Short answer: Choose an agency that is honest about what it can control, shows how it measures results, and fixes the foundations first. No agency can guarantee that ChatGPT, Gemini or Google’s AI will recommend your business, because those tools decide what to say and their answers change. A good agency improves your chances and shows you the evidence.
What an AI search agency should actually do
- Audit where you stand. Test real customer questions in the major AI tools and record whether you are named, whether the details are right and which sources are cited.
- Fix the website foundations. Crawlable pages, accurate business details, fast loading and clear service pages.
- Write answer-led content. Pages that answer a customer question directly, then give the detail: prices as ranges, service areas, process and FAQs.
- Add structured data. Markup that matches the visible page, so machines can read it correctly.
- Build corroboration. Reviews, directory listings and mentions elsewhere, because AI tools lean on what others say about you.
- Measure on a schedule. The same prompts, the same tools, every month, alongside referral traffic and enquiries.
Ten questions to ask before you hire
- How will you measure success? Look for a fixed prompt set, accuracy checks, referral traffic from AI tools and enquiries, not rankings alone.
- Do you guarantee a mention? A good answer is no, with an explanation.
- Which tools and prompts do you test? You should see examples written around your customers and your service areas.
- What will you change on my site, and what will you leave alone?
- How do you handle what happens off my site? Reviews, directories and press matter.
- Who writes and reviews the content? Ask where AI tools are used and where people check the work.
- Can I see a sample report?
- What do you need from me? Access, subject-matter input and approvals.
- How long before we see change? Expect months for AI answers to shift, and variation between tools.
- What does it cost and what is included? Ask whether it is a retainer or a project, and what is not covered.
Red flags
- A guaranteed mention or a promise to “rank in ChatGPT” by a date.
- Results shown without explaining the prompts, tools or dates behind them.
- Mass-produced pages with little original detail.
- No plan for reviews, directories or other third-party sources.
- Reluctance to share reports or give you access to your own accounts.
- Tricks aimed at the tools, such as hidden text. These tend to backfire.
Comparing agencies
| Question | Stronger answer | Weaker answer |
|---|---|---|
| How do you measure results? | Fixed prompts, accuracy checks, referral traffic and enquiries, reported monthly | “You will see rankings improve” |
| Can you guarantee mentions? | No, because the tools decide, but here is what we control | Yes, within a set number of days |
| What will you do first? | Audit, then foundations, then answer content | Publish a large batch of articles |
| How do you use AI? | To research and draft, with people reviewing and approving | Fully automated content |
| What about other websites? | A plan for reviews, listings and mentions | Only changes to your site |
A realistic shape for the first three months
This is an example of the order of work, not a promise of results.
- Month one: audit your current presence and fix the foundations.
- Month two: publish answer-led pages for your main services and questions, and add matching structured data.
- Month three: strengthen reviews and listings, then re-run the prompt set to see what has changed.
Where imexpert fits
imexpert is a Sydney digital marketing agency based on the Northern Beaches and working with businesses across Australia. Our approach is human-led and AI-assisted: people make the decisions and review the work, and AI tools help us research and draft faster. We run SEO, answer engine optimisation, Google Ads and social ads as one plan, and we also manage ChatGPT Ads. We don’t guarantee mentions.
- Start with the free AI readiness check.
- See how we audit your presence in ChatGPT and Perplexity.
- Read about our AEO service and ChatGPT Ads management.
- See our indicative pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Is an AI search agency different from an SEO agency?
The foundations overlap, so many SEO agencies now offer this work. What matters is whether they test real AI answers, measure them and plan for what happens off your site.
Do I need a separate agency for AI search?
Not necessarily. Ask your current SEO provider how they cover it. A single team is often easier because the work shares the same foundations.
Can my in-house team do this?
Yes, for much of it. The foundations, answer content and measurement are within reach of a capable team. Many businesses bring in outside help for audits, structured data and the ongoing testing.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the number of services, locations and the work involved. Ask for a scoped quote and what is included, and see our indicative pricing for how we structure it.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by our team before publishing.