Comparing AIO Agencies: How to Choose Wisely

Is AIO Truly Necessary for Your Business?

In recent years, the term "AIO (AI Optimization)" has become more common in the world of web marketing. AIO refers to the general practice of optimizing a website and related information to ensure it is appropriately cited, referenced, and recommended to users by generative AI search engines like Google's SGE (Search Generative Experience), Perplexity, and ChatGPT. While traditional SEO (Search Engine Optimization) targeted the algorithms of Google and Bing, AIO can be considered the next generation of optimization, focusing on how AI interprets and generates information.

However, there's no need to rush into it just because a new term has emerged. The importance of AIO is not uniform across all industries and business models. With an increasing number of AIO agencies, the wisest first step is to objectively assess your company's situation and determine if the investment will genuinely yield a positive return.

In this article, from the neutral standpoint of an AIO, MEO, and SEO specialist, I will explain which industries should prioritize AIO, what to look for when choosing an agency, and what pitfalls to avoid, including specific cost averages and comparison points. The goal is to provide material for store owners and corporate web managers to make the best decisions for their businesses, with as little promotional bias as possible.

Industries with a High vs. Relatively Low Need for AIO

First, let's consider the extent to which your business can benefit from AIO. It's important to think of it not as a binary choice of "necessary or unnecessary," but as a spectrum of "high priority or low priority."

Characteristics of Industries with a High Priority for AIO

Industries with the following characteristics are likely to see their user decision-making processes significantly change with the spread of AI search. Early adoption of AIO could lead to a competitive advantage.

• Local Businesses
  Businesses that provide services in a specific area, such as restaurants, hair salons, clinics, dental offices, real estate agencies, tutoring centers, personal gyms, and professional services (lawyers, accountants, etc.), should be top priorities. Users will ask AI assistants more conversational and specific questions like, "izakayas in Shibuya with private rooms" or "a nearby pediatrician open on weekends." AI will generate optimal answers by integrating information from Google Business Profiles (formerly Google My Maps), reviews, and official websites. Therefore, AIO integrated with MEO (Map Engine Optimization) is extremely important.
• High-Involvement Products & Specialized Information Providers
  Expensive products or professional services that users carefully compare and consider before purchasing or contracting, such as housing, automobiles, insurance/financial products, specialized B2B services, and legal consultations, also benefit greatly from AIO. AI gathers data from multiple sources to provide summaries for complex questions like, "What's the difference between X and Y?" or "What should I watch out for when choosing XX?" In these cases, sites with content that demonstrates high E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) are more likely to be cited. Presenting your company's strengths and expertise in a structured, easy-to-understand format on your website is key to being recognized by AI as a reliable source of information.
• Industries with Many FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
  Businesses with a high volume of standardized Q&A, such as e-commerce sites with product specs, travel agencies with cancellation policies, or SaaS companies with questions about features, have a high affinity for AIO. By creating FAQ content on your site and implementing structured data like the "FAQPage" schema, you make it easier for AI to detect it as a direct answer to a user's question. This can resolve user queries before they even visit your site, leading to a smoother path to conversion.

Characteristics of Industries with a Relatively Low Priority for AIO

On the other hand, there are cases where it's not urgent to invest in AIO at this time.

• Niche B2B Companies Reliant on Branded Searches
  If your company is well-known within its industry, and the majority of your business comes from existing clients or referrals rather than acquiring new leads through web searches, the priority is relatively lower. However, even in this case, basic measures to ensure that your company information and service details are accurately conveyed are still beneficial, as future contacts at client companies may use AI search for information gathering.
• Businesses That Operate Within a Closed Community
  For membership-based services or business models that are only valuable within a specific community, the need to increase visibility on public AI search engines may be low.

Are There Any Industries That Don't Need It at All? The Spectrum of AIO

The important point here is that "low priority" does not mean "not needed at all." AI search is still in its developmental stages, and no one can predict how it will permeate society in the future. Even if the priority is low now, there's a good chance that competitors could start using AIO to tap into new customer segments. Therefore, for all companies, "defensive AIO"—understanding how your information is being interpreted by AI and controlling the spread of misinformation—will become an essential element of future web branding.

5 Key Points for Comparing AIO Agencies

If you've determined that your company needs AIO, the next challenge is choosing an agency. As this is a new field, there is significant variation in the service content and quality among providers. Here are five comparison points to check to avoid regret after signing a contract.

1. Clarity of Scope (Integration with SEO & MEO)

AIO is a strategy built on the solid foundation of SEO and MEO. AI generates answers by referencing information indexed by existing search engines and data from Google Business Profiles, so it's impossible to do AIO alone while ignoring these optimizations.
When comparing agencies, check the following points:

• Does the AIO plan include basic on-page SEO (optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, heading structure, etc.)?
• For local businesses, is integration with MEO (optimizing Google Business Profile, managing citations, encouraging reviews) considered?
• Do they provide support for website content creation or rewriting, or only technical implementation (like structured data)?

It's crucial not to be swayed by the buzzword "AIO" and to determine whether the specific proposed measures will actually solve your company's problems.

2. Pricing Models and Average Costs

AIO costs vary greatly depending on the scope of work and the size of the site. Here are common pricing models and average costs:

• Monthly Retainer
  This is the most common pricing model. It includes ongoing analysis, improvements, and reporting.
  - Small Local Businesses (MEO-focused): ¥50,000 - ¥150,000 per month
  - Small to Medium-Sized Businesses (Content SEO + AIO): ¥150,000 - ¥400,000 per month
  - Large-Scale Sites / E-commerce Sites: ¥500,000+ per month
• Project-Based (One-time payment)
  This is used for cases like incorporating AIO requirements during a new website build or a major redesign. It includes site architecture design, bulk implementation of structured data, etc.
  - Average Cost: ¥300,000 - ¥2,000,000+ (depending on site scale)

The key is not to choose an agency based on "cheapness" alone. Extremely low-priced plans may involve templated strategies or inadequate support. Get quotes from multiple agencies and compare the balance between cost and service content.

3. Track Record and Expertise (Especially in Structured Data)

One of the core technologies of AIO is the implementation of "structured data." Structured data is a method of marking up (tagging) the content of a webpage using a specific vocabulary (Schema.org being a prominent example) to make it easier for search engines and AI to understand. This allows AI to accurately recognize information like, "This is the company's address," "This is the product's price," or "This is the event's date and time."

You can gauge an agency's expertise by asking the following:

• Do they have extensive experience implementing structured data (Schema.org)?
• Can they propose and implement the appropriate type of structured data for your industry (e.g., LocalBusiness, MedicalClinic, RealEstateListing)?
• Can they provide a code sample of a specific implementation, such as in JSON-LD format?

For example, structured data for a local business would look like this:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Restaurant",
  "name": "TrendPackage Cafe",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "1-1-1 Marunouchi",
    "addressLocality": "Chiyoda-ku",
    "addressRegion": "Tokyo",
    "postalCode": "100-0005",
    "addressCountry": "JP"
  },
  "telephone": "+81-3-1234-5678",
  "servesCuisine": "Cafe",
  "priceRange": "¥¥",
  "openingHours": [
    "Mo-Fr 10:00-20:00",
    "Sa-Su 11:00-19:00"
  ]
}
</script>

Whether an agency possesses this kind of technical knowledge can significantly impact the results.

4. Quality of Reporting and Improvement Proposals

Another crucial comparison point is whether the agency can run a PDCA cycle—not just executing measures, but analyzing the results and connecting them to the next action. It is recommended to ask for a sample report before signing a contract.

• Does the report just list search rankings and traffic numbers?
• Does it include analysis of visibility in AI search results and cited passages?
• Are specific, data-driven improvement proposals provided?
• Can both parties agree on the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will be used to measure the success of the project?

5. Contract Duration and Cancellation Terms

Like SEO, AIO is a strategy that takes time to show results. Therefore, many agencies set a minimum contract period of about 6 months to a year. Carefully review the contract to see if it aligns with your company's budget planning. Also, to avoid future trouble, it is essential to clarify the terms for early termination (such as the presence of cancellation fees) in case you are not satisfied with the service.

Choosing an Agency to Avoid Failure & Common Pitfalls

As an industry expert, I have received many consultations from those who have "failed at AIO." Here, I will introduce some of the most common failure patterns and how to avoid them.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

• Failure Example 1: Signed a contract based on the word "AIO" alone
  Attracted by the latest buzzword, you sign without scrutinizing the proposal. However, the actual measures implemented are no different from traditional SEO, and you're left wondering why you are paying such a high fee.
  How to Avoid: Before signing, ask specifically, "What information are you optimizing for AI, and using what technologies?" Be wary of agencies that cannot present a concrete action plan, including structured data implementation, a content policy based on E-E-A-T, and integration with Google Business Profile.
• Failure Example 2: Hired a cheap agency that mass-produced low-quality content
  Trying to cut costs, you hire a budget agency that ends up publishing a large volume of thin, AI-generated-like articles on your website. As a result, you lose user trust and your search engine rankings actually drop.
  How to Avoid: Ask about their content creation policy and how they ensure E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). It's important to clarify the process: who (an expert?) creates the content and how (based on primary sources or interviews?).
• Failure Example 3: Costs pile up with no visible results
  You receive monthly reports, but they only contain abstract activity summaries. You can't see what has specifically improved or how it's contributing to the business, and the contract period passes by without being able to judge the ROI.
  How to Avoid: Review a sample report before signing and clearly agree on the KPIs that will be used to track progress. It is essential to set specific, measurable metrics such as "website traffic from AI search," "number of citations for specific queries," or "inquiries via Google Business Profile."

A Checklist for Finding the Right Agency for Your Company

When meeting with agencies, use the following checklist to guide your questions:

• □ Is the specific menu of AIO services (on-page SEO, content, structured data, etc.) clear?
• □ How do you integrate SEO and MEO with AIO in your strategy?
• □ Do you have extensive experience with structured data implementation? (Do you have case studies relevant to my industry?)
• □ Does the level of support (frequency of meetings, quality of reports, consultation availability) justify the price?
• □ What KPIs do you propose for measuring success?
• □ Have the contract duration and early termination clauses been explained satisfactorily?

Our Approach to AIO

So far, I have explained the necessity of AIO and how to choose an agency from a neutral perspective. Finally, allow me to share a little about our own philosophy and approach to AIO.

We do not view AIO as a transient technique or a hack to exploit algorithm loopholes. We believe its essence is "the practice of conveying your company's value and expertise in the most sincere and understandable way to both users and AI."

We don't get bogged down in superficial technicalities. We start by deeply understanding our client's business model, their strengths, and what information their customers truly want to know. Then, we take that valuable information, put it into a "structure" that AI can accurately interpret, and deliver it with a "context" that resonates with users. We believe that turning these two wheels is the only way to produce sustainable results.

Based on this philosophy, our service, TrendPackage / LillyHoldings, aims to be a "partner" that maximizes our clients' digital assets, not just a "vendor" that performs tasks. By providing comprehensive support—from building a solid foundation of SEO and MEO to devising AIO strategies tailored to each industry's characteristics and implementing structured data—we aim to contribute to our clients' growth in the age of AI search.

Conclusion: Choose an AIO Strategy That Fits Your Business's Stage

In this article, we've covered everything from which industries need AIO to specific points for comparing agencies, average costs, and common pitfalls.

Let's summarize the key points again:

• The priority for AIO is particularly high for local businesses and industries dealing with high-involvement products.
• When choosing an agency, it's crucial to comprehensively compare five points: "scope of work," "price," "expertise," "reporting," and "contract terms."
• Choosing based solely on "cheapness" or "buzzwords" risks leading to low-quality service and failure.
• The essence of AIO is providing sincere information to users and AI.

The evolution of AI search presents us with new challenges, but also great opportunities. We hope this article serves as a guide to help you objectively assess your company's situation and take the best next step toward the future.

For a more systematic guide to implementing AIO, please see the details at TrendPackage's AIO Package.