AEO for Home Services: How Plumbers, Electricians, HVAC Techs, and Contractors Get Recommended by AI Search Engines

Why AEO Matters for Home Service Businesses

The home services industry is experiencing a fundamental shift in how homeowners find and choose contractors. Instead of scrolling through Google's local pack, browsing Yelp listings, or asking Facebook groups for recommendations, a growing number of homeowners are asking AI engines directly. They ask specific questions that demand specific answers — and the AI provides confident recommendations that name specific companies with reasoning.

This matters for home service businesses because contractor selection decisions carry significant financial and safety stakes. Homeowners are not choosing a restaurant for dinner — they are choosing someone to work inside their home, handle live electrical wiring, modify their gas lines, climb on their roof, or dig up their yard. The weight of these decisions drives homeowners toward AI engines they trust to synthesize complex information: licensing verification, insurance coverage, review histories across multiple platforms, pricing transparency, service area coverage, and quality indicators. When someone asks ChatGPT "Who is the most trusted plumber in my area for a gas line repair?" and the AI names a specific company with reasoning, that recommendation carries enormous weight because it feels like personalized, expert advice.

The home services AEO opportunity spans every trade. Plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, roofers, landscapers, painters, general contractors, locksmiths, pest control companies, garage door installers, fence builders, concrete contractors, tree service companies, pressure washing services, gutter installers, flooring companies, window installers, siding contractors, septic service providers, and handyman services all benefit from AI optimization. Every time someone asks an AI "Who should I call to fix my furnace?" or "What company does the best kitchen remodels in my area?" there is a home service provider that either wins or loses that recommendation.

Home service companies that optimize for AI search now will capture the growing wave of AI-referred customers who arrive with higher intent, specific project requirements, and pre-formed trust — because the AI already told them your company is the best choice for their needs. In an industry where trust is the primary purchase driver and word-of-mouth has historically been king, AI engine recommendations are becoming the new word-of-mouth. Homeowners who arrive via AI recommendation convert at significantly higher rates than those from paid advertising because they arrive pre-qualified, pre-convinced, and ready to book — the AI already did the comparison shopping for them.

How AI Is Changing How Homeowners Find Contractors

Consider how a homeowner used to find a plumber. They would Google "plumber near me," see a map with three listings and ten organic results, click on several, compare websites, check reviews on multiple platforms, maybe ask Nextdoor, call a few for estimates, and eventually choose one. The whole process took hours or even days.

Now that same homeowner asks ChatGPT: "My water heater is leaking. Who is the best plumber in [city] for water heater replacement? I want someone licensed, with good reviews, who can come today." The AI responds with a specific recommendation, explaining why that plumber is a strong choice — their licensing, years of experience, review scores, and typical pricing. The homeowner calls that one company directly. The decision that used to take hours now takes seconds.

This shift is especially pronounced for emergency services. When a pipe bursts at midnight, a homeowner is not going to spend 30 minutes comparing Google results. They ask their phone "Who does 24/7 emergency plumbing near me?" and call whoever the AI recommends. For emergency electricians, locksmiths, HVAC repair in extreme heat or cold, and water damage restoration, AI recommendations are becoming the primary discovery channel because urgency eliminates the patience for traditional research.

AI engines evaluate home service providers differently than traditional search engines. They do not just look at keywords and backlinks. They analyze:

• Licensing credentials — Are specific license numbers published? Can they be verified with state boards?
• Pricing transparency — Does the website provide specific cost ranges for common services?
• Review consensus — What do reviews across Google, Yelp, HomeAdvisor, Angi, and BBB collectively say?
• Service specificity — Does the company clearly describe what services it provides and what it does not?
• Service area clarity — Is the geographic coverage area explicitly defined with real neighborhoods and cities?
• Response time claims — Does the company specify expected response times, especially for emergencies?
• Content expertise — Does the website demonstrate deep knowledge through educational content?

The companies that provide clear, verifiable answers to these questions in machine-readable formats are the ones AI engines recommend. The companies that have vague websites with generic copy, no published credentials, and "call for a free estimate" as their only pricing information are invisible to AI search.

The 7-Pillar Home Services AEO Framework

After analyzing how AI engines evaluate and recommend home service providers across every major trade, we have identified seven pillars that determine whether your business gets recommended or gets ignored. Each pillar builds on the others — schema gives AI engines structured data about your business, service area content tells them where you work, licensing proves you are qualified, pricing shows transparency, reviews confirm quality, educational content establishes authority, and technical foundations ensure AI can access everything.

Pillar 1: Service Business Schema

Schema markup is the language AI engines use to understand your business in structured, machine-readable format. For home service companies, Schema.org provides an exceptionally rich vocabulary of trade-specific types that go far beyond the generic LocalBusiness schema most contractors use. Implementing the right schema type is the difference between an AI engine knowing you are "a local business" and knowing you are "a licensed plumber serving the greater Austin area with 24/7 emergency service, water heater installation starting at $1,200, and a 4.9-star rating across 487 reviews."

Trade-Specific Schema Types

Schema.org defines dedicated types for many home service trades. Always use the most specific type available:

• Plumber — For plumbing companies. Inherits from HomeAndConstructionBusiness and ProfessionalService.
• Electrician — For electrical contractors. Covers residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work.
• HVACBusiness — For heating, ventilation, and air conditioning companies.
• RoofingContractor — For roofing companies. Covers installation, repair, and inspection services.
• LocksmithService — For locksmiths. Especially important for emergency lockout services.
• MovingCompany — For moving and relocation services.
• HousePainter — For residential and commercial painting companies.
• HomeAndConstructionBusiness — The parent type for trades without a dedicated schema type — use for landscapers, fence builders, concrete contractors, pest control, window installers, flooring companies, and general contractors.

Example: Plumbing Company Schema

Here is a comprehensive schema example for a plumbing company that gives AI engines everything they need to evaluate and recommend the business:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Plumber",
  "name": "Lone Star Plumbing Co.",
  "description": "Licensed master plumber serving Austin, TX and surrounding areas since 2005. Specializing in water heater installation, sewer line repair, repiping, and 24/7 emergency plumbing. Texas State Master Plumber License #M-38291.",
  "url": "https://www.lonestarplumbing.com",
  "telephone": "+1-512-555-0192",
  "email": "service@lonestarplumbing.com",
  "image": "https://www.lonestarplumbing.com/images/team-photo.jpg",
  "logo": "https://www.lonestarplumbing.com/images/logo.png",
  "priceRange": "$$",
  "currenciesAccepted": "USD",
  "paymentAccepted": "Cash, Credit Card, Check, Financing Available",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "4521 S Congress Ave, Suite 200",
    "addressLocality": "Austin",
    "addressRegion": "TX",
    "postalCode": "78745",
    "addressCountry": "US"
  },
  "geo": {
    "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
    "latitude": "30.2241",
    "longitude": "-97.7631"
  },
  "areaServed": [
    {
      "@type": "GeoCircle",
      "geoMidpoint": {
        "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
        "latitude": "30.2672",
        "longitude": "-97.7431"
      },
      "geoRadius": "40 mi"
    },
    {
      "@type": "City",
      "name": "Austin",
      "sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin,_Texas"
    },
    {
      "@type": "City",
      "name": "Round Rock"
    },
    {
      "@type": "City",
      "name": "Georgetown"
    },
    {
      "@type": "City",
      "name": "Cedar Park"
    }
  ],
  "openingHoursSpecification": [
    {
      "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification",
      "dayOfWeek": ["Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday"],
      "opens": "07:00",
      "closes": "18:00"
    },
    {
      "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification",
      "dayOfWeek": ["Saturday"],
      "opens": "08:00",
      "closes": "14:00"
    },
    {
      "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification",
      "dayOfWeek": ["Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday"],
      "opens": "00:00",
      "closes": "23:59",
      "description": "24/7 Emergency Plumbing Service"
    }
  ],
  "hasOfferCatalog": {
    "@type": "OfferCatalog",
    "name": "Plumbing Services",
    "itemListElement": [
      {
        "@type": "Offer",
        "itemOffered": {
          "@type": "Service",
          "name": "Water Heater Installation",
          "description": "Tank and tankless water heater installation including removal of old unit, new supply lines, and code-compliant venting.",
          "provider": { "@id": "#lonestarplumbing" }
        },
        "priceSpecification": {
          "@type": "PriceSpecification",
          "minPrice": "1200",
          "maxPrice": "3500",
          "priceCurrency": "USD"
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Offer",
        "itemOffered": {
          "@type": "Service",
          "name": "Sewer Line Repair & Replacement",
          "description": "Trenchless and traditional sewer line repair, including camera inspection, root removal, and full line replacement.",
          "provider": { "@id": "#lonestarplumbing" }
        },
        "priceSpecification": {
          "@type": "PriceSpecification",
          "minPrice": "2500",
          "maxPrice": "12000",
          "priceCurrency": "USD"
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Offer",
        "itemOffered": {
          "@type": "Service",
          "name": "Emergency Plumbing",
          "description": "24/7 emergency plumbing for burst pipes, water leaks, sewer backups, gas leaks, and no-hot-water situations. Average response time: 45 minutes.",
          "provider": { "@id": "#lonestarplumbing" }
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  "aggregateRating": {
    "@type": "AggregateRating",
    "ratingValue": "4.9",
    "reviewCount": "487",
    "bestRating": "5"
  },
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lone+Star+Plumbing",
    "https://www.yelp.com/biz/lone-star-plumbing-austin",
    "https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/austin/profile/plumber/lone-star-plumbing",
    "https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.LoneStarPlumbing.html",
    "https://www.angi.com/companylist/lone-star-plumbing",
    "https://www.facebook.com/lonestarplumbing"
  ],
  "knowsAbout": [
    "Water heater installation and repair",
    "Sewer line repair and replacement",
    "Whole-house repiping",
    "Drain cleaning and hydro jetting",
    "Gas line installation and repair",
    "Tankless water heater conversion",
    "Bathroom and kitchen plumbing remodels",
    "Water softener installation",
    "Slab leak detection and repair"
  ]
}

Notice how the schema includes specific, verifiable details: license number in the description, service area defined by GeoCircle and named cities, price ranges for specific services, 24/7 emergency availability, average response time, aggregate rating with review count, and sameAs links to every platform where the business has a presence. AI engines parse all of these properties when evaluating whether to recommend this plumber for a specific query.

Example: HVAC Business Schema

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "HVACBusiness",
  "name": "Summit Air Comfort",
  "description": "NATE-certified HVAC company serving the Denver metro area. EPA 608 Universal certified. Authorized Carrier and Lennox dealer. Specializing in AC installation, furnace replacement, ductwork, and indoor air quality. Colorado Mechanical Contractor License #MEC-2847.",
  "url": "https://www.summitaircomfort.com",
  "telephone": "+1-303-555-0247",
  "priceRange": "$$",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "addressLocality": "Denver",
    "addressRegion": "CO",
    "postalCode": "80202",
    "addressCountry": "US"
  },
  "areaServed": {
    "@type": "GeoCircle",
    "geoMidpoint": {
      "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
      "latitude": "39.7392",
      "longitude": "-104.9903"
    },
    "geoRadius": "35 mi"
  },
  "hasOfferCatalog": {
    "@type": "OfferCatalog",
    "name": "HVAC Services",
    "itemListElement": [
      {
        "@type": "Offer",
        "itemOffered": {
          "@type": "Service",
          "name": "Central AC Installation",
          "description": "Complete central air conditioning installation including equipment, ductwork modifications, thermostat, and electrical connections."
        },
        "priceSpecification": {
          "@type": "PriceSpecification",
          "minPrice": "4500",
          "maxPrice": "12000",
          "priceCurrency": "USD"
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Offer",
        "itemOffered": {
          "@type": "Service",
          "name": "Furnace Replacement",
          "description": "High-efficiency gas furnace installation with old unit removal, new gas connections, and ductwork inspection."
        },
        "priceSpecification": {
          "@type": "PriceSpecification",
          "minPrice": "3000",
          "maxPrice": "8000",
          "priceCurrency": "USD"
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  "aggregateRating": {
    "@type": "AggregateRating",
    "ratingValue": "4.8",
    "reviewCount": "312"
  }
}

The HVAC schema includes trade-specific certifications (NATE, EPA 608 Universal) in the description, manufacturer authorizations (Carrier, Lennox), and state-specific licensing (Colorado Mechanical Contractor License). These details are exactly what AI engines look for when someone asks "What is the best HVAC company in Denver?"

Service Schema for Individual Services

Beyond your main business schema, create individual Service schema for each major service page. This helps AI engines understand the full scope of your capabilities and match specific queries to specific services:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Service",
  "name": "Electrical Panel Upgrade - 100A to 200A",
  "description": "Upgrade your home's electrical panel from 100 amps to 200 amps. Includes new panel, breakers, meter base, utility coordination, and city inspection. Required for homes adding EV chargers, hot tubs, or major additions.",
  "provider": {
    "@type": "Electrician",
    "name": "Patriot Electric Services",
    "address": {
      "@type": "PostalAddress",
      "addressLocality": "Charlotte",
      "addressRegion": "NC"
    }
  },
  "areaServed": {
    "@type": "GeoCircle",
    "geoMidpoint": {
      "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
      "latitude": "35.2271",
      "longitude": "-80.8431"
    },
    "geoRadius": "30 mi"
  },
  "offers": {
    "@type": "Offer",
    "priceSpecification": {
      "@type": "PriceSpecification",
      "minPrice": "1800",
      "maxPrice": "4500",
      "priceCurrency": "USD"
    }
  },
  "termsOfService": "https://www.patriotelectric.com/warranty",
  "serviceOutput": "200-amp electrical panel with new breakers, updated meter base, passed city inspection, and 5-year workmanship warranty"
}

Use our Schema Generator to build trade-specific schema for your home service business without writing JSON by hand, and validate it with our Structured Data Validator.

Pillar 2: Service Area & Location Content

Location is the defining dimension of home services search. Nearly every home service query includes an explicit or implicit location component — "plumber in Dallas," "electrician near me," "best HVAC company Scottsdale AZ." AI engines must determine not just whether your company is good, but whether your company serves the specific location the homeowner is asking about. Service area content is how you communicate your geographic coverage to AI engines with precision.

City and Neighborhood Service Pages

Create dedicated pages for each city and major neighborhood or suburb you serve. The key is making each page genuinely unique — not template pages that swap city names. AI engines detect and devalue thin, templated location content. Effective service area pages include:

• Local building code context — Mention specific code requirements in that jurisdiction. "Georgetown, TX requires a permit for any water heater replacement under Williamson County building codes."
• Common local issues — Reference problems specific to that area. "Homes in the Barton Creek neighborhood built in the 1970s commonly have cast iron drain pipes that are reaching end of life."
• Housing stock context — Describe the typical homes and their unique service needs. "Most homes in Sun City Georgetown are single-story slab-on-grade construction with PEX plumbing and tankless water heaters."
• Climate-specific advice — Include climate considerations. "Denver's average winter low of 15 degrees F means pipe insulation and heat tape are essential for exposed pipes in crawl spaces."
• Real response times — Publish actual response times from your shop to that area. "Our average response time from our Round Rock location to Georgetown is 35 minutes."
• Local project examples — Reference specific completed projects in that area (with client permission). "We recently completed a whole-house repipe for a 1968 ranch home on Williams Drive in Georgetown."

Service Area Schema with GeoCircle and GeoShape

Back every service area page with structured data that defines your coverage precisely. Use GeoCircle for simple radius-based coverage and GeoShape for irregular coverage areas:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Service",
  "name": "Plumbing Services in Georgetown, TX",
  "provider": {
    "@type": "Plumber",
    "name": "Lone Star Plumbing Co."
  },
  "areaServed": [
    {
      "@type": "City",
      "name": "Georgetown",
      "containedInPlace": {
        "@type": "State",
        "name": "Texas"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "GeoCircle",
      "geoMidpoint": {
        "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
        "latitude": "30.6328",
        "longitude": "-97.6780"
      },
      "geoRadius": "15 mi"
    }
  ],
  "description": "Licensed master plumber serving Georgetown, TX and all of Williamson County. Specializing in water heater replacement, repiping for homes with aging cast iron and galvanized pipes, sewer line repair, and 24/7 emergency service. Average response time to Georgetown: 35 minutes."
}

"Near Me" Optimization

"Near me" queries are the most common format for home service searches, and AI engines handle them differently than traditional search. When someone asks an AI "plumber near me," the AI needs to determine the user's location and match it against your defined service area. To optimize for "near me" queries:

• Define your service area with GeoCircle or GeoShape schema on every location page
• List every city, town, and major neighborhood you serve on a dedicated "Service Areas" page
• Include your full street address in schema and on your website footer
• Ensure your Google Business Profile service area matches your website claims exactly
• Mention specific neighborhoods, zip codes, and landmarks in your content naturally
• Publish real drive times from your location to the areas you serve

The more precisely you define where you work, the more confidently AI engines can recommend you for location-specific queries. A company that says "We serve the greater Denver area" gives AI engines less to work with than one that says "We serve Denver, Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster, Thornton, Broomfield, Golden, Littleton, Englewood, and Aurora — all within a 25-mile radius of our downtown Denver headquarters at 1420 Larimer Street."

Pillar 3: Licensing & Credentials Transparency

In home services, trust is everything. Homeowners are inviting strangers into their homes to work on systems that affect safety, comfort, and property value. AI engines understand this dynamic and weigh licensing and credentials more heavily for home service recommendations than for almost any other industry vertical. A contractor that publishes verifiable credentials online gives AI engines the trust signals they need to recommend with confidence.

What Credentials to Publish

Every home service company should publish the following credentials prominently on their website — not buried in a footer link, but on their homepage, about page, and every service page:

Why AI Engines Prioritize Verified Credentials

AI models are trained on consumer protection data, Better Business Bureau complaint records, state licensing board enforcement actions, and news reports about unlicensed contractor fraud. This training makes AI engines extremely cautious about recommending contractors. When someone asks an AI to recommend a plumber, the AI is implicitly evaluating liability — if the recommended plumber causes damage, the AI's trustworthiness suffers. Published, verifiable credentials reduce this perceived risk.

The difference in AI engine treatment between a company that publishes "Licensed and insured" versus one that publishes "Texas State Master Plumber License #M-38291, verified at tdlr.texas.gov. $2M general liability insurance through State Farm (Policy #SF-482917). $500,000 surety bond. EPA Lead Renovator Certified (Firm #NAT-F198472-1)" is significant. The second company provides data points AI engines can use, cross-reference, and cite in recommendations. The first provides nothing actionable.

Credentials Page Best Practices

Create a dedicated "Licensing & Credentials" or "About Our Team" page that includes:

• Each technician's name, photo, license numbers, certifications, and years of experience
• Company license numbers with links to verification pages
• Logos of certification bodies (NATE, EPA, manufacturer logos per their brand guidelines)
• Insurance and bonding details with carrier names and coverage amounts
• Year the company was established and total years in business
• Number of completed projects or jobs
• Any awards or recognition from industry organizations

Structure this page with clear headings and use Person schema for each technician, linking them to the parent Organization schema. When someone asks an AI "Who is the most qualified electrician in Charlotte?" the AI evaluates published credentials across all candidates. The company with verifiable Master Electrician licenses, specific certification details, and named technicians with individual credentials wins.

Pillar 4: Pricing & Estimate Transparency

Pricing is the number one question homeowners ask AI about home services. "How much does it cost to replace a water heater?" "What is the average price for an AC installation?" "How much should I pay for a roof replacement?" These are among the most searched home service queries across all AI platforms. AI engines can only cite your pricing if you publish it — and companies that provide transparent cost guidance get cited while those that say "call for a free estimate" without any pricing context get skipped entirely.

What Pricing to Publish

You do not need to publish exact quotes for every possible job. Publish price ranges with context:

Price Factors to Explain

Alongside your price ranges, explain the factors that affect final pricing. This demonstrates expertise and helps AI engines provide nuanced answers when homeowners ask "why does a water heater cost more for some homes?"

• Home age and condition — Older homes may require code upgrades, permit work, or additional labor for access
• Equipment tier — Standard vs. high-efficiency vs. premium equipment brands and models
• Accessibility — Attic, crawl space, basement, or closet installation locations affect labor
• Permit requirements — Some jurisdictions require permits that add $100-$500+ to project cost
• Scope of work — Whether the job requires additional electrical, gas line, or structural modifications
• Warranty options — Extended warranty coverage can affect total project cost

Cost Guide Pages

Create detailed cost guide pages for your most common services. A page titled "How Much Does a Water Heater Replacement Cost in Austin, TX?" that includes local pricing data, equipment comparisons, factors that affect cost, and a clear CTA for a free estimate is exactly the type of content AI engines cite when answering pricing questions. These pages should include:

• Specific price ranges for your market (not national averages)
• Comparison tables for different options (tank vs. tankless, standard vs. high-efficiency)
• Explanation of what is included in your quoted price
• Additional costs that might apply (permits, code upgrades, disposal fees)
• Financing options if you offer them
• A clear free estimate CTA with phone number and online booking

Structure pricing data in HTML tables rather than images or PDFs. AI engines can parse HTML tables reliably but cannot read text embedded in images. Use PriceSpecification schema on your pricing pages to make cost ranges machine-readable.

Pillar 5: Review & Reputation Management

Reviews are the lifeblood of home service marketing, and they are equally critical for AEO. AI engines aggregate review signals from every major platform to form a composite quality assessment of your business. Unlike traditional search where your Google review score appears as a simple star rating, AI engines analyze review content, response patterns, recency, and cross-platform consistency to decide whether to recommend your company.

The Multi-Platform Review Ecosystem

Home services is unique in having reviews distributed across many platforms. AI engines evaluate all of them:

Review Response Strategy

How you respond to reviews matters as much as the reviews themselves for AEO. AI engines analyze your response patterns to assess professionalism, accountability, and customer service quality:

• Respond to every review — positive and negative. Response rate is a quality signal.
• Respond within 24-48 hours — Recency of response demonstrates active management.
• Personalize responses — Reference specific details about the job. "Thank you for trusting us with your water heater replacement, Sarah. We are glad the tankless unit is working well."
• Handle negative reviews professionally — Acknowledge the issue, take responsibility where appropriate, and offer resolution. Never argue or get defensive.
• Include relevant details in responses — Mentioning specific services, credentials, or policies in review responses adds crawlable context that AI engines index.

Photo Reviews and Project Galleries

Photo reviews and project galleries are increasingly important for home services AEO because they provide visual proof of work quality that AI engines can reference. Encourage customers to include photos in their Google and Yelp reviews. Create a project gallery on your website showing before-and-after photos of completed work with descriptions of the project scope, challenges, and solutions. Structure gallery entries with ImageObject schema including descriptions and associate them with your business entity. When an AI recommends a roofer and can cite "extensive before-and-after project gallery showing 48 completed roof replacements," that visual evidence strengthens the recommendation significantly.

Review Generation Tactics

Build review volume systematically. Send a follow-up text or email after every completed job with a direct link to your Google review page. Train technicians to ask satisfied customers for reviews at the end of service calls. Create a QR code on your invoices and business cards that links directly to your Google review page. For larger projects (roof replacements, full HVAC installs, kitchen remodels), follow up with a personalized email that includes a specific prompt: "If you are happy with your new roof, we would be grateful for a Google review. Mentioning the type of roof and any details about the installation process helps future homeowners." Reviews that mention specific services, technician names, and project details are more valuable for AEO than generic five-star reviews.

Pillar 6: Educational Content Authority

Educational content is your highest-leverage AEO strategy because homeowners ask AI engines an enormous volume of questions about home maintenance, repair decisions, and project planning. When you publish helpful, expert content that answers these questions, you earn both direct citations (the AI references your content when answering educational queries) and indirect trust (the AI views your company as an authoritative expert, making it more likely to recommend you for service queries).

Three Categories of Content

Content That Earns AI Citations

The educational content that AI engines cite most frequently has specific characteristics:

• Specific technical details — Include exact specifications, model numbers, code references, and measurements. "A 50-gallon Rheem ProTerra Hybrid water heater (model XE50T10HD50U1) has an energy factor of 3.55 and can save a typical household $300-$500 per year compared to a standard electric tank."
• Local building code references — Cite specific local code requirements. "Travis County, TX requires a permit for any water heater replacement per International Residential Code Section P2801."
• Clear structure with headers — Use H2 and H3 headers that match how people phrase questions. AI engines extract information from structured content more reliably.
• Author credentials — Attribute content to named technicians with their credentials. "Written by Mike Rodriguez, Master Plumber (TX License #M-38291) with 25 years experience."
• Updated dates — Mark content with datePublished and dateModified in Article schema. AI engines strongly prefer current content, especially for code-related and pricing topics.

Read our Content Strategy for AI Search guide for a deeper dive into creating content that AI engines cite and recommend.

Pillar 7: Technical Foundations for AI Visibility

The technical foundations of your website determine whether AI engines can access, crawl, parse, and index your content. Many home service websites are built on platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress with heavy themes that create technical barriers to AI crawlability. Fixing these foundations ensures that all of your other AEO work — schema, service area pages, credentials, pricing, reviews, and educational content — is actually visible to AI engines.

llms.txt

The llms.txt file is a new standard that tells AI engines how to understand your website. For home service companies, your llms.txt should include a summary of your business, the services you offer, your service area, your credentials, and links to your most important pages. Here is an example:

# Lone Star Plumbing Co.

> Licensed master plumber serving Austin, TX and surrounding areas since 2005. Texas State Master Plumber License #M-38291. 24/7 emergency plumbing service. 487 five-star reviews.

## Services
- Water Heater Installation & Repair ($1,200-$3,500)
- Sewer Line Repair & Replacement ($2,500-$12,000)
- Whole-House Repiping ($4,500-$15,000)
- Drain Cleaning & Hydro Jetting ($200-$600)
- Gas Line Installation & Repair
- Emergency Plumbing (24/7, 45-minute avg response)

## Service Area
Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Kyle, Buda — all within 40 miles of Austin, TX.

## Credentials
- Texas State Master Plumber License #M-38291
- $2M General Liability Insurance (State Farm)
- $500K Surety Bond
- EPA Lead Renovator Certified
- BBB A+ Rating

## Important Pages
- [Services](https://www.lonestarplumbing.com/services)
- [Pricing](https://www.lonestarplumbing.com/pricing)
- [Service Areas](https://www.lonestarplumbing.com/service-areas)
- [About & Credentials](https://www.lonestarplumbing.com/about)
- [Reviews](https://www.lonestarplumbing.com/reviews)
- [Blog](https://www.lonestarplumbing.com/blog)

robots.txt for AI Crawlers

Ensure your robots.txt file does not block AI crawlers. Many website builders and WordPress security plugins inadvertently block AI engine user agents. Verify that the following crawlers have access:

• GPTBot — OpenAI's crawler for ChatGPT
• ClaudeBot — Anthropic's crawler for Claude
• PerplexityBot — Perplexity's search crawler
• Googlebot — Required for Google AI Overviews
• Bingbot — Required for Microsoft Copilot

Site Speed and Mobile Optimization

Home service searches are disproportionately mobile — over 70% of "plumber near me" and similar queries come from mobile devices, often in urgent situations. Your website must load fast and work flawlessly on mobile:

• Target under 2.5 seconds Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
• Compress images — most home service sites have oversized hero images and project photos that slow load times
• Minimize JavaScript — especially from chat widgets, booking tools, and analytics scripts that block rendering
• Ensure tap targets (phone numbers, booking buttons) are large enough for mobile use
• Make your phone number clickable with tel: links on every page

Canonical URLs and Breadcrumbs

Home service websites often have duplicate content issues from service area pages, service pages with location variations, and blog posts covering similar topics. Use canonical URLs to tell AI engines which version of a page is authoritative. Implement BreadcrumbList schema to help AI engines understand your site structure:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
  "itemListElement": [
    {
      "@type": "ListItem",
      "position": 1,
      "name": "Home",
      "item": "https://www.lonestarplumbing.com"
    },
    {
      "@type": "ListItem",
      "position": 2,
      "name": "Service Areas",
      "item": "https://www.lonestarplumbing.com/service-areas"
    },
    {
      "@type": "ListItem",
      "position": 3,
      "name": "Georgetown TX Plumber",
      "item": "https://www.lonestarplumbing.com/service-areas/georgetown-tx"
    }
  ]
}

Additional Technical Foundations

• HTTPS — Required. AI engines will not recommend businesses on insecure connections.
• XML Sitemap — Submit a comprehensive sitemap that includes all service pages, service area pages, blog posts, and gallery pages.
• Structured internal linking — Link service pages to related service area pages, related blog posts, and your credentials page. This helps AI engines understand relationships between your content.
• Consistent NAP — Name, Address, and Phone number must be identical across your website, Google Business Profile, all directory listings, and all review platforms.
• Open Graph and meta descriptions — Write clear, specific meta descriptions for every page that include your business name, service, and location.

AEO Tips by Trade

While the 7-pillar framework applies to all home service businesses, each trade has unique AEO priorities. Here are trade-specific recommendations:

Common Home Services AEO Mistakes

These are the most frequent mistakes we see when auditing home service websites for AI visibility:

Frequently Asked Questions About Home Services AEO

Related Guides & Tools