AI Search Visibility Study - June 2026
2026 Tri-Cities AI Search Visibility Study
We ran 405 standardized queries across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews to find which Tri-Cities home service businesses AI actually recommends — and discovered that half are invisible, and Google’s AI never answered at all.
Produced by 1-FIND SERVICES · Johnson City, TN · 68 businesses cross-referenced · 5 trade categories
📄 Full report available: Download the complete findings and methodology.
Highlights
405
AI queries run across 3 platforms
50%
Mention rate 34 of 68 businesses
0
Google AI Overviews shown for any query
394 vs 72
Avg reviews: mentioned vs not
Executive Summary
In spring 2026, 1-FIND SERVICES conducted a systematic study of AI search visibility across the Tri-Cities market — Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol, Tennessee. We asked a straightforward question: when a homeowner uses an AI platform to find a local contractor, which Tri-Cities businesses actually get recommended, and why?
We ran 405 standardized queries across three platforms — ChatGPT with web search, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews — covering five home service industries: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, and tree service. Each query was run three times to measure consistency. We then cross-referenced the results against our companion 2026 Tri-Cities Home Services Digital Visibility Study, which documents the website technical health and Google Business Profile data for 68 businesses operating in the market.
The headline finding has two parts. First, exactly half of the 68 businesses in our study — 34 companies — were mentioned by at least one AI platform. The other half were invisible. Second, Google’s AI Overviews did not generate a single local business recommendation across all 135 Google queries. For every home service query we tested, Google served the local pack, local service ads, or organic listings — not an AI-generated answer.
The most consistent predictor of AI visibility was review count, not schema or website health. Businesses with 100 or more Google reviews were mentioned at a rate of 69–79 percent. Businesses with fewer than 20 reviews were mentioned just 11 percent of the time. The average business mentioned by AI had 394 Google reviews; the average business that was not mentioned had 72.
Key Findings
Finding 1: Google does not use AI to answer local contractor queries
Across 135 queries run through Google Search in an incognito browser session, Google generated zero AI Overviews for any home service query in the Tri-Cities market. Every query returned the local service ads pack, the organic 3-pack, or standard organic results. Google ranking and GBP optimization remain the primary channel — not AI Overview visibility.
Finding 2: Half of Tri-Cities home service businesses are invisible to AI
34 of 68 businesses (50%) were not mentioned by either ChatGPT or Perplexity across 270 queries. Of the 34 that were mentioned, 20 appeared on both platforms — a meaningful signal of durable AI visibility.
Finding 3: Review count is the strongest predictor of AI visibility
The correlation between review count and AI mention rate is the most consistent finding in the study. The table below shows the breakdown across five review count tiers:
| Review Count | AI MENTION RATE | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| 200+ reviews | 69% | 9 of 13 |
| 100-199 reviews | 79% | 11 of 14 |
| 50-99 reviews | 50% | 6 of 12 |
| 20-49 reviews | 38% | 6 of 16 |
| Fewer than 20 | 11% | 1 of 9 |
Businesses with 100–199 reviews had the highest mention rate at 79%. The sharp drop below 50 reviews — from 50% to 38% to 11% — suggests a meaningful threshold in the 50–100 review range.
Finding 4: GBP completeness matters more than website health
AI-mentioned businesses averaged a GBP health score of 86.9 compared to 78.0 for businesses not mentioned — a gap of nearly 9 points. Website health scores showed almost no difference (66.7 vs 63.8). AI platforms pull primarily from GBP and web-indexed content rather than rewarding technical website optimization.
Finding 5: Schema has no measurable independent effect on AI visibility
Businesses with LocalBusiness schema were mentioned 49% of the time. Businesses without it were mentioned 52% of the time — essentially no difference. However, businesses with schema averaged 357 Google reviews vs 104 for those without. Schema adoption and review count are correlated, making it difficult to isolate schema’s independent contribution.
Finding 6: HVAC is the most AI-visible industry; roofing is the least
HVAC led with a 71% mention rate, driven by companies with very high review counts. Roofing was lowest at 33%.
| Industry | Mention Rate | Mentioned | Avg Reviews (Mentioned) | Avg Reviews (not mentioned) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 71% | 10/14 | 658 | 26 |
| Electrical | 50% | 6/12 | 279 | 64 |
| Plumbing | 50% | 6/12 | 621 | 106 |
| Tree Service | 47% | 7/15 | 64 | 95 |
| Roofing | 33% | 5/15 | 129 | 50 |
Finding 7: Perplexity provides more specific answers than ChatGPT
Perplexity consistently named specific local businesses with citations to their websites and GBP listings. ChatGPT with web search also named local businesses but with more variance between runs — the same query often returned different businesses on different runs. Both platforms hedged with phrases like “I recommend checking recent reviews,” but Perplexity more frequently provided actionable local specifics.
The Most AI-Visible Businesses
The following businesses appeared on both ChatGPT and Perplexity, earning the highest AI Visibility Score in the study (55/100). Score: ChatGPT mention (20 pts) + Perplexity mention (20 pts) + cross-platform bonus (15 pts). Google AI Overviews contributed 0 points for all businesses.
| Business | ChatGPT Mentions | Perplexity Mentions | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Huff Plumbing, Heating & Air | 6 | 19 | Plumbing/HVAC |
| Austin's Plumbing | 8 | 11 | Plumbing |
| Stateline Services | 7 | 9 | Multi-trade |
| Rowan Tree Care | 4 | 12 | Tree Service |
| Pink Duck Plumbing | 7 | 5 | Plumbing |
| Hometown Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC | 2 | 10 | Multi-trade |
| Thompson Electrical Service | 3 | 8 | Electrical |
| Vanderpool Roofing | 6 | 5 | Roofing |
| TriCities Electric | 2 | 7 | Electrical |
| Precision Electrical Company | 2 | 7 | Electrical |
What Local Businesses Can Learn
The data from this study points to three practical priorities for home service businesses in the Tri-Cities market that want to improve their AI search visibility.
1. Build review volume before optimizing anything else
The review count threshold is the clearest finding in this study. If a business has fewer than 50 Google reviews, its chance of appearing in an AI recommendation is low regardless of website quality or schema. The data suggests 100 reviews as a meaningful floor, with the 100–199 band showing the highest mention rate at 79%.
This means having an active, consistent process for asking satisfied customers to leave reviews, responding to existing reviews, and resolving negative ones. For most businesses in this study, review velocity is a higher priority than any technical fix.
2. Treat your Google Business Profile as a primary asset
AI-mentioned businesses averaged a GBP health score nearly 9 points higher than businesses not mentioned. A complete GBP — current hours, verified website, specific primary category, regular posts — is one of the primary sources AI platforms draw from when building local recommendations.
Category selection matters. Businesses with trade-specific categories (“Plumber,” “HVAC Contractor,” “Electrician”) outperformed those with generic categories. Choosing the most specific available category for your primary trade is a free, immediate action.
3. Understand what Google AI Overviews does and does not do
For home service queries, Google is not using AI-generated answers. It is serving the local pack, local service ads, and organic listings. Traditional local SEO — GBP optimization, local citations, on-page geo-signals, and website technical health — remains the primary lever for Google visibility in this category.
This may change. Businesses building strong GBP profiles and review volumes now are better positioned for that transition when it occurs.
Methodology
Study Design: The 2026 Tri-Cities AI Search Visibility Study queried three AI platforms with standardized local home service search queries. The study covered five industries across three Tri-Cities markets: Johnson City TN, Kingsport TN, and Bristol TN.
Query Design: Three query templates were used for each industry-city combination: a “best of” query, a direct recommendation query, and a top-rated query. This produced 45 unique queries (3 templates × 5 industries × 3 cities). Each query was run three times per platform to measure response consistency.
Platforms: ChatGPT (GPT-4o with web search enabled), Perplexity (default model with live web search), and Google AI Overviews (incognito Chrome, Johnson City TN geolocation). All queries were run within a two-week window in May–June 2026.
Cross-Reference Dataset: AI mention results were matched against the 2026 Tri-Cities Home Services Digital Visibility Study, which audited 68 unique businesses. Businesses serving multiple industries were deduplicated by name for the cross-reference analysis.
Scoring: AI Visibility Score (0–100): ChatGPT mention (20 pts), Perplexity mention (20 pts), Google AI Overview mention (30 pts), cross-platform bonus for two or more platforms (15 pts). Maximum attainable score given the Google AI Overview finding was 55.
Limitations
Point-in-time snapshot: AI responses change as models update. Results may not reflect current AI behavior.
Response variance: AI platforms do not return deterministic results. Three runs per query captured some variance but not the full distribution of possible responses.
Correlation only: Relationships between review count, GBP health, and AI visibility are correlational. The study does not establish causation.
Business name extraction: Responses were processed using automated pattern matching followed by manual review. Some mentions may have been missed or miscounted.
Market scope: The study covers the Tri-Cities market only. Findings should not be generalized to other markets without independent research.
Media Contact
Casey Carmical
Owner, 1-FIND SERVICES – Johnson City, Tennessee
1-FIND SERVICES is a digital marketing agency based in Johnson City, Tennessee, serving the Tri-Cities region. This study was produced independently; no audited company paid to be included or excluded.