How to Choose an AIO Agency: A Cost Guide to Avoid Failure

The Importance of AIO and the Reality of Choosing an Agency

With the rise of generative AI search, including Google's SGE (Search Generative Experience), the world of web marketing is entering a new phase. In addition to traditional SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and MEO (Map Engine Optimization), "AIO (AI Optimization)" — the practice of conveying your company's information to AI accurately and attractively — is becoming a crucial concept for attracting customers to businesses and stores.

However, since AIO is a relatively new field, many business owners and web managers find themselves struggling with questions like, "Where do I even start?" and "Many agencies claim to offer AIO, but I can't tell which one to hire." The quality and scope of services, as well as the costs, vary greatly from one agency to another.

This article does not endorse any specific agency. Instead, as an expert in AIO, MEO, and SEO, I will provide a comprehensive and neutral explanation of "key points for comparing AIO agencies," "how to choose one without failing," and "average costs." I hope this article serves as a valuable resource to help you find the perfect partner for your business.

How to Approach AIO - 3 Options and Their Differences

When starting with AIO, there are three main approaches you can take. Each has its own pros and cons, so the first step is to consider which method best suits your company's situation.

1. In-House Management

This method involves handling AIO measures with your own staff instead of hiring a specialized agency.

• Pros: You can minimize costs as there are no outsourcing fees. Another significant advantage is that your company accumulates AIO know-how through trial and error.
• Cons: AIO requires specialized knowledge of structured data and AI behavior, in addition to SEO/MEO expertise. The person in charge must constantly keep up with the latest information, which requires significant learning time and cost. If you can't assign a dedicated staff member, they will have to juggle AIO with other duties, risking that the initiatives become half-hearted.
• Suitable for: Companies that have an in-house web marketing department and the resources to assign a dedicated person.

2. Semi-Automation with Tools

This approach involves implementing specialized tools that support AIO to streamline and automate certain tasks. Examples include review management tools and tools for bulk-updating GBP information.

• Pros: Compared to in-house management, this lowers the barrier of specialized knowledge. It can significantly streamline routine tasks, especially monitoring reviews, managing reply templates, and unifying NAP information (Name, Address, Phone number) across multiple locations.
• Cons: A monthly fee is required for tool usage. Also, most tools are designed to "increase efficiency," meaning core tasks like strategy development and content creation must still be handled in-house. It can also be difficult to select the tool that best solves your company's specific problems.
• Suitable for: Companies with basic web marketing knowledge that want to reduce the workload of specific tasks (e.g., review management).

3. Outsourcing to a Specialized Agency

This method involves hiring an external agency with specialized AIO knowledge to handle everything from strategy development to execution. For many stores and small to medium-sized businesses, this is the most realistic option.

• Pros: You can leverage the knowledge and experience of experts to achieve results in the shortest possible time. They can respond quickly to the latest trends in AI search algorithms, allowing you to focus on your core business.
• Cons: Naturally, there are outsourcing costs. The biggest risk is that "the quality of service varies greatly between agencies." The success of your efforts heavily depends on whether you can find a trustworthy partner.
• Suitable for: Companies that lack in-house expertise or resources, or those that want to achieve results quickly to grow their business.

5 Key Points for Comparing AIO Agencies to Avoid Failure

If you choose to outsource, selecting the right agency is extremely important. Here are five key points you must check when comparing and considering agencies.

1. Pricing Models and Average Costs

AIO pricing models are mainly divided into "monthly retainer," "performance-based," and "one-time payment (project-based)," but the "monthly retainer" model is most common due to the need for continuous management.

【Average AIO Costs】

• Initial Fee: Approx. ¥0 - ¥100,000
  (For account analysis, competitor research, initial setup, etc.)
• Monthly Fee: Approx. ¥50,000 - ¥300,000
  (Varies depending on the scope of services and goals)

【What to Expect at Different Monthly Price Points (Estimates)】

• ¥50,000 - ¥100,000/month: Plans for small businesses. Focuses on basic Google Business Profile (GBP) optimization, regular post creation, and review management/response support. Suitable for those who want to build a solid AIO/MEO foundation first.
• ¥100,000 - ¥300,000/month: Plans for SMEs and multi-location businesses. In addition to the above, this includes support for structured data implementation, planning and creation of content (blog posts, FAQs, etc.) based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness), detailed monthly reporting, and regular meetings. Allows for more strategic and comprehensive measures.
• Over ¥300,000/month: For large-scale sites or businesses in highly competitive areas. Focuses on comprehensive consulting that includes advanced technical SEO, large-scale content marketing, social media integration, and branding strategy.

Be cautious of agencies that offer prices significantly lower than the market rate. The scope of their services may be limited, or their support may be poor. Conversely, if the price is too high, it's crucial to get a detailed quote to see if the services justify the cost. We recommend getting quotes from multiple agencies to get a feel for the market rates.

2. Specificity and Scope of Services

Choose an agency that clearly specifies "what they will do" rather than offering a vague menu like "complete AIO package." Here is a checklist of service areas to confirm:

• Google Business Profile Optimization: Completeness of basic information, appropriateness of categories, enrichment with photos and videos, utilization of the posts feature, etc.
• Structured Data Implementation Support: Technical support for adding special markup to your website so that AI can accurately understand store information (business hours, menus, prices, events, etc.). For example, check if they can propose and implement code like the following:

  
  <script type="application/ld+json">
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "Restaurant",
    "name": "Example Restaurant",
    "address": {
      "@type": "PostalAddress",
      "streetAddress": "123 Example St",
      "addressLocality": "Nagoya",
      "addressRegion": "Aichi",
      "postalCode": "450-0002"
    },
    "servesCuisine": "Japanese"
  }
  </script>
  

• E-E-A-T Improvement Measures: Content strategies to convey the expertise and trustworthiness of your store or company to AI. Do they propose things like introducing the owner's background, creating articles by experts, or publishing customer case studies?
• Review Management and Analysis: Encouraging reviews, proposing strategies to gather high-quality reviews, policies for handling negative reviews, and analyzing review content to provide feedback for service improvement.
• Citation Management: Measures to unify the store's NAP information (Name, Address, Phone number) across various websites and media to enhance information reliability.
• Reporting and Improvement Proposals: What metrics (impressions, clicks, website traffic, etc.) will they report, and how often (e.g., once a month)? Do they provide concrete, data-driven suggestions for improvement?

3. Track Record and Expertise

Check if the agency has a track record with businesses in your industry or of a similar size. It's more reassuring if you can hear not just about their success stories, but also about the specific challenges they faced and how they tackled them.

While AIO is a new field, its foundation lies in SEO and MEO. Therefore, an agency with a long-standing track record in SEO/MEO that has adapted to the new concept of AIO is likely to have a solid technical foundation. You can also gauge their expertise during the initial consultation by the quality of their questions and how deeply they try to understand your business model and challenges.

4. Support System and Communication

Whether communication will be smooth after signing the contract is a very important point. Confirm the following:

• Communication Methods: Do they support your preferred communication channels, such as phone, email, or business chat (Slack, Chatwork, etc.)?
• Reporting Frequency: Are reports submitted and regular meetings held monthly or weekly?
• Point of Contact: Who will be your actual point of contact after the contract is signed? If the sales representative is different from the operations manager, will the handover be smooth?

The speed and courtesy of their responses are also essential elements in building a relationship of trust.

5. Contract Duration and Cancellation Terms

It generally takes at least 3 to 6 months to see the effects of AIO measures. For this reason, many agencies set contract periods of 6 months to a year.

Before signing, be sure to confirm the minimum contract period and the conditions for early cancellation (e.g., whether there are penalties). Plans like "try for one month" may seem appealing, but it's difficult to judge results in such a short period, and you might end up finishing without being able to verify the effectiveness.

Criteria for Finding the Best AIO Partner for Your Business

Based on the comparison points above, it's important to have criteria that match your company's situation.

Consider Your Business Stage and Goals

Clarify your company's current situation and what you want to achieve through AIO.

• Case 1: "We just opened and want to build web presence first."
  → Building a foundation by setting up your GBP and managing reviews is crucial. A basic MEO/AIO plan costing around ¥50,000 to ¥100,000 per month would be a realistic starting point.
• Case 2: "There are many competitors, and we want to differentiate ourselves to increase customer traffic."
  → GBP optimization alone is not enough. You need a more advanced strategy, including structured data implementation and content creation that highlights your strengths. You should consider agencies with comprehensive plans costing ¥150,000 or more per month.
• Case 3: "We don't have a dedicated web manager and want to delegate everything from strategy to execution."
  → You should choose an agency that is strong in consulting and can work alongside you through regular meetings, not just one that can execute tasks. Prioritize a robust support system in your comparison.

Prioritize a "Convincing" Proposal

When you receive proposals from multiple agencies, the most important criterion is how "convincing" they are. Choose an agency that can logically explain why a certain measure is necessary and what effects can be expected, tailored to your business. An agency that analyzes your website and GBP beforehand and points out specific issues is likely more trustworthy than one that provides a generic, templated proposal. Whether they can explain things in plain language, without just rattling off jargon, is also a key indicator of a good representative.

Common AIO Mistakes: An Industry Insider's Perspective

Finally, from the perspective of an expert who has supported many companies, here are three common pitfalls in choosing and working with an AIO agency. Avoiding these alone will greatly increase your chances of success.

Mistake #1: Choosing Based on Price Alone

Dirt-cheap services like "MEO for ¥10,000/month!" may seem attractive at first glance. However, in many cases, these services only involve automated posts from a tool or have a very limited scope. As a result, you may end up wasting time and money without seeing any results. There's a reason for the low price. It's important to identify an agency that provides high-quality services at a fair price. Don't forget to consider the return on investment (ROI).

Mistake #2: A Completely "Hands-Off" Approach

Even if you hire a talented agency, you won't get results with a completely "hands-off" approach. AIO is a project that the agency and the client work on as a team. For example, your company's specialized knowledge and latest information are essential for content creation, and thoughtful responses to reviews require the cooperation of your staff who know the situation on the ground best. The key to success is to actively cooperate with the agency's requests and proposals and to have a mindset of working together as a team.

Mistake #3: Expecting Short-Term Results

Unlike web advertising, AIO and SEO/MEO take time to show results after implementation. It generally takes 3 to 6 months, and sometimes longer, for the algorithm to recognize the measures and for the evaluation to stabilize. It's a huge waste to judge that there's "no effect at all" after 1-2 months and cancel the contract. A long-term perspective and a commitment to continuous improvement through regular communication with the agency are required.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Partner is Key to AIO Success

In the coming era of AI search, AIO is a critical marketing activity that will determine customer acquisition for businesses and stores. However, if you make a mistake in your approach or in choosing an agency, you risk wasting time and money.

The key is to clarify your company's goals and budget and to compare agencies from multiple perspectives, including "price," "scope of services," "track record," and "support system." Ultimately, making a decision based on how "convincing" the proposal is and your "chemistry" with the representative will lead to a choice you won't regret.

AIO requires both technical aspects, like structured data, and steady operational efforts, such as building trust through E-E-A-T-enhancing content and reviews. The TrendPackage offered by us at LillyHoldings emphasizes turning both of these wheels, but we have a particular strength in the latter: "building trust as a business asset" and "continuous information dissemination." We are often praised by clients seeking a collaborative partnership, as we prioritize designing strategies tailored to their business models and goals, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all package. If you are looking to correctly convey your business's appeal to both AI and users and build a long-term customer acquisition foundation, we would be grateful if you would consider us as one of your options.

A more systematic approach to AIO is explained in detail in our TrendPackage AIO solution.