AIO Service Costs & Agency Comparison: 5 Tips for Choosing

Introduction: The Importance of AIO and the Difficulty of Choosing a Provider

The advent of generative AI like ChatGPT and Google Gemini has dramatically changed how users gather information. In addition to traditional keyword searches, conversational queries like, "What's a good Italian place for lunch nearby?" have become commonplace. We are entering an era where AI organizes and recommends information on behalf of the user. The strategy to adapt to this new search environment is "AIO (AI Optimization)."

Many store owners and corporate web managers recognize the importance of AIO and are beginning to consider hiring specialized agencies. However, because AIO is a relatively new field, we often hear concerns such as, "I don't know which agency to choose," "The pricing is unclear and worrying," and "I'm not sure if it's really effective." In fact, we see many cases where choosing the wrong provider leads to wasted time and money without achieving the desired results.

In this article, as an expert in AIO, MEO, and SEO, I will provide a neutral explanation of the types of AIO providers and points of comparison. By sharing "5 common failure patterns" and their solutions based on industry insider knowledge, I aim to help you find the perfect partner for your company.

Main Types and Features of AIO Providers: A Neutral Guide to 4 Options

Providers offering AIO services can be categorized into several types based on their background and areas of expertise. The first step is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each to identify the one that best suits your company's goals and situation.

Type 1: Specialized SEO/MEO Agencies

These are agencies that have traditionally focused on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Local Search Optimization (MEO). Many of these businesses now offer AIO services as an additional offering.

Strengths: They have extensive knowledge of search engine algorithms. You can expect a cohesive strategy that integrates AIO with the optimization of your existing website and Google Business Profile. They also have accumulated know-how in content creation and keyword analysis.
Weaknesses: Since adapting to AI's unique contextual understanding and conversational generation is a newer field, the level of technical understanding can vary between providers.
Pricing Structure: A fixed monthly fee (around 50,000 to 200,000 JPY) is common.

Type 2: Web Production & System Development Companies

These are companies whose primary business is building websites and developing systems. They excel at the technical implementation required for AIO.

Strengths: They are extremely strong in technical aspects such as implementing structured data (schema markup) and API integration. They can propose solutions that include fundamental website renovations.
Weaknesses: Marketing strategy planning, ongoing content creation, and performance measurement may be outside their area of expertise. Even with perfect technical implementation, a separate perspective on how to leverage it for marketing may be necessary.
Pricing Structure: They tend to provide a lump-sum estimate on a per-project basis (starting from 300,000 JPY).

Type 3: AI Consulting / Specialized Firms

These are consulting firms that specialize in AI technology itself or new companies founded specifically for AIO.

Strengths: They possess deep knowledge of the latest AI technologies and trends. You can expect advanced, data-driven strategy development and unique proposals to differentiate you from competitors.
Weaknesses: Their main focus may be on strategy, without performing the actual implementation, such as content creation or website modifications. In such cases, you may need to hire a separate production company or writer, which can increase the overall cost.
Pricing Structure: They tend to be relatively expensive, with consulting fees often starting at 300,000 JPY or more per month.

Type 4: Freelancers & Sole Proprietors

These are professionals who undertake AIO projects individually. They are often specialized in a particular industry or skill.

Strengths: They are often more cost-effective than companies, and you can expect close communication and flexible service. It's possible to find individuals with high expertise in a specific field.
Weaknesses: The scope of work they can handle may be limited, and the significant variation in skill level is a risk. There can also be concerns about long-term stability and business continuity.
Pricing Structure: Varies, including hourly rates (starting from 5,000 JPY) or project-based fees.

What to Look For: 4 Comparison Points for AIO Providers

Regardless of which type of provider you choose, the key to success is to verify the following four points and compare multiple companies before signing a contract.

1. Scope and Specificity of Services

The term "AIO services" is very broad. Be sure to confirm exactly what will be done and to what extent by checking the list of tasks.

Technical Measures: Implementation of structured data (JSON-LD), registration of information in the Knowledge Graph, optimization of XML sitemaps, etc.
Content Measures: Creation and optimization of FAQ pages, production of expert column articles, analysis and utilization proposals for reviews (UGC), etc.
External Information Measures: Services to accurately and attractively maintain and link information on Google Business Profile and various portal sites.

A good provider will specifically explain why each measure is necessary for your business. It's ideal if they can confirm details at a technical level, such as how they would actually implement the code below, rather than just giving vague explanations like "We will train the AI."


<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "LocalBusiness",
  "name": "株式会社サンプル商事",
  "image": "https://example.com/logo.png",
  "@id": "",
  "url": "https://example.com/",
  "telephone": "+81-3-1234-5678",
  "priceRange": "JPY",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "千代田区丸の内1-1-1",
    "addressLocality": "千代田区",
    "addressRegion": "東京都",
    "postalCode": "100-0005",
    "addressCountry": "JP"
  },
  "geo": {
    "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
    "latitude": 35.681236,
    "longitude": 139.767125
  },
  "openingHoursSpecification": {
    "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification",
    "dayOfWeek": [
      "Monday",
      "Tuesday",
      "Wednesday",
      "Thursday",
      "Friday"
    ],
    "opens": "09:00",
    "closes": "18:00"
  } 
}
</script>

2. Pricing Structure and Market Rates

AIO pricing varies greatly depending on the scope of work and the size of the company, but it's important to have a general sense of the market rates.

Initial Fee: Around 50,000 to 300,000 JPY. This covers costs for initial analysis, strategy design, and setup.
Monthly Fee: The most common range is 100,000 to 300,000 JPY. This includes ongoing content creation, performance measurement, and improvement proposals. For plans under 50,000 JPY per month, you should carefully check the scope of work, as it is likely to be limited.
Consulting Fee: 300,000 JPY and up per month. This is the typical rate for services focused on strategy and advisory, not including implementation.

Also, be sure to confirm whether the pricing model is a "fixed monthly fee," "performance-based," or "lump-sum payment," and if there are any long-term contract requirements.

3. Track Record and Expertise

Although AIO is a new field, the principles of SEO/MEO are deeply intertwined with its foundation. Therefore, it's a good idea to check the following points:

Experience in your industry or a similar one: The key selling points differ by industry, whether it's restaurants, clinics, professional services, or real estate. Check if they have case studies from similar businesses.
SEO/MEO track record: AIO doesn't exist in a vacuum; it requires a foundation of a high-quality website and a well-maintained Google Business Profile. A provider's track record in search engine optimization is an important indicator of their reliability.
Knowledge level of the representative: During meetings, their ability to explain technical terms like "E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust)", "Knowledge Graph," and "Entity" in a way that a layperson can understand is a key indicator of their expertise.

4. Reporting and Performance Measurement

How the provider visualizes the results of their efforts is extremely important. Ask to see a sample report before signing a contract and check the following points:

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): What defines the goal? (e.g., number of mentions by AI, citations in answers to specific questions, search rankings for target keywords, website traffic, conversions, etc.)
Report frequency and content: Monthly reports are common, but check what data will be reported and at what level of detail.
Presence of improvement proposals: What separates a true partner from a mere service provider is whether they analyze the results and propose concrete actions for the following month, rather than just reporting numbers.

An Insider's View: 5 Common AIO Failure Patterns and How to Avoid Them

Here, we will introduce five of the most common pitfalls we've observed while working with many companies. Knowing these in advance can significantly reduce the risk of failure when choosing a provider and managing the subsequent process.

Failure Pattern 1: "Handing It All Over" and Failing to Convey Your Business's Unique Appeal to AI

Situation: You delegate everything to the provider with a "leave it to the experts" attitude, failing to share the "raw information" about your company's strengths, specialized knowledge, and passion for your customers.

Why it fails: AI learns by connecting fragmented pieces of information that exist on the web. While a provider can gather information from your website and existing materials, they cannot grasp the "first-party information" that only you possess, such as your unique experiences, deep expertise, and the real questions you get from customers. As a result, only superficial, generic information is fed to the AI, and you fail to differentiate from your competitors.

How to avoid it: Recognize that AIO is a "collaborative project" between your company and the provider. It is essential to establish a system for actively sharing information with the provider, such as holding regular meetings to discuss new products/services, the latest industry trends, frequently asked customer questions, and your company's core values. The ideal division of roles is for your company to be the "source" of information, while the provider "translates and disseminates" it in a format that AI can easily understand.

Failure Pattern 2: Choosing Based on Low Price Alone, Leading to Ineffective Measures

Situation: You get quotes from multiple providers and simply hire the cheapest one.

Why it fails: There is always a reason for a price that is significantly below the market rate. A common pattern is that the services are templated, where they deliver the same generic FAQ content to all clients or only input basic information into structured data. This approach will not convey your company's uniqueness to the AI, and its effectiveness will be limited.

How to avoid it: Always compare the "scope of services" and "man-hours" in addition to the price. A "50,000 JPY monthly fee" has a completely different value depending on whether it only covers reporting or includes the creation of one article per month. Check if the proposal or quote specifies "what specific tasks will be performed for how many hours (or man-days) per month" to judge whether the price is reasonable.

Failure Pattern 3: Expecting Short-Term, Ad-Like Results

Situation: After one or two months, you conclude that "the AI isn't recommending us" or "inquiries aren't increasing," and you stop the service.

Why it fails: AIO is not a measure that yields immediate results like web advertising. It takes time for AI to crawl, learn from web information, and update its evaluation. Similar to SEO, it is a long-term "asset-building" activity that enhances the overall trust and expertise of your website. Giving up after a short period because you don't see results will waste your initial investment.

How to avoid it: Before signing a contract, discuss and agree on a realistic timeline for results with the provider. Generally, it is reasonable to expect a period of at least six months to a year before the effects of the measures begin to gradually appear. It's important to set and monitor separate short-term KPIs (e.g., completion of structured data error fixes) and long-term KPIs (e.g., increase in referral traffic from AI).

Failure Pattern 4: Disconnecting AIO from MEO/SEO, Resulting in Inconsistent Information

Situation: You treat AIO as a completely new, separate initiative and proceed without integrating it with your existing website (SEO) or Google Business Profile (MEO).

Why it fails: AI references all available information on the web—including your website, Google Business Profile, social media, and various portal sites—and evaluates the consistency and coherence of that information. For example, if your AIO efforts promote your business as a "child-friendly cafe," but your Google Business Profile attributes do not have "Good for kids" enabled, or your website lacks specific details about your services, the AI may judge the information as unreliable.

How to avoid it: Choose a provider who treats AIO, MEO, and SEO as a trinity and can create a unified information strategy. When selecting a provider, ask them, "How do you plan to integrate our AIO measures with our existing website and GBP?" A provider who can give a clear answer is likely to have a holistic optimization perspective.

Failure Pattern 5: Vague Contracts with No Clear Definition of Success

Situation: You sign a contract with abstract goals like "we will optimize for AI" or "we will improve your evaluation by AI," making it impossible to objectively determine if the measures were effective after the project.

Why it fails: Vague goals make it difficult for the provider to translate them into concrete actions, often leading to a rudderless strategy. From the client's perspective, you're paying a monthly fee without understanding what is improving, which can lead to distrust.

How to avoid it: Be sure to set specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) before signing the contract. It's crucial to agree with the provider on quantitative and measurable goals, such as "Aim to be recommended when a user asks AI for 'private room for lunch in Shibuya'" or "Increase website traffic from the FAQ page by 150% year-over-year." Also, specify which tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Search Console) will be used to measure these KPIs and how.

An Expert's Perspective: The True Nature of AIO

So far, we have discussed various provider types, comparison points, and failure patterns. Based on these, I would like to offer our perspective.

We believe that AIO is not merely a technical measure to adapt to the new technology of AI. Our position is that its essence is an extension of the marketing activities we have long pursued with SEO and MEO: "to deeply understand the user's (human) search intent and provide reliable, well-organized information that answers it."

AI is, in essence, the ultimate "single user." It reads vast amounts of information and tries to determine what is trustworthy and most beneficial to the user. Its evaluation criteria are extremely close to the concept of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust) that Google has long emphasized in SEO.

At LillyHoldings, our AIO service "TrendPackage" is based on this philosophy. While we certainly handle technical optimizations like structured data implementation, we place the greatest importance on fundamental content strategy—delving into the unique value and expertise of your business and communicating it correctly to both AI and users. Rather than jumping on specific tools or trendy methods, we specialize in designing custom-made strategies that strengthen the foundation of our clients' businesses, leveraging our expertise cultivated through SEO/MEO.

Conclusion: Finding the Best AIO Provider for You

In this article, we've explained the key comparison points for choosing an AIO provider and detailed common failure patterns to avoid.

Let's recap the important points:

Understand that there are multiple types of AIO providers, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
Compare multiple companies based on four criteria: "specificity of services," "price range," "track record," and "performance measurement."
Avoid the five failure patterns: "handing it all over," "prioritizing low cost," "short-term expectations," "siloed strategies," and "vague goals."

Ultimately, what leads to success in AIO is not just "choosing a good provider," but also your company's proactive stance in "working hand-in-hand with the provider to correctly disseminate your company's information." We hope this article serves as a guide to help you find the best partner and grow your business in this new era of search.

As a first step, why not use this article as a reference to contact a few providers and discuss your challenges and goals?

For a more systematic approach to AIO, we provide a detailed explanation in the TrendPackage AIO service package.