Managed IT Company Climbs to #1 in AI Search — and Outranks Competitors in Google While They're at It
Overview
This managed IT services company was competing in a regional market where several established providers already had entrenched organic visibility. Advirtis built and executed an SEO strategy that not only reversed their keyword trajectory — but positioned them as the most visible brand in AI search for their category, a channel most of their competitors haven’t even started to think about.
Why AI Search Visibility Matters Now
When someone asks ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google’s AI Overview who to call for managed IT services in their area, they don’t see ten blue links — they see one or two named providers. If your business isn’t being cited by AI systems, you’re invisible to a growing share of your market. This client is winning that channel.
The Challenge
This client had meaningful competition from local and regional IT providers with more established web presences. Their specific challenges:
- Keyword rankings had been declining — the last time they were higher was December 2023
- Organic search impressions had been inconsistent
- Zero presence in AI search tools (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews) despite operating in a category where those tools are increasingly used for vendor discovery
- Several local competitors had already established digital footholds
Our Approach
Content Built for Both Google and AI Systems
The cornerstone of the strategy was a blog program designed to answer the specific questions IT buyers ask — not generic content, but targeted, authoritative posts around managed IT services, cybersecurity, cloud solutions, and local IT support. These posts do double duty: they rank in Google and they get cited by LLMs.
SERP Feature Targeting
Blog posts were structured to capture Google SERP features — AI Overviews, Featured Snippets, and People Also Ask boxes. Appearing in these features builds both visibility and the brand signals that AI search engines use to determine who to cite.
Keyword Trajectory Management
Rankings were tracked and optimized continuously. By Q3, keywords had been improving for five consecutive months — returning to levels not seen since December 2023.
AI Visibility Tracking (LLMrefs + Semrush)
Advirtis tracked AI mentions using LLMrefs and Semrush’s AI Visibility tool — measuring where the client appeared in AI-generated responses and identifying gaps to close. This is a capability most SEO providers don’t offer yet.
Results
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| AI Search Ranking | #1 for primary cybersecurity service keyword in target market |
| AI Share of Voice | 43% across AI search engines |
| AI Visibility vs. Competitors | #2 overall (11 mentions); closest competitor at 14/100, most at zero |
| Keyword Growth | 5 consecutive months of improvement |
| Blog Traffic | Strong organic traffic with high engagement rates |
| AI Mention Categories | Managed IT, IT Consulting, Cloud Solutions, Cybersecurity, Network Monitoring, Local |
Most of this client’s direct competitors have zero AI mentions. One has 14 out of 100 visibility. This client sits at 11 mentions and owns 43% of the Share of Voice in AI search for their target terms — a category-defining position that will compound in value as AI search continues to grow.
Conclusion
Search is changing. The agencies and businesses that win the next five years are the ones building visibility in AI systems today — before their competitors even realize it matters. This client is already there. Their competitors are starting from zero.
This is what modern SEO looks like: traditional Google rankings combined with intentional AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) that puts you in front of buyers wherever they’re searching.
*Client details have been anonymized to protect our white label partners. Advirtis operates as a silent extension of your agency team.