What content was published for the HVAC business?

A detailed heat pump install guide covering sizing, rebates, ducted versus ductless, and typical install timelines for the Austin region. The guide became the top organic entry page and the second most cited source in attributed AI traffic.

Which schemas were deployed?

HVACBusiness (via LocalBusiness), Service per specialty, FAQPage on the install guide, and Product schema for the specific heat pump brands the team installs with warranty and service coverage declared.

How did Claude pickup timing compare to ChatGPT?

ChatGPT began citing the install guide within four weeks. Claude took six weeks to pick up the business name for regional install queries.

Which directories were reconciled?

GBP, Bing Places, and six industry directories relevant to HVAC — service area and install specialty signals were reconciled to a single source of truth.

Did national chains stop dominating the category?

No. National chains continued to appear for generic install queries. The business displaced them on regional and specialty queries where the install guide and schema carried the signal.

How is this different from SEO?

Traditional SEO optimizes for Google's ranked blue links. We optimize for AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok, whose outputs are generated from retrieved sources, structured data, and authoritative citations. The surfaces overlap (schema, site quality, reputable mentions) but the playbook is different. llms.txt, question shaped content, entity clarity, and citation placement matter more than keyword density or backlink counts.

Do you guarantee I'll show up in AI answers?

No. Anyone who guarantees AI ranking is misleading you. The models are probabilistic and change frequently. What we guarantee is rigorous measurement, disciplined execution of the methodology, and transparent reporting on what moved and what didn't.

How long until I see results?

Structural changes (schema, llms.txt, site hygiene) are usually indexed within 2 to 4 weeks. Citation driven visibility (directory listings, authoritative mentions) typically compounds over 6 to 12 weeks. We measure weekly from day one so you see movement, not just the endpoint.

Do I need to change my website?

Usually yes, but changes are additive and surgical. We add schema markup, publish an llms.txt, tighten entity and location signals, and occasionally recommend content additions. We don't redesign your site or touch your brand.

What if my competitor already hired you?

We work with one business per niche per metro to avoid direct conflicts. If your category and city are already taken, we'll tell you upfront on the consultation call.

What geographies do you work in?

Any English language market where ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok are widely used. US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand. Multi location and international programs are handled under the Custom tier.

How do you actually measure AI visibility?

We run a curated set of 15+ real world recommendation queries across all five platforms on a weekly cadence, capture the answers, and track whether your business appears, in what position, and in what context. The Audit includes the baseline. The Ongoing tier includes week over week tracking plus a monthly strategy call.

Can I cancel the ongoing retainer?

Yes, after the 3 month minimum. The minimum exists because AI visibility compounds. One month of work rarely produces a representative signal. After month three, you can cancel any time with 30 days notice.

Back to case studies

HVAC · Austin, TX

“Reliable HVAC for a heat pump install”

Mentioned occasionally by Grok, never by ChatGPT or Claude. Two national chains dominated the answers for a market this company knew better.

What we found

The owner had spent years building a reputation for heat pump installs as the category shifted fast. Grok mentioned the business inconsistently; ChatGPT and Claude cited two national chains for install queries, even when the query was clearly regional. The site was thin on install specifics, and nothing on it structured the literal follow up questions buyers were asking.

What we did

01
Published a detailed heat pump install guide covering sizing, rebates, ducted versus ductless, and typical install timelines for the region.
02
Added FAQPage schema answering the literal queries we observed users asking across platforms.
03
Placed two category specific mentions on regional Texas home and trade publications.
04
Reconciled service area and install specialty signals across GBP, Bing Places, and six industry directories.
05
Added Product schema for the specific heat pump brands the team installs, with warranty and service coverage declared.

What changed

ChatGPT began citing the install guide directly for install related follow up questions.
Claude picked up the business name within six weeks for regional install queries.
Grok mentions stabilized across all install variants.
The install guide became the top organic entry page and the second most cited source in attributed AI traffic.

1 → 4 of 5

Platforms citing

0 → 5 of 7

Install query coverage

Weeks to Claude pickup

Regional mentions placed

Week by week

Week 1
Baseline and blueprint
Twenty install and heat pump queries tested. National chain dominance mapped. Regional intent gap documented.
Weeks 2 to 4
Foundations live
Install guide published. FAQPage and Product schema deployed. llms.txt declared install specialties and service area.
Weeks 5 to 8
Citations and mentions
Two Texas publication mentions placed. Six industry directories reconciled. ChatGPT began quoting the install guide directly.
Weeks 9 to 12
Compounding visibility
Claude picked up the business name for regional install queries. Monthly review shifted next quarter to rebate and efficiency content.

“National chains were getting the call because AI kept repeating their names. We had the expertise but nothing structured for a model to actually cite.”
Owner, two location HVAC company, Texas.

Questions about this case study

What content was published for the HVAC business?
A detailed heat pump install guide covering sizing, rebates, ducted versus ductless, and typical install timelines for the Austin region. The guide became the top organic entry page and the second most cited source in attributed AI traffic.
Which schemas were deployed?
HVACBusiness (via LocalBusiness), Service per specialty, FAQPage on the install guide, and Product schema for the specific heat pump brands the team installs with warranty and service coverage declared.
How did Claude pickup timing compare to ChatGPT?
ChatGPT began citing the install guide within four weeks. Claude took six weeks to pick up the business name for regional install queries.
Which directories were reconciled?
GBP, Bing Places, and six industry directories relevant to HVAC — service area and install specialty signals were reconciled to a single source of truth.
Did national chains stop dominating the category?
No. National chains continued to appear for generic install queries. The business displaced them on regional and specialty queries where the install guide and schema carried the signal.

Representative case study. Industry, location, and specifics are illustrative composites drawn from recurring patterns in our work. AI answer engines are probabilistic; actual results vary by category, competition, and baseline.