AI Search Optimization for Service Businesses

Get recommended when customers ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini for service providers, before they ever see your competitors.

LLMs that matter For Service Industry

Customers Are Asking AI for Service Recommendations

ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini have become the go-to research tools for finding service providers. Whether it's call centers, customer support, consulting, or agencies—buyers start by asking AI. The problem? Most service businesses are invisible in these conversations. When someone asks 'Who are the best call center companies?' or 'Which customer support providers scale with startups?', AI recommends 5-7 options. If you're not in that list, you don't exist to that buyer.

Service Industry AI Search by the Numbers

58%

Of service buyers start research on AI platforms, not Google

58%

Of service buyers start research on AI platforms, not Google

58%

Of service buyers start research on AI platforms, not Google

3×

Third-party sites cited more than brand websites

3×

Third-party sites cited more than brand websites

3×

Third-party sites cited more than brand websites

80%+

Service citations come from "Best X" ranking content

80%+

Service citations come from "Best X" ranking content

80%+

Service citations come from "Best X" ranking content

2-3

Service buyers check multiple AI platforms before deciding

2-3

Service buyers check multiple AI platforms before deciding

2-3

Service buyers check multiple AI platforms before deciding

AI Service Tools

Where XLR8 AI Fits in the Customer Journey

Service buyers research extensively before reaching out. They discover options, compare providers, and validate their choice. We make sure you dominate all three stages.

Discovery

We optimize your content so you're surfaced when buyers are building their shortlist - getting you into the consideration set early.

Comparison

Validation

AI search response comparing customer support service options during early discovery in the service buyer journey

Discovery

We optimize your content so you're surfaced when buyers are building their shortlist - getting you into the consideration set early.

Comparison

Validation

Discovery

We optimize your content so you're surfaced when buyers are building their shortlist - getting you into the consideration set early.

Comparison

Validation

Success Stories

Service Businesses Winning with XLR8 AI

From invisible to market leader - see how we helped Hugo dominate AI search in one of the most competitive categories.

HUGO

Despite strong SEO presence and a competitively strong offering, Hugo's visibility on LLMs was negligible. We ran visibility audits across 500+ queries, reverse-engineered which sources LLMs cite and why, and built a query-level execution plan. Our team implemented optimizations end to end and every single content piece generated was cited by LLMs in under 5 days.

Result: Hugo went from 0% visibility to becoming the most-cited domain across multiple LLMs in under 3 months.

Service company case study showing increased AI search visibility across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI through GEO optimization

+50%

Visibility Increase Gemini

+50%

Visibility Increase Gemini

+50%

Visibility Increase Gemini

Most Cited Domain - Google AI Mode (above wikipedia)

200+

Queries Citing Hugo on Google AI Mode, Gemini, and ChatGPT

200+

Queries Citing Hugo on Google AI Mode, Gemini, and ChatGPT

200+

Queries Citing Hugo on Google AI Mode, Gemini, and ChatGPT

Most Cited Domain - ChatGPT and Perplexity

“XLR8 AI has helped us gain millions in revenue from AI Search. Before XLR8 AI, we were doing well on Google, but when buyers asked ChatGPT or Perplexity for call center recommendations, we simply weren't there. Within 4 months, we went from invisible to becoming the most-cited provider on Google AI Mode and second only to Wikipedia on ChatGPT and Perplexity. They showed us exactly where we were losing to competitors and what to fix. AI search is now a core part of how new customers discover Hugo."

Customer testimonial highlighting improved AI visibility, AI search citations, and qualified demand from LLM-driven discovery

Yuri Pereira

Head of Marketing, Hugo

Yuri Pereira

Head of Marketing, Hugo

Yuri Pereira

Head of Marketing, Hugo

Our Unique Strategy for Service Businesses

Third-Party Domain

Service buyers trust external validation. We optimize your presence on Clutch, G2, industry directories, review sites, and more, the sources LLMs cite most for service recommendations.

Third-Party Domain

Service buyers trust external validation. We optimize your presence on Clutch, G2, industry directories, review sites, and more, the sources LLMs cite most for service recommendations.

Third-Party Domain

Service buyers trust external validation. We optimize your presence on Clutch, G2, industry directories, review sites, and more, the sources LLMs cite most for service recommendations.

Listicle Domination

80%+ of service industry citations come from "Best X providers" and ranking articles. We create comprehensive listicle content that LLMs naturally prioritize when answering discovery queries.

Listicle Domination

80%+ of service industry citations come from "Best X providers" and ranking articles. We create comprehensive listicle content that LLMs naturally prioritize when answering discovery queries.

Listicle Domination

80%+ of service industry citations come from "Best X providers" and ranking articles. We create comprehensive listicle content that LLMs naturally prioritize when answering discovery queries.

In-Depth Guide Content

For complex service decisions, LLMs cite detailed guides over short blog posts. We create authoritative content that answers buyer questions thoroughly and positions you as the expert.

In-Depth Guide Content

For complex service decisions, LLMs cite detailed guides over short blog posts. We create authoritative content that answers buyer questions thoroughly and positions you as the expert.

In-Depth Guide Content

For complex service decisions, LLMs cite detailed guides over short blog posts. We create authoritative content that answers buyer questions thoroughly and positions you as the expert.

Multi-LLM Testing

Each AI platform has different retrieval patterns. We test and optimize across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Mode, Claude, Grok, treating each as its own search engine with unique requirements.

Multi-LLM Testing

End to End Execution

Most service businesses face tremendous competition. AI Search is non deterministic, figuring out optimization plans from just data is tricky. Our team of GEO experts simplifies this for you - setting up experiments, crafting optimization plans, helping with execution.

End to End Execution

Real-Time Adaptation

When LLMs update (like GPT-5 launch), we adapt within days. Monitor behavior changes, identify new retrieval patterns, and adjust strategy while competitors are still figuring out what changed.

Real-Time Adaptation

When LLMs update (like GPT-5 launch), we adapt within days. Monitor behavior changes, identify new retrieval patterns, and adjust strategy while competitors are still figuring out what changed.

Real-Time Adaptation

When LLMs update (like GPT-5 launch), we adapt within days. Monitor behavior changes, identify new retrieval patterns, and adjust strategy while competitors are still figuring out what changed.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Service Industry AI Search: Your Questions Answered

How is AI search different from SEO for service businesses?

Traditional SEO gets you ranked on Google. AI search optimization gets your business recommended when buyers ask ChatGPT or Perplexity "who are the best service providers for X?" The tactics are completely different - LLMs prioritize third-party validation, listicle content, and detailed guides over traditional SEO signals.

What types of queries should service businesses optimize for?

How long does it take to see results for service businesses?

Will this work for local service businesses?

How is AI search different from SEO for service businesses?

What types of queries should service businesses optimize for?

How long does it take to see results for service businesses?

Will this work for local service businesses?

How is AI search different from SEO for service businesses?

What types of queries should service businesses optimize for?

How long does it take to see results for service businesses?

Will this work for local service businesses?

All-in-one AI visibility and GEO optimization platform

See how your brand appears in AI search

End to end GEO Optimization by Machine Learning experts

Book a Demo

See how your brand appears in AI search

End to end GEO Optimization by Machine Learning experts

Book a Demo

See how your brand appears in AI search

End to end GEO Optimization by Machine Learning experts

Book a Demo