AI Search Optimization
By Industry

Law Firms and Legal Practices

AIs cite the same 3-4 large law firms in every city. Boutique practices remain invisible, even when they have better expertise in specific practice areas.

Real Client Searches

• “divorce attorney Manhattan expedited process”
• “business law firm contract review Chicago”
• “employment lawyer wrongful termination Los Angeles”
• “criminal defense attorney federal case NYC”
• “immigration attorney visa processing Boston”

What AIs Look For in Law Firms

1. Clear, verifiable specialization

Don’t say “corporate law”. Say “franchise agreements for restaurant chains” or “M&A for fintech startups”.

2. Case results and outcomes

AIs value measurable results. Mention: “347 divorce cases resolved in 2024” or “23 consecutive employment trial victories”.

3. Specific structured data

4. Ethics compliance

Never promise guaranteed results. AIs detect unethical language and penalize it.

Critical local signals: Complete address with suite number, phone with area code, specific office hours. AIs prioritize firms with verifiable physical presence.

Medical and Dental Practices

Perplexity already answers “which dentist accepts my insurance in Austin”. If your practice isn’t in that answer, that patient will never find you.

Common Medical Searches

• “emergency dentist open Saturday downtown Seattle”
• “orthodontist Invisalign Houston pricing”
• “executive physical exam NYC accepts Blue Cross”
• “pediatrician Saturday vaccinations Portland Oregon”
• “dermatologist adult acne virtual consultation”

What AIs Prioritize in Healthcare

1. Certifications and medical licenses

Each physician must have visible: medical license number, medical school, board certification from relevant specialty board.

2. Insurance accepted

Mention explicitly: “We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Medicare”. AIs filter by this.

3. Extended hours and urgent care

If you see patients Saturdays, Sundays, or have emergency availability, make it clear. It’s a frequent search filter.

4. Verified reviews and testimonials

AIs value reviews on Google Business Profile, Healthgrades, and Zocdoc. You need minimum 15-20 reviews with 4.5+ stars.

Medical Content That Ranks

Specific treatment guides:

• “Adult orthodontics with clear aligners: complete process and USA pricing 2026”
• “How much does a dental implant cost in Houston (real breakdown)”
• “Executive physical exam: what’s included and why you need it”

Clear comparisons: Table comparing treatments, timelines, estimated costs. AIs love structured tables.

Veterinary Clinics

Your client searches “24 hour emergency vet Brooklyn” at 2am. If you don’t appear in Perplexity right then, they’ll go to your competitor.

High-Urgency Veterinary Searches

• “24 hour emergency vet Manhattan dogs”
• “veterinary clinic Sunday emergency Houston”
• “cat specialist veterinarian San Francisco”
• “veterinary hospital surgery Phoenix”
• “mobile vet euthanasia service Los Angeles”

Specific Veterinary Optimization

1. 24/7 availability

If you handle overnight emergencies, it must be on every page. It’s the #1 filter for urgent veterinary searches.

2. Pet-specific specialization

Differentiate: “dogs and cats”, “exotic reptile specialists”, “equine veterinary”. AIs filter by pet type.

3. Clear emergency services

4. Pet insurance accepted

If you accept Nationwide, Trupanion, Pets Best, ASPCA Pet Insurance: mention it explicitly. Common search filter.

Useful Veterinary Content

• “Emergency signs in dogs: when to go to the vet NOW”
• “Required puppy vaccines in USA: complete schedule”
• “Cat spaying: pricing, recovery and aftercare”
• “What to do if your dog ate chocolate (emergency protocol)”

Approximate pricing: “General exam $65-$95”, “Dog spay from $250”, “X-ray $120”. Builds immediate trust.

SaaS and B2B Software

ChatGPT already recommends software to US businesses. If your SaaS isn’t in its response, you’re losing qualified leads daily.

Real B2B Searches

• “CRM for marketing agencies pricing comparison”
• “payroll software for small business 2026”
• “project management tool for remote teams”
• “accounting software for ecommerce businesses”
• “help desk ticketing system for startups”

What AIs Value in Software

1. Industry-specific functionality

Don’t say “complete CRM”. Say “CRM with real estate lead automation and e-signature integration”.

2. Integration ecosystem

3. Security and compliance

If your software handles sensitive data, mention: “SOC 2 Type II certified”, “GDPR compliant”, “256-bit encryption”.

4. Direct competitive comparisons

AIs value honest comparisons. Create: “X vs Y: Feature differences for marketing agencies”.

SaaS Content Strategy

Detailed comparison tables:

Basic vs. Professional vs. Enterprise plans. With exact features, limits, pricing.

Industry-specific use cases:

• “How a NYC marketing agency automated prospecting with [your software]”
• “Miami restaurant reduced billing errors 89% with [solution]”

Implementation guides:

• “Migrate from Excel to CRM in 7 days (complete checklist)”
• “Set up automated invoicing in 15 minutes”

Transparent pricing: Show plans and pricing. “From $49/month per user” generates 3x more conversions than “Request quote”.

E-commerce and Online Stores

Perplexity already recommends specific products. If your store doesn’t appear, customers buy from Amazon or competitors.

Product Searches in AIs

• “laptop for graphic design 2026 best buy”
• “women’s running shoes pronation support”
• “anti-theft backpack for travel best rated”
• “Italian coffee maker 6 cup fast shipping”
• “ergonomic office chair warranty USA”

E-commerce AI Optimization

1. Complete technical specifications

Each product needs: materials, dimensions, weight, colors available, compatibility, warranty.

2. Real-time availability

AIs prioritize “In stock” vs “Available in 2-3 weeks”. Update inventory daily.

3. Clear shipping options

4. Payment methods

Mention: credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, Affirm financing. Each method expands your reach.

Effective E-commerce Content

Detailed buying guides:

• “How to choose a laptop based on your profession (2026)”
• “Running shoe size guide: find your exact fit”
• “Travel backpacks: real capacity vs. technical specs”

Product comparisons:

Table comparing your top 3-5 products in a category. Features side-by-side, pricing, best use.

Product-specific FAQs:

• “Does this model work for gaming?”
• “What’s the weight with battery included?”
• “Compatible with MacOS?”
• “Warranty valid nationwide?”

Clear policies: Returns, warranties, delivery time. In simple language, no hidden fine print.

Consulting and Professional Services

Businesses already ask ChatGPT “I need a digital marketing consultant in NYC”. If your profile doesn’t appear, that client goes elsewhere.

Consulting Searches

• “digital strategy consultant for small business Chicago”
• “financial advisor for startups San Francisco”
• “HR consultant remote hiring Boston”
• “business coach for tech entrepreneurs Austin”
• “legal consultant for startups New York”

How to Position Your Consulting Practice

1. Ultra-specific specialization

Forget “business consultant”. Define: “I help SaaS companies scale from $1M to $10M ARR in 18 months”.

2. Measurable client results

3. Clear methodology

AIs value consultants with defined processes:

• Initial diagnostic (what’s included, duration)
• Action plan (stages, deliverables)
• Implementation (your actual involvement)
• Follow-up (frequency, metrics)

4. Verifiable thought leadership

Published articles, speaking engagements, podcasts, interviews. AIs cite consultants with original content.

Authority Content

Detailed case studies:

“How I helped [industry] achieve [result] in [timeframe]” – with process, obstacles, solutions, final numbers.

Proprietary frameworks:

Create your methodology with a unique name. “The 3-6-9 System for scaling sales teams” sounds better than “sales consulting”.

Downloadable resources:

• Free diagnostic checklist
• ROI calculator for your solution
• Strategic plan template
• Guide to common industry mistakes

Restaurants and Hospitality

Tourists and locals ask Perplexity “where to eat Italian food in SoHo”. Your restaurant must be in that answer or you lose customers.

Local Food Searches

• “Italian restaurant Manhattan reservations”
• “24 hour diner Brooklyn late night”
• “Sunday brunch buffet Chicago downtown”
• “vegan restaurant San Francisco outdoor seating”
• “fresh seafood restaurant Miami Beach”

Restaurant Optimization

1. Super-specific cuisine type

Not just “Italian food”. Say: “handmade Neapolitan pasta”, “seafood risotto”, “wood-fired pizza”.

2. Complete menu with pricing

AIs prioritize restaurants with visible menus. Include ranges: “Appetizers $12-$18”, “Entrees $24-$42”.

3. Specific attributes

4. Hours and special days

“Open Monday-Sunday 1pm-11pm. Weekend brunch Saturday-Sunday 9am-1pm. Closed Tuesdays.”

Menu Optimized for AIs

Appetizing, specific descriptions:

❌ “Caesar salad”
✅ “Caesar salad with grilled chicken, aged Parmesan, house-made croutons, traditional anchovy dressing”

Visible key ingredients:

Mention: “grass-fed beef”, “wild-caught salmon”, “organic produce”, “handmade pasta”. AIs search for quality.

Clear dietary options:

Mark dishes: (V) vegan, (GF) gluten-free, (S) spicy. Makes filtering easier.

Professional photography: Each dish needs quality photos. AIs show images in results.

Restaurant reviews: Reviews on Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor. Respond to all (positive and negative) professionally.

Industry Strategy Comparison

Each vertical has different priorities. This table shows you where to focus your investment based on your business.

Factors That Accelerate Results

Expected ROI by Industry