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Research data
AI search visibility for city-based SEO and digital agencies
We asked 4 AI engines the questions a prospect asks before hiring a local SEO agency. Here is what 48 city-based SEO and digital agencies look like to them, and which websites the engines cite.
The short answer
15 of 48 city-based SEO and digital agencies (31%) were never named by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini or Google AI Mode in our October 2026 test. We asked each agency's buyer questions (such as “best SEO agency in my city”) 10 ways on 4 engines and collected 1,915 answers for this group. Only 33 agencies were named at least once, and the median agency was named in 5.0% of its answers.
Sample: 48 city-based SEO and digital agencies that sell SEO, GEO or local marketing, picked as outreach prospects, not at random (they lean towards agencies that already market AI-search services). All answers were collected Oct 22, 2026, one answer per question and engine. Full method: the study.
Which engines named a local SEO agency at all
Number of the 48 agencies that were named at least once by each engine:
| Engine | Agencies named at least once | Share of the group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 24 of 48 | 50% | |
| Perplexity | 20 of 48 | 42% | |
| Gemini | 18 of 48 | 38% | |
| Google AI Mode | 11 of 48 | 23% |
ChatGPT named the most agencies in this niche (24 of 48). Engines disagree, so check each one for your own business rather than relying on a single chatbot.
The websites the engines cited for these questions
These are the 10 domains cited most often across the 1,915 answers, with the number of times each was cited. 5 of the 10 are directories, trade publications or communities rather than agency sites.
| Domain | Type | Citations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| agencies.semrush.com | agency directory | 445 | |
| clutch.co | agency directory | 270 | |
| linkedin.com | social network | 100 | |
| themanifest.com | agency directory | 160 | |
| factoryjet.com | website | 72 | |
| designrush.com | agency directory | 85 | |
| webfx.com | website | 123 | |
| loopexdigital.com | website | 65 | |
| qoulomb.com | website | 36 | |
| webtonic.io | website | 88 |
“Type” is our label for domains we could identify as a directory, trade publication, marketplace or community; “website” means a company or agency site. Counts are links attached to answers.
What to do with this
- Check your own agency first. Run the free AI-visibility check (about a minute). It asks the buyer questions for your business on 4 engines and shows who is named instead.
- Look at who the engines cite, not only who they name. The list above is what the engines read before they answer. Being present and consistent on the cited directories and publications is a practical first step.
- Repeat monthly on a fixed set of questions. AI answers change from run to run, so one check is a snapshot; a fixed question set tracked over time shows a trend.
- Show your clients. If you serve clients in this niche, a white-label packet with their own AI-visibility numbers is an easy conversation starter.
Related
FAQ
Do ChatGPT and other AI engines recommend city-based SEO and digital agencies?
In our Oct 22, 2026 test of 48 city-based SEO and digital agencies, 33 were named at least once across 1,915 answers and 15 were never named. ChatGPT named the most.
How do I get my local SEO agency named in AI answers?
There is no guaranteed method. In our data the engines cited directories, trade publications and other agencies' pages, so being accurately listed there is a reasonable first step. Measure before and after with a fixed set of questions.
How was this measured?
Each agency was asked 10 buyer questions on ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI Mode, with one fresh answer per question and engine, all collected on Oct 22, 2026. This group had 1,915 answers. Agencies were chosen as outreach prospects, not at random.
Is this data public?
The aggregate tables are in the CSV next to the study at /research/ai-visibility-agencies-2026/data.csv. No agency is named on this page.
Sources
Source: our own Oct 22, 2026 collection; no third-party data. Competitor prices are list prices in USD read on Oct 27, 2026; vendors change prices, so check the source before you buy. Our prices are read from the Apify API when this page is built (Apify Free-plan tier). Trademarks belong to their owners; Wrenfield Data is not affiliated with any vendor named here.
See how your local SEO agency shows up
Free check: 4 AI engines, your buyer questions, who is named instead. Or get one white-label packet for a client: $39, delivered within 1 business day.
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