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One More Month. One More Excuse. How Long Should These Things Really Take?

Last Updated: September 18, 2025

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If you’ve been burned by marketing companies before, we get why you’d roll your eyes when you hear “just give it 4 to 6 months.” You’ve heard that before, right? And sure enough, 6 months later, you’re still waiting for the phone to ring while that vendor blames the last vendor.

That’s why we’re not just giving you another “trust the process” speech. What we’re laying out here is a reference point. If you’re working with a marketing team, these are the benchmarks and timelines you should expect.

If you’re seeing progress like this, you’re probably on the right track. But if you’re hearing promises or excuses that sound way outside of this, whether it’s “we can do it in 30 days” or “you’ll need a year before anything happens,” that’s your signal to ask tougher questions.

We’re sharing this based on years of running campaigns for many, many businesses. This is how the math typically works, and it’s why we’re putting it all out here as a timeline cheat sheet. Keep it handy the next time you’re sizing up a vendor.

What Success Should Look Like

Good SEO isn’t just a black box where you sit around in silence for six months. There should be clear activity and visible progress along the way.

  • Website Launch: Your website should be completed and launched within the first month. If it’s dragging past that, something’s wrong.
    • How to monitor progress: You should be able to view the site on a staging (temporary) URL. That way you can see the work being done and how the site is coming together.
  • Directory Listings: Your business information should start appearing in directories within the first 1 to 2 months. If there’s zero activity here, that’s a red flag.
    • How to monitor progress: Before hiring the agency, Google your business phone number. This shows where your number is already listed. Then, keep searching it weekly to see if new listings pop up.
  • Solicitation Calls from Directories: When directories like Yelp start calling you nonstop, that’s actually a good sign. It means your business is showing up in the places where marketers (now) and customers (soon) are paying attention. It’s the canary in the coal mine.
    • How to monitor progress: Sadly, these are annoying, but that also makes them memorable. No need to specifically track them.
  • Traffic Trends: After a couple of months, you should see a steady month-over-month increase in website traffic. Don’t get hung up on the raw numbers. What matters is the trend. Is it growing, even slowly? That’s progress.
    • How to monitor progress: Most sites use Google Analytics. You should either have access to your GA account or request monthly reports from your marketer. This lets you see traffic trends early on.
  • Leads: Leads should start trickling in after a few months. Early on, they’ll be minimal, but they should increase gradually as your rankings improve.
    • How to monitor progress: You should be using a tracking number (like our CallTrax) for your online marketing. Without it, you’re severely limiting your ability to track results. Check your call logs to see if your call volume is increasing. Over time, focus not just on the number of calls, but on the quality of those calls.

Reasonable Timelines for Specific SEO Milestones

Here’s a realistic timeline for key parts of your SEO campaign so you know what to expect and when.

  • Getting Your Website Indexed: Once live, Google can index your site in 3 days to 2 weeks if set up correctly. For a brand-new domain, it might take 3 to 4 weeks.
  • Directory Listings: Submitting listings takes 1 to 3 days. Approvals take 1 to 4 weeks, followed by 2 to 4 weeks for Google to index them. Give it another 1 to 2 months to impact rankings.
  • Google Business Profile: Setup and optimization should take 1 to 3 days, with 3 to 10 days for verification. You might start seeing activity within a few weeks (this timing depends on several factors like market size, industry, and number of competitors).
  • Location-Specific Pages: These help target neighboring areas. They can be created in 1 to 3 days, indexed in 3 days to 2 weeks, and typically improve rankings in 1 to 3 months.

Why Switching Vendors Too Soon Fails

Switching SEO vendors every couple of months is a guaranteed way to fail. Not only does it kill momentum, but every new provider has to start by cleaning up the mess left by the last guy. This includes inconsistent NAP data, bad backlinks, and half-finished directories. Most companies skip this step, which just piles onto the mess and makes things worse.

When you jump campaigns, the SEO clock doesn’t just pause. It resets. And if you’ve changed your domain name, expect a 4 to 6 month recovery period just to get back to where you were.

Pro Tip: Always ask your marketer if they’ve cleaned up (or plan to in the near-future) your old, outdated listings to fix your NAP match. We offer a service called CleanSlate for exactly this reason, but a lot of marketers skip this step. If they aren’t doing it, your campaign is never going to get off the ground. Make sure to ask directly.

TLDR;

Here’s a summary of all the timelines that you can use as a reference. Remember, these are all just rule-of-thumb estimates. Your mileage may vary based on market size, industry, competition level, and 20+ other things.

SEO Action Expected Duration
Website Completion & Launch Within 1 month
Website Indexed by Google 3 days to 2 weeks (up to 4 weeks for brand new domains)
Directory Listings Submission 1 to 3 days
Directory Approvals 1 to 4 weeks
Directory Listings Indexed 2 to 4 weeks after approval
Impact on Rankings from Directories 1 to 2 months post-indexing
Google Business Profile Setup & Verification 1 to 3 days for setup, 3 to 10 days for verification
Location-Specific Pages Created 1 to 3 days
Location Pages Indexed 3 days to 2 weeks
Ranking Improvement for Location Pages 1 to 3 months
PPC Campaign Visibility Immediate upon launch
Recovery After Domain Name Change 4 to 6 months to recover momentum

  • Website Completion & Launch:
    Within 1 month

  • Website Indexed by Google:
    3 days to 2 weeks (up to 4 weeks for brand new domains)

  • Directory Listings Submission:
    1 to 3 days

  • Directory Approvals:
    1 to 4 weeks

  • Directory Listings Indexed:
    2 to 4 weeks after approval

  • Impact on Rankings from Directories:
    1 to 2 months post-indexing

  • Google Business Profile Setup & Verification:
    1 to 3 days for setup, plus 3 to 7 days for verification

  • Location-Specific Pages Created:
    1 to 3 days

  • Location Pages Indexed:
    3 days to 2 weeks

  • Ranking Improvement for Location Pages:
    1 to 3 months

  • PPC Campaign Visibility:
    Immediate upon launch

  • Recovery After Domain Name Change:
    4 to 6 months to recover momentum

The Bottom Line

SEO isn’t magic, but it is methodical. If you’re serious about growth, give it at least 4 to 6 months to produce real, measurable progress. Along the way, expect to see outputs like a completed website, published listings, and growing traffic.

Above all, look for the trend. Steady upward movement is the key, not just big numbers right out of the gate.

If you want help mapping out the right strategy, without having to start over every few months, let’s chat.

 

SEO Timeline and Progress FAQs


Small business SEO typically takes 4 to 6 months to show measurable results. Early signs of progress include increased website traffic, more directory listings, and some initial leads. Full SEO benefits often take longer, but consistent upward trends are a positive indicator.


A new business website should be completed and launched within the first month of starting with a marketing company. If the website build is delayed beyond a month, it’s a red flag indicating potential inefficiencies or problems.


Directory listings for your business should start appearing within 1 to 2 months after hiring an SEO company. Submission typically takes 1 to 3 days, with approvals in 1 to 4 weeks, and indexing by Google another 2 to 4 weeks after that.


Google can index a new website in 3 days to 2 weeks if everything is set up correctly. For brand-new domains, it may take 3 to 4 weeks. This is a key early milestone in an SEO campaign.


Leads from SEO efforts typically begin trickling in after a few months of consistent marketing efforts. While initial leads may be minimal, they should increase gradually as your website gains better search rankings and visibility.


Switching SEO vendors too soon resets the SEO clock and can kill campaign momentum. New SEO providers must first clean up issues like inconsistent NAP data, bad backlinks, and incomplete directories. Without this cleanup, results suffer and recovery can take 4 to 6 months, especially if you’ve changed your domain name.

Bringing a Go-Kart to a Drag Race: The One Mistake That’s Killing Your Local SEO

Last Updated: July 8, 2025

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Let’s be honest: every business owner knows you need something online. No website = No calls. But here’s the mistake almost everyone makes: they throw up a one-page “el-cheapo” site and call it good. That’s like showing up to a drag race in a go-kart.

Mistake #1: The One-Page Wonder

A single-page site barely gets you off the starting line. It doesn’t give Google (or your customers) much to go on, so you’re stuck at the back, treated like a domain squatter instead of a real contender. It’s definitely better than nothing, but not by much.

Mistake #2: The Basic Three-Pager

You try to up your game by adding pages: Home, Contact, Services. Then you make a long bullet list of everything you do on that Services page. But to Google, this is just a rolling chassis with no engine. You look the part, but you’re not moving up in the rankings. Your site still isn’t built to win. That long list of scattered ideas has less focus than a squirrel in a peanut factory.

The Game-Changer: One Service, One Page

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Take that list of services and turn each one into its own dedicated page. Now you’re up to 19 pages instead of three, each one a powerhouse of detail and value. Suddenly, you’ve got a W16 engine under the hood. Google finally knows what you do best, and customers find exactly what they need, right when they need it.

The Problem and the Opportunity

Here’s the opportunity: Most of your competitors are still stuck with the basics. They don’t realize they’re running a go-kart while the real winners have tuned, targeted, turbocharged sites. This is your chance to race right past them, if you do it right.

In the Age of AI, One Page Per Thought Is More Important Than Ever

It’s not just about Google anymore. AI search and answer engines (think ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews, and even voice assistants) are picking the one best, most specific answer to every question. With fewer chances to get in front of customers, you need to be the single best answer every time.

That means your pages can’t be generic. They need to be dialed in, crystal clear, and laser-focused on exactly what the user is looking for. It’s not just SEO, it’s AI optimization, too.

Build the Engine, Then Fuel It With AEO

Once your SEO foundation is solid (one service, one page, all dialed in), it’s time to pour in the race gas:

Add FAQ and Answer Sections to Every Page
These aren’t just for people, they’re for AI, too. Adding detailed, relevant FAQs to each service page helps you show up in answer engines and voice searches. It’s literally impossible to do this with a single “services” page; you need those individual pages first.

Think of it this way: building all those service pages is like assembling your W16 motor. Adding high-quality FAQ content is pouring in the high-octane fuel. You can’t cross the finish line without both.

Action Steps: Outrace the Competition in the AI Era

  1. Break out every service onto its own page. No exceptions!

  2. Optimize each page for SEO: clear titles, strong content, and targeted keywords.

  3. Add location-specific pages for every town you serve. That means a page for each combination of service offered and town served.

  4. Supercharge every page with FAQs. This is how you win with AEO.

  5. Keep tuning: Update, expand, and improve over time. The AI “race” never really ends!

Are You Nuts?

Look, you’d probably rather pluck your own eyeballs out with a rusty spoon and wash them off in hot sauce than write 16 pages of content for your website. Like most people, you’re probably struggling just to get the invoices out and collect payment for the jobs you’ve done. And with all of that taking time away from your family, it’s a lot to ask to add this to your list, too.

Just remember two things:

  1. You don’t have to do this all at once. This can be done a little at a time over a series of months.

  2. You don’t have to be the one banging on the keyboard. This is something you can outsource. There are plenty of companies (including us) who can help you with this. Just make sure you vet them thoroughly, so you’re not handed a bunch of trash content that does little more than drain your wallet.

Ready to Fuel Up and Win?

Most local competitors don’t even realize they’re racing against AI answer engines, not just Google. But you do. Build your engine, pour in the race gas, and watch as you cross the finish line far ahead.

Need help tuning up? We help businesses win in Google, and in the new age of AI.

Local SEO and AI Optimization FAQs


A one-page website lacks the depth and specificity needed for local SEO. It provides minimal content for Google and answer engines to index, making it hard to rank well or get found by potential customers. It’s comparable to entering a drag race in a go-kart—technically present but not competitive.


Creating a separate page for each service allows you to target specific keywords, provide detailed information, and match the intent of users and AI search engines. It makes your website more comprehensive, authoritative, and better suited for both traditional SEO and AI optimization.


AI optimization is the practice of structuring website content so it is easily understood by AI-driven search engines and answer platforms. For local businesses, this means being the single best result for specific queries, which is critical in an era where AI selects one top answer instead of a list of results.


SEO focuses on optimizing for search engines like Google, using techniques like keyword targeting, backlinks, and site structure. AEO, or Answer Engine Optimization, targets AI-driven platforms that prioritize the most specific, well-structured answer, often from a single, focused page with FAQs and clear intent.


Adding FAQ sections helps you rank in AI-driven answer engines and voice search results. They clarify your offerings for both people and machines, increase your visibility, and position your business as the definitive answer to common customer questions.


Yes. Creating a unique page for each combination of service and town helps your business rank in local searches and stand out in AI-driven results. It ensures content relevance and specificity, which are critical for both SEO and AEO success.

Google’s AI Search Results Are Here, and They Don’t Like Your Website

Last Updated: July 3, 2025

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Why Showing Up in Google Search Isn’t Enough Anymore, and What to Do Before You Disappear

If your website traffic is down but your SEO rankings haven’t changed, you’re not imagining things. Google’s new AI-powered search results are changing how local businesses get found online.

Your site might still rank on page one, but fewer people are clicking. Instead, they’re getting answers directly from Google’s new AI Overviews, which appear at the top of the search results before any website links.

This is what’s called a zero-click search. If your content isn’t being pulled into those AI-generated summaries, your business is effectively invisible.

What’s Really Happening

Google’s AI Overviews use artificial intelligence to gather and summarize information from across the web. Users see concise answers at the top of the page, often without needing to click through to any websites.

That means your content might be getting used to answer a question, but you don’t get the traffic, credit, or the lead.

Worse, Google might be pulling content from a competitor who is better optimized for this new system.

Why This Hurts Small Businesses

You’re not just losing site visitors. You’re losing potential customers, and it’s happening quietly.

AI Overviews primarily rely on:

  • Pages with short, clear answers
  • Pages that use structured data like FAQ or How-To schema
  • Sites with strong trust signals like reviews, updated listings, and user engagement

If your content is outdated or poorly structured, it’s not being chosen to answer searchers’ questions.

What You Can Do

You don’t need to rebuild your site from scratch, but you do need to make it easier for AI to understand and pull content from.

Add an FAQ Section to Key Pages

AI Overviews prefer clear questions and direct answers. Add a short FAQ section to your main service pages. Address common questions such as:

  • Do you offer emergency services?
  • What areas do you serve?
  • How long does [specific service] take?

Even a few well-written Q&As can improve your visibility.

If you’re not sure where to start or how to format it properly, we can help. Our Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) service includes done-for-you FAQ sections, schema markup, and other behind-the-scenes enhancements designed specifically to help small businesses get featured in AI Overviews.

Use Schema Markup

Schema is behind-the-scenes code that helps AI understand your content. Without it, Google has to guess, and that’s rarely in your favor.

Be Direct and Clear

Make sure the first paragraph of your landing pages gives a direct, useful answer to the visitor’s main question. Skip the filler and go straight to what you do and how you can help.

Focus on Engagement

Google tracks what people do after they land on your site. If visitors bounce quickly or don’t interact, that sends a signal that your content isn’t helpful. Keep your pages clear, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate.

The New SEO: Be the Answer

Search engines are no longer just showing links. They’re giving users direct answers. If your business isn’t showing up in those answers, someone else is.

Now is the time to adapt. If you want to make sure your site is showing up in AI results, not just traditional rankings, our AEO service can help.

Let us know if you’d like a review of your current pages or a quick consultation. This change isn’t coming someday… it’s already here.

Google AI Overviews & Answer Engine Optimization FAQs


Google AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of search results, providing concise answers to user queries without requiring clicks to external websites.


AI Overviews can reduce website traffic by providing direct answers in search results, leading to fewer clicks on traditional website links.


Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of structuring website content to be easily understood and utilized by AI tools, increasing the likelihood of being featured in AI-generated summaries.


To optimize for AI Overviews, add clear FAQ sections, use structured data like schema markup, ensure content is concise and direct, and enhance user engagement through mobile-friendly design and interactive elements.


Structured data helps AI tools understand and categorize content accurately, increasing the chances of your website being selected for AI-generated summaries.


AEO enhances visibility in AI-driven search results, drives targeted traffic, and improves user engagement by providing direct, relevant answers to queries.

The 4 Numbers That Keep You from Getting Burned on Google Ads

Last Updated: July 3, 2025

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If you’ve ever gotten a PPC report that looks like a NASA flight log, you’re not alone.

Many agencies bury you in pages of charts and graphs, hoping your eyes glaze over so you won’t question where your money’s actually going. It’s not that the data is fake, but it’s often used as a smokescreen. And frankly, most of it doesn’t matter.

There are only a few numbers that truly tell the story of whether your campaign is working. If those 3 or 4 metrics look healthy, you’re probably in good shape. If they’re off, then it’s time to dig deeper. But you don’t need to live in spreadsheets to stay on top of your ads.

Here’s what you really need to watch:

1. Call Tracking: The Number That Matters Most

If you’re a service business, calls are your lifeblood. Not traffic. Not clicks. Calls.

That’s why call tracking is non-negotiable. You need to know exactly how many phone calls came from your ads, not just from your website in general.

We use a tool called CallTrax, which assigns a unique phone number to your ad campaign so we can count only the PPC calls. We pair that with PhoneSwap, which dynamically replaces the phone number on your website for visitors who came from your ads. That gets us roughly 90% accuracy on how many calls your ads are really generating.

If your agency isn’t using tools like these, or can’t clearly show you call data, you’ve got a problem.

Bottom line:
If call volume isn’t increasing:

  1. You may be targeting the wrong audience
  2. Your landing page may not be converting visitors
  3. Your tracking may be missing or set up incorrectly

Action Item:

Even if your current vendor doesn’t offer these tools, you can always layer them on separately. Reach out to us, or find another provider of phone numbers to help you get a line dedicated to your campaign.

2. Traffic Volume: A Helpful Clue, Not the Final Verdict

Watching your site traffic can help you understand whether your ads are getting seen and clicked, but traffic by itself doesn’t mean much. What matters is whether that traffic turns into actual leads.

More visitors are only helpful if more people are calling you.

Bottom line:
If traffic is up but the phone isn’t ringing:

  1. You may be attracting unqualified or irrelevant traffic
  2. Your landing page might not be persuasive or clear
  3. You could be targeting the wrong geographic area or search intent

Action Item:

Look at your Google Analytics or whichever other analytics tool you use. See what the numbers were before and after the campaign started to see what your gross numbers look like. if there’s no change, you have a problem.

 

3. CTR (Click-Through Rate): A Glance at Ad Appeal

CTR tells you how often people click on your ad after seeing it. A high CTR usually means your ad is interesting or relevant, but that doesn’t guarantee it’s bringing in the right people.

It’s common to see high CTR with low call volume. If that’s happening, it usually means:

  1. You’re targeting the wrong keywords or audience
  2. Your landing page isn’t convincing people to take action

Bottom line:
If your CTR is high but you’re not getting leads:

  1. Reevaluate your keyword and targeting strategy
  2. Look closely at your landing page, does it clearly say what you do and how to contact you?
  3. Check for any disconnect between what your ad promises and what your page delivers

Action Item:

Do a couple searches (or ask your favorite AI) to determine what an average CTR is for your industry and location. As a very rough estimate, anything under 1% is a total bust. If you’re over 3% you’re doing well. If you’re over 5%, you should probably invest more into that campaign because you’re hitting a home run.

 

4. CPC (Cost Per Click): How Efficient Is Your Budget?

CPC tells you how much you’re paying every time someone clicks your ad. A higher CPC doesn’t always mean something’s broken, but it often points to inefficiencies.

One of the biggest mistakes we see? Running ads to a page that hasn’t been SEO-optimized. If your landing page doesn’t have strong, relevant content, Google makes you bid higher to compete. That means you’ll burn through your budget faster just to keep up.

You don’t need to guess what’s normal, just do a quick search (or ask ChatGPT or Grok) for average CPC in your industry and region. If you’re way above the norm, it’s time to troubleshoot.

Bottom line:
If your CPC is high:

  1. Your landing page may not match your ads well (low relevance)
  2. Your Quality Score may be poor due to weak SEO or bad structure
  3. You may be in an ultra-competitive market, and need to budget accordingly, but still optimize where possible

Action Item:

Do some searches (or ask your favorite AI) to determine an average CPC for your industry and location. This is going to range wildly, but numbers between $5 and $15 per click are common for home-services industries. You can still get numbers below $1/click for longer-tail searches (more-specific terms).

 

Bonus: Watch How Your Budget Is Managed

Here’s a problem most business owners don’t know about:
Many agencies charge you one flat monthly fee, and don’t tell you how much goes to Google vs. how much they keep.

You might think you’re spending $1,000/month on ads. But is that:

  • $800 to Google and $200 to the agency? (Reasonable.)
  • Or $200 to Google and $800 to the agency? (Yikes.)

And here’s the kicker: this setup creates an incentive for the agency to quietly keep more of your money over time, until you notice and complain. Then they back off just enough to keep you quiet. Not every agency does this, but the temptation is always there.

That’s why we bill differently.
We charge our fee directly, and Google charges you directly. You’ll see two separate charges, one from us and one from Google, so you know exactly where every dollar is going.

Bottom line:
If you’re not sure how your budget is split:

  1. Ask for a clear breakdown of spend vs. fees
  2. Request access to your Google Ads account so you can see charges directly
  3. Make sure you’re not being overcharged while your actual ad spend quietly shrinks

Action Item:

Look at your contract (or just ask your current vendor directly) to see how your budget is being split up. It’s pretty standard for 20-25% of your total spend to be allocated toward a management fee. If you’re over 30%, you’re very likely being ripped off. If it’s way under, you should question if you’re getting quality service. Remember, you get what you pay for.

 

Final Word: These 4 Metrics Will Keep You on Track

You don’t need to know everything about digital marketing, but you do need to watch these four things:

  1. Call Tracking: Are calls increasing from your PPC efforts?
  2. Traffic Volume: Is relevant traffic coming to your site?
  3. CTR: Are your ads getting attention?
  4. CPC: Are you paying a fair amount per click?

No single number tells the whole story, but when you look at them together, you can quickly spot when something’s working… or when something’s way off.

And if an agency can’t explain these numbers in plain English? It might be time to find one that can.

Google Ads Performance Metrics FAQs


Call tracking in Google Ads involves assigning unique phone numbers to your ad campaigns to accurately measure the number of calls generated by your ads, ensuring precise tracking and reporting.


While traffic volume indicates the number of visitors to your site, it doesn’t measure the quality of those visitors. Monitoring conversion metrics is essential to assess the effectiveness of your ads.


A high CTR indicates that your ad is appealing and relevant to users. However, it’s crucial to ensure that this translates into actual conversions and leads.


To assess if your CPC is reasonable, compare it against industry benchmarks and evaluate the return on investment (ROI) from the traffic generated by your ads.


Tools like CallTrax and PhoneSwap can assist in call tracking by assigning unique phone numbers to your campaigns and dynamically replacing phone numbers on your website for visitors coming from your ads.


To enhance your landing page, ensure it is clear, persuasive, and aligns with the intent of your ad. A well-designed landing page can significantly improve conversion rates.

We’re Not Playing The “Top 10” Game Anymore, Thanks To AI

Last Updated: June 20, 2025

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Imagine Mrs. Johnson’s basement was flooding. She grabbed her phone and said, “Hey ChatGPT, find me a plumber.” She didn’t get a list of ten plumbers or a page of links. She got one name. The AI decided who was “best” and that’s what it delivered. Was it you? If not, you’re missing jobs you used to land, because the way customers find you is changing fast.

For 20 years we’ve been playing the “Top 10 Game” where being on Google’s first page was the goal. It meant calls, customers, and cash flow. But now, AI tools like ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, and smart home devices are taking over. They don’t show ten options and let you pick. They might show you a few options, or they might just give you one single option. If you’re not at the very top, you’re out of the picture. Here’s why this matters and how to make sure you’re the one customers find.

The Future Is Closer Than You Think

In less than 2 years, asking your device for recommendations (like Mrs. Johnson did) will be the norm. It won’t just be your phone either. These questions will be asked of home assistants like Alexa, sure, but you’ll start seeing AI infused into everything. You might soon be asking your smart fridge, “Who’s the best plumber in town?” or “Find me an electrician.” These devices are already here, and they’re getting smarter every day. They don’t give long lists of options. Instead, they give you between 1 and 5 names, based on reviews, relevance, and trust signals.

Want To See The Future Present?

We asked ChatGPT and Grok to provide a plumber for a leaking toilet. The MOST we got was 5 options. Sometimes we got just one single option.

“Hey ChatGPT, find me a plumber in St Louis MO to fix a leaking toilet”

need a plumber prompt 1 - chatgpt
ChatGPT – 3 Results
need a plumber prompt 1 - grok
Grok – 5 Results

“Help, I have a leaking toilet. Who should I call to fix it? I’m in St Louis MO.”

need a plumber prompt 2 - chatgpt
ChatGPT – 3 Results
need a plumber prompt 2 - grok
Grok – 5 Results

“Help! I need a plumber to fix this leaking toilet NOW! Give me the number to the best plumber in St Louis MO.”

need a plumber prompt 3 - chatgpt
ChatGPT – 2.5 Results
need a plumber prompt 3 - grok
Grok – 2 Results

But that’s just the beginning. Within the next 2–5 years, talking to robots in your home will be totally normal. Seriously! We already have robo-taxis cruising around cities, and soon we’ll see compact, task-specific robots doing real household chores like folding laundry, scrubbing bathrooms, and tidying up. These won’t just be cleaning machines; they’ll be smart, connected, AI-powered assistants roaming from room to room. And with an AI in every corner of the house, traditional search engines? Yeah… those days are numbered.

Still skeptical? This isn’t sci-fi. It’s already happening:

  • TidyBot is a robot that can pick up items, sort laundry, and clean up based on voice commands. Watch it work
  • Neo by Redwood AI is a humanoid robot that can do housework without human control. See it in action

 

How AI Is Changing the Game

AI isn’t just replacing Google, it’s making the game tougher. As we explained in our blog on AI vs. Google, Google has spent decades figuring out what makes a business trustworthy and helpful. AI uses that same info (reviews, website quality, local listings, etc.) but narrows it down to the absolute best. When someone asks, “Who’s the best plumber in town?” AI doesn’t list every decent option. It picks the cream of the crop based on:

  • Customer reviews and ratings
  • A clear, mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, up-to-date website
  • Local signals like your Google Business Profile and directory listings

If you haven’t updated your online presence in a couple of years, you’re likely slipping out of that top spot. And as more people turn to AI for recommendations, being “good enough” won’t cut it anymore.

Don’t Get Left Behind

The shift to AI is already happening, and waiting to act could mean losing customers to the handful of pros who get it. The “top 10” game is dead. The “top 3” game is here, and the “top 1” game is right around the corner. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to stay ahead… just take a few smart steps now.

The fastest, easiest way to get started is our AI Quick Start product. It’s turnkey, efficient, simple, and affordable. It’s designed specifically for busy pros like you. We handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on what you do best: fixing problems and keeping customers happy.

Want more details? Check out our simple guide to getting AI-ready for additional steps you can take today, all on your own.

Act Now. It’s Your Business on the Line

When Mrs. Johnson’s basement floods or Mr. Brown’s AC quits, their phones, fridges, or even their home robots will pick one pro to call. Make sure it’s you. Don’t wait! Jump over to our AI Quick Start and take the first step today to keep those jobs coming.

AI‑Driven Search & Local Visibility FAQs


AI-powered assistants (like ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, and smart home devices) don’t display lists of ten links anymore—they prioritize delivering just the best single result, based on trust signals like reviews, website quality, and local listings. That makes ranking in the traditional top 10 insufficient.


In tests, ChatGPT and Grok returned only 1–3 recommendations (sometimes up to five), unlike Google which traditionally shows a top‑10 list. Users searching for services like plumbers often got just one or two suggestions.


AI recommendation systems evaluate customer reviews and ratings, website performance and quality, Google Business Profile strength, and consistency across directory listings—and then pick only the most trusted business.


Within about 2 years, asking AI-powered devices—from smartphones to home assistants—to recommend services is expected to be mainstream, and in 2–5 more years, AI-enabled robots could make this even more common.


Ensure top-tier visibility signals: excellent client reviews, a responsive and up‑to‑date website, consistent Google Business Profile data, and directory listings. Optimizing for AI systems can start with solutions like Prospect Genius’ AI Optimization Quick Start.


AI Optimization Quick Start is a turnkey, cost-effective package that strengthens your digital foundation—analytics, website updates, and business listings—to improve your chances of being the top AI-powered recommendation.

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