Case Study: Martinez Renovations
Business: General contractor specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Challenge: Online presence limited to Google Maps and word-of-mouth. Zero visibility in ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews for local renovation queries.
The Problem
Martinez Renovations had been in business for 12 years with a strong local reputation, but they weren’t appearing in AI-generated answers when homeowners asked ChatGPT “best contractor for kitchen remodel Phoenix” or “where to find a trusted remodeler.” They were losing leads to newer contractors who had optimized for AI visibility.
AEO Strategy Implemented
Month 1: Foundation
— GeneralContractor schema markup implemented with service specializations (kitchen, bathroom, additions)
— Google Business Profile completely optimized with photos, service menu, and business hours
— 15 customer testimonials with structured review schema added
— Before/after project portfolio with structured data created
Month 2: Content & Authority
— 4 educational articles published: “Kitchen Remodel Timeline,” “Bathroom Renovation Costs,” “Popular Countertop Materials,” “How to Plan Your Remodel”
— Mentioned in local home improvement blog (3 links)
— Google Business Q&A strategy implemented (seeded 8 questions)
Month 3: Expansion & Citations
— Local chamber of commerce directory listing added
— Contractor blog features (2 independent mentions)
— Video case study testimonials published to YouTube with schema markup
— Monthly AI Visibility Score tracking began
Results: 90-Day Outcomes
ChatGPT Citations: Zero → Named in 4-5 responses per week for “kitchen remodel Phoenix” and “general contractor Phoenix”
Perplexity Citations: Zero → Appearing in 60% of “remodeler Phoenix” queries, showing in citation carousel
Google AI Overviews: Zero → Named in 2-3 searches per week for “kitchen remodeler” and “bathroom remodeler Phoenix”
AI Visibility Score: 8/100 → 72/100 (64-point improvement)
Lead Impact: 3 new clients in month 2-3, all mentioning “found you in ChatGPT” or “Perplexity recommended you”
Key Success Factors
1. Schema Markup Speed: Implementing GeneralContractor schema in week 1 accelerated AI recognition
2. Portfolio Quality: Before/after photos with structured data proved expertise to answer engines
3. Third-Party Citations: Independent blog mentions signaled credibility beyond owned properties
4. Consistency: Monthly monitoring and adjustments kept them ahead of algorithm changes
Quote
“Within 90 days, we went from zero visibility in ChatGPT to being the go-to recommendation for remodels in Phoenix. We’ve already covered the cost of AEO with the new clients. This is the future of contractor marketing.” — David Martinez, Owner
Ongoing Management
Martinez Renovations continues monthly AEO monitoring. Current AI Visibility Score: 78/100. They’re now adding case studies monthly and expanding into commercial renovation queries.