + +## Evidence tiering (honesty standard) +- **Tier-1** — observed directly on a business-owned asset (GBP, the business's own website schema). Highest trust. +- **Tier-2** — observed via an independent third party but verifiable (Foursquare claim status, AI-answer screenshot, directory NAP). Medium trust. +- **Tier-3** — vendor or business self-reported dashboard numbers. **Excluded from DOP proof.** Used only as wedge framing in outreach. + +## Method per signal +- GBP: browser inspect the live profile; record completeness gaps. +- Foursquare: query the business; note claimed/unclaimed + wrong fields. +- Schema: `web_extract` the site; check for JSON-LD `LocalBusiness`/`Service`. +- AI-answer: run 3 high-intent queries (e.g. "emergency plumber open now near "); capture whether the business appears. +- NAP: cross-check 5+ directories for consistency. + +## Output per target +One markdown file: target name, metro, queries tested, observed results, gaps, per-signal score, tier breakdown, evidence references (URLs/screenshots). No self-reported numbers presented as fact. + +## Commit path +`research/cold-audits/-.md` — authored as `tonyjbala`.