AI search optimization for a waterproofing company
Homeowners now ask ChatGPT "who should I call for a wet basement in Columbus" before opening a map. The answer engines do not rank the way search did. They pull a few sources that answer plainly and agree, then name one or two companies. For that to be you, three things line up: your site answers real questions in full sentences, your name, address and phone match everywhere, and your Google profile looks established. The median company has 10 reviews and 18.8% have no site, so the bar is lower than it sounds.
The mistake is keyword stuffing. "Best basement waterproofing in Pittsburgh" nine times gets quoted by nobody. A page stating what an interior drain costs per linear foot and what the warranty covers is what an assistant lifts and attributes.
At two weeks, working means clean schema and an llms.txt in place, five answer pages published, and a record of what the assistants said on day one for comparison.