Stephen Baker
May 18, 2026
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Our remodeling client shows up first on ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Google's AI overview when someone searches "Who are the best kitchen remodelers in North Vancouver?"
How is this possible?
In this post, I'm going to show you exactly how we help our remodeling clients show up on AI searches—and why this is non-negotiable in 2026.
Here's the reality: 50%+ of homeowners now use ChatGPT to research contractors before hiring.
If you're not ranking on AI search, you're invisible to half your market.
While you're spending money on ads and hoping for referrals, your competitors are getting cited by AI platforms and capturing leads you don't even know exist.
A homeowner asks ChatGPT: "Who should I hire for kitchen remodeling in my area?"
ChatGPT recommends 3 contractors.
Your competitor is on that list. You're not.
That homeowner never even knows you exist. They don't visit your website. They don't call you. They don't request a quote.
You lost a $40K job and you didn't even know you were competing for it.
This is happening hundreds of times per month in your market.
In this post, I'm going to break down:
Let's get into it.
Before we dive into the strategy, you need to understand how these two algorithms work differently.
When you search something like "Who are the best HVAC contractors in Vancouver?" on Google, it uses a set of variables to determine which websites to show you:
Google looks at the words and content of your search, then produces results it thinks are the most relevant based on your query.
If you search "best remodelers in North Vancouver," Google scans websites to determine who it thinks is the best based on the content of their websites.
Google Search is relatively linear—it follows a predictable pattern based on keywords, on-page SEO, backlinks, and domain authority.
AI platforms work completely differently.
Instead of just scanning your website for keywords, AI is scanning way more areas of the internet to find the best possible response to your question.
Think of AI as a conversation, not a search engine.
AI looks at:
AI is way less linear than Google. It's taking into account way more variables and it's far more complex.
But here's what both have in common:
Both Google and AI want to give users the best, most relevant information.
They're both businesses. They're both products. And they want to keep users on their platform as long as possible.
To do that, they need to give users the best, most relevant sources.
The difference? Google looks primarily at your website. AI looks at your entire online presence across multiple platforms.
That's why ranking on AI requires a different strategy than ranking on Google.
Now let's get into the 5-step strategy.
AI platforms cite specialists over generalists because specificity signals authority.
When you say "we do everything" (kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions, roofing, outdoor remodeling), AI doesn't know what you're an expert at.
When you say "we specialize in luxury kitchen remodeling," AI cites you for kitchen-related prompts.
The more focused your positioning, the higher your likelihood of being recommended.
This is especially important because AI prompts are way more specific than Google searches.
A Google search might be: "kitchen renovations near me"
An AI prompt might be: "Who are the best kitchen remodelers for a budget of $20,000 in North Vancouver, BC?"
AI searches are longer, more detailed, and more specific.
If your messaging isn't clear and focused, AI won't know when to recommend you.
Action Item 1: Pick one remodeling niche.
Choose based on what you're best at or what's most profitable:
You don't have to limit yourself to one SERVICE (you can still do multiple types of jobs), but your marketing message should focus on one specialty.
Action Item 2: Update your Google Business Profile description, website homepage, and all marketing channels.
Lead with your specialization everywhere:
Example: "Luxury Kitchen Remodeling Specialists in Denver" (not "Full-Service Remodeling Contractors")
Update:
Action Item 3: Publish 10-15 blog posts exclusively about your niche.
If you're a kitchen remodeler, write:
Publishing these blogs cements you as an authority in your niche.
AI sees this content and says: "This company is clearly a kitchen remodeling expert. I'll recommend them for kitchen-related prompts."
Action Item 4: Tag every social post, review request, and email signature with your specialization.
Reinforce your niche everywhere so AI sees consistent positioning across all your mentions.
This is similar to Action Item 2, but with a key difference: consistency over time.
Don't just change your messaging once and be done with it.
Consistency has a time component.
Google and AI reward businesses that consistently put out new content, get new reviews, and update their messaging over time.
Post new blogs monthly. Generate new reviews weekly. Update your website quarterly.
Consistency signals to AI that you're an active, legitimate business.
AI platforms pull recommendations from high-authority directories like Yelp, Better Business Bureau, Houzz, Angi, and Yellow Pages.
When your business is listed consistently across these sites, AI sees you as a legitimate, established business and is more likely to cite you.
The more trusted directories you're listed on, the higher your authority score in AI's eyes.
This is especially important for local searches like "kitchen remodelers in Denver."
Action Item 1: Get listed on all major directories.
This is free to do:
Fill out every section completely:
Don't skip any sections. Completeness signals legitimacy to AI.
Pro Tip: If you don't know what the main directories are in your area, ask Claude or ChatGPT: "What are the main directory listings that my remodeling business should be cited on?"
Action Item 2: Ensure NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone) across every directory.
Use the exact same business name, address format, and phone number on every platform.
Example:
If your NAP is different across directories, AI might think they're two different businesses and won't give you credit for all your citations.
Inconsistencies confuse AI and lower your citation credibility.
Action Item 3: Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile, Bing Places, and Apple Maps listings.
These are the top 3 sources AI uses for local business recommendations.
Make sure you:
Action Item 4: Get listed on industry-specific directories.
Generic directories (Yelp, Yellow Pages, BBB) are important, but industry-specific directories carry even more weight with AI.
For remodelers, get listed on:
AI sees these industry-specific citations as stronger trust signals.
AI loves listicles, awards, and educational content because they're easy to parse and cite.
When you publish "10 Best Kitchen Layouts for Small Homes" or "Top 5 Basement Finishing Mistakes to Avoid," AI can pull directly from your content when users ask similar questions.
Awards and recognition posts ("We Won Best Kitchen Remodeler in [City] 2025") signal credibility and get cited when AI is asked for reputable contractors in your area.
Blog posts overall aren't going to get you a ton of direct leads. Informational, question-based searches and prompts aren't always going to bring in customers.
But here's what blogs DO:
They get your brand name out there and build your authority online so that when someone DOES search "Who is the best kitchen remodeler in my city?" you're likely to show up.
Action Item 1: Publish 2-4 "Top 10" or "Best Of" listicle blogs per month.
Examples:
Structure these with clear headers (H2/H3) so AI can extract individual items.
Use this structure:
AI scans heading hierarchy to understand your content. Make it easy for AI to extract and cite your information.
Action Item 2: Write award/recognition posts.
If you've won any awards, write a blog post about it:
Put your company name in the title so AI associates your business with the award.
Example: "Denver Kitchen Remodeling Co. Named Best of Houzz 2025"
If you haven't won awards, create milestone posts:
These posts build social proof and signal to AI that you're an established, trusted business.
Action Item 3: Create FAQ-style blogs answering common customer questions.
If your customers consistently ask you the same questions, they're probably asking AI the same questions.
Write blogs that answer these:
Answer the question in the first 2-3 sentences, then expand with details.
AI loves content that directly answers questions in a clear, concise format.
Action Item 4: Internally link all blogs back to your main service landing pages.
In the content of your blog post, add hyperlinks that link to your service pages.
Example:
In a blog about "Kitchen Remodeling Cost in Denver," include a sentence like:
"If you're looking for a [kitchen remodeling specialist in Denver](link to your kitchen remodeling landing page), our team has completed 500+ projects in the area."
Internal linking:
AI platforms prioritize pages with clear, specific content over generic "services" pages.
Most remodeling websites have the classic 5-page structure:
This is not enough to rank on Google or AI.
Generic pages like "Services" or "What We Do" don't give AI enough context to recommend you.
When you have dedicated landing pages for "Kitchen Remodeling in Aurora" or "Bathroom Remodeling in Denver," AI can cite you for hyper-local searches.
The more specific your landing pages, the more search queries you can rank for on AI platforms.
Remember: AI prompts are hyper-specific. People are having longer-tail searches with AI than with Google.
Google search: "bathroom remodeling in Denver"
AI prompt: "Who are the best luxury bathroom remodeling companies in the Denver area for a budget of $30K?"
If your website doesn't have specific landing pages, AI doesn't know when to recommend you.
Action Item 1: Build one landing page per service per location.
Formula: [Service] + [City/Neighborhood]
Examples:
Aim for 20-30+ pages covering all your service areas.
Yes, this is time-intensive. Yes, you're probably thinking "This is going to take me forever."
Yes, this is what it takes to rank on AI search in 2026.
Your competitors are doing this right now. If you're not, you're falling behind.
Action Item 2: Structure each landing page with clear H1/H2/H3 headers.
AI scans heading hierarchy to understand your page content.
Use this structure:
Think of it like a waterfall or downstream effect:
Action Item 3: Include local stats, testimonials, and project examples on each page.
Add local specificity to signal relevance to AI:
Example:
"Whether you're in Stapleton, Southlands, or near Aurora Reservoir, we've served Aurora homeowners for over 15 years."
Local specificity signals relevance to AI.
Action Item 4: Add FAQ schema markup to each landing page with 3-5 common questions.
FAQ schema markup makes your content easier for AI to crawl and extract.
Examples of FAQ questions to include:
If you don't know how to add schema markup, search YouTube for "how to add FAQ schema markup to [your website platform]."
Schema helps AI extract and cite your answers directly.
AI platforms cite businesses with strong review profiles because reviews signal trust and quality.
But it's not just about getting 5 stars or having 200 reviews.
AI looks for keyword-rich reviews that mention specific services and locations.
When a review says:
"Amazing kitchen remodeling in Denver—professional team, finished on time, highly recommend!"
AI is more likely to cite you when someone asks:
"Who should I hire for kitchen remodeling in Denver?"
Review velocity (consistency over time) also matters.
AI rewards businesses with recent, ongoing reviews, not just a bunch of old ones.
100 reviews in Month 1, then nothing for 6 months = AI thinks you're inactive or suspicious.
2-5 reviews per week consistently for 12 months = AI sees you as an active, trusted business.
Action Item 1: Ask every customer to include keywords in their review.
When you send a review request (text or email), don't just ask for a review and provide the link.
This is the pitfall most remodelers fall into—and why they don't get enough reviews.
Send them a template of what the review could look like, then include the link to your Google Business Profile.
Example text message:
"Hi [Name], thank you for trusting us with your kitchen remodeling project! We'd love if you could leave us a quick review. Here's a sample you can use:
'We hired [Your Company] for our kitchen remodeling project in Denver and couldn't be happier. The team was professional, finished on time, and the quality was amazing. Highly recommend for anyone looking for kitchen remodeling in the Denver area!'
Leave a review here: [link]"
This does two things:
Action Item 2: Generate 2-5 new reviews per week consistently.
Set up automated review requests in your CRM:
Send an automated review request 24-48 hours after project completion.
Consistency matters more than volume.
AI rewards ongoing activity, not one-time bursts.
Action Item 3: Respond to every review within 24-48 hours.
Include keywords in your response:
Example response:
"Thank you for choosing us for your kitchen remodeling project in Denver! We're so glad you're happy with the results. If you need anything else, we're always here to help."
AI sees engagement and rewards active profiles.
Responding to reviews signals to AI that you're:
Action Item 4: Get reviews on multiple platforms, not just Google.
Encourage reviews on:
AI pulls from all these sources, so more platforms = higher citation likelihood.
Diversification also protects you if one platform changes its algorithm or your profile gets taken down.
If your Google Business Profile gets suspended, you still have reviews on Houzz, Yelp, and BBB.
Pro Tip for Remodelers:
Because remodeling projects take longer, you're not doing 2-5 jobs per day like a plumber.
You might only complete 2-5 jobs per month or per quarter.
So you don't have a lot of customers to ask for reviews.
Here's the solution:
Don't limit your pool of reviewers to just your customers.
Ask:
You don't need them to lie and say they were a customer.
Just ask them to talk about your business, your professionalism, and the quality of your work.
And make sure they include keywords in their review.
Example:
"I've worked with [Your Company] as a supplier for 5 years. They're the best kitchen remodeling team in Denver—always professional, always on time. Highly recommend them to anyone looking for kitchen remodeling in the area."
Most remodelers in your city don't have more than 100 reviews.
You can easily beat them by getting 150-200 reviews.
And that's not difficult if you expand your pool beyond just customers.
Ranking on Google and AI in 2026 is non-negotiable.
The remodelers who do this are taking your leads and will leave you irrelevant in the years to come if you don't act.
Here's what's happening right now:
A homeowner asks ChatGPT: "Who should I hire for kitchen remodeling in my area?"
ChatGPT recommends 3 contractors.
Your competitor is on that list. You're not.
That homeowner never even knows you exist.
You lost a $40K job and you didn't even know you were competing for it.
This is happening hundreds of times per month in your market.
The gap is widening fast.
Contractors who rank on AI are getting 50% more inbound leads than those who don't.
They're closing jobs before you even get a call.
They're building authority while you're invisible.
In 12 months, the remodelers who ignored AI search will be irrelevant.
Their competitors will have captured the entire AI-driven market.
So you have two options:
Option 1: Watch the videos on my YouTube channel and spend 10-15 hours per week implementing these tactics yourself.
Option 2: Book a call with me and see how my team can implement this for you so you can focus on running and scaling your business.
Either way, you need to act now.
Your competitors already are.
Ready to dominate AI search and rank #1 on ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini?
[Book a call here] to see how we can help your remodeling company show up on every AI platform and capture the leads your competitors are missing.
END OF BLOG POST
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