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Why AI Visibility Matters

Billions of people now use Google AI and ChatGPT to find local services. Instead of scrolling through 10 pages of results, they simply ask: "Who's the best plumber near me?" The AI then recommends 2-3 businesses—and if you're not visible to AI, you don't exist to these potential customers.

2B+
Google AI Users
800M
ChatGPT Weekly
50%
Searches w/ AI
90%
Invisible Here
2025 Regional Report

State of AI Visibility:
Corpus Christi Coastal Bend

Algorithmic analysis of contractors across 15 municipalities in the region.

We analyzed 1,229 businesses across 15 municipalities in the Corpus Christi Coastal Bend region. The findings reveal that 90% of local businesses remain invisible to AI assistants like ChatGPT and Google AI.

The region lags behind the Texas average by 6.7 points, representing a significant improvement opportunity for local contractors.

Only 1% of businesses achieve "AI-Ready" status—the minimum threshold to appear consistently in AI-generated recommendations.

1,229
Businesses Audited
1%
AI Ready
Regional lag
Corpus Christi Coastal Bend vs Texas
-6.7pts
Market Distribution
AI-Ready
Visible
Invisible
100%
Have Website
10%
Schema Ready

The Performance Gap

The data reveals a 3x gap between market leaders and the rest of the pack.

Market leaders (top 10%) maintain an average score of 53/100 with 199 reviews on average. These businesses consistently appear in AI recommendations.

At-risk businesses (bottom 50%) stagnate at 14/100 with only 66 reviews. Despite their expertise, they're invisible to consumers using AI.

Gregory leads the regional rankings with a score of 42/100 across 8 businesses analyzed.

Port aransas shows the lowest score at 13/100—a 30-point gap from the regional leader.

For Consumers

What This Means for Consumers

When you ask ChatGPT or Google AI to recommend a plumber, you're not necessarily getting the best—you're getting the one with the best digital infrastructure. The 199 average reviews of market leaders isn't a coincidence: they've invested in their online presence.

Performance Gap

Top 10% vs Bottom 50%

Top 10%
Market Leaders
53
Avg Score
Avg Reviews:199
3x gap
Bottom 50%
At Risk
14
Avg Score
Avg Reviews:66

The Review Paradox

Having lots of reviews isn't enough. Our data shows businesses with 100+ reviews still remain invisible if their technical infrastructure isn't optimized.

The determining factor? Schema markup (structured data)—the invisible code that helps AI assistants understand and recommend your business.

Currently, only 10% of businesses in Corpus Christi Coastal Bend have schema markup, compared to 11% at the provincial level.

100% of businesses have a website, but most lack the necessary technical optimizations. A website without schema markup is like a storefront without a sign in the AI world.

Key Insight

Schema Markup Explained

Schema markup is invisible code on your website that tells Google and AI assistants: "Here's my name, address, hours, and services." Without it, AI has to guess—and it prefers to recommend businesses it clearly understands.

The Review Paradox

Reviews alone aren't enough. AI visibility score matters more.
Verified
High Reviews / Invisible
Invisible

Visibility by Trade

Not all trades are created equal when it comes to AI visibility. In Corpus Christi Coastal Bend, we analyze 9 core trades (plumbers, electricians, roofers, HVAC, general contractors, landscapers, painters, foundation specialists, and HVAC/R) plus 10 other categories grouped together.

windows lead the pack with 17% of businesses "AI-Ready" and an average score of 35/100. This trade has 18.6x more optimized businesses as the regional average.

locksmiths lag behind with only 0% of businesses "AI-Ready" and an average score of 16/100. For homeowners searching for these services, this means fewer AI-visible options.

For Consumers

If You Need a locksmith

With only 0% of businesses AI-optimized, your chances of finding the right professional through Google AI or ChatGPT are slim. Consider asking for local referrals or using specialized directories alongside AI recommendations.

AI Visibility by Trade

Other Trades(88 businesses)
+5.4
29
1% excellent
HVAC(67 businesses)
+4.0
27
7% excellent
Foundation(1 businesses)
+1.5
25
Painter(2 businesses)
-0.5
23
General Contractor(215 businesses)
-1.8
22
Landscaper(97 businesses)
-3.5
20
Plumber(96 businesses)
-4.8
19
Electrician(110 businesses)
-5.9
18
Roofer(97 businesses)
-6.7
17
Regional Average: 24

Where Businesses Cluster

The score distribution reveals a bifurcated market:

The Elite (75-100): 11 businesses (1%) have optimized for AI discovery. These are the contractors AI assistants recommend.

The Middle Ground (50-74): 58 businesses (5%) are visible but not prioritized. A few optimizations could push them into recommendation territory.

The Danger Zone (0-49): 1160 businesses (94%) are effectively invisible to AI search. Despite averaging 123 reviews, their technical infrastructure fails them.

The tipping point is 50. Below this threshold, businesses rarely appear in AI-generated recommendations regardless of reputation.

Opportunity

The Intense Competition Zone

9% of businesses are concentrated in the 40-70 score range. This is where a few simple optimizations can mean the difference between visibility and invisibility. Businesses at 45 that jump to 55 often see their AI recommendations double.

Visibility Score Distribution

How businesses in the region are distributed across the AI visibility scale

The Three Tiers of AI Visibility

Excellent (11 businesses, 1%) These businesses appear in AI recommendations consistently. They have schema markup, verified business data, and strong review signals. Average score: 80+.

Good (58 businesses, 5%) Visible but not dominant. These businesses appear in some AI searches but lose out to Excellent-tier competitors. One or two optimizations could elevate them.

At Risk (1160 businesses, 94%) Effectively invisible. Despite averaging 123 reviews and 4.4 stars, these businesses lack the technical signals AI assistants need. They're competing with one hand tied behind their back.

Warning

The Cost of Being in the Wrong Tier

An "At Risk" business with 50 reviews and 4.8 stars can lose customers to an "Excellent" business with 20 reviews and 4.5 stars—simply because AI can't see the first one. This is the new cost of digital invisibility.

AI Market Readiness

Business distribution by readiness tier
1229Analyzed
Excellent
Good
At Risk

Geographic Patterns

The Leader: Gregory With 8 businesses analyzed and an average score of 42/100, Gregory leads the region. 25% of local contractors are "AI-Ready"—24 points above the regional average.

The Opportunity: Port aransas Port aransas averages 13/100 across 147 businesses. For contractors here, low competition means early optimizers could dominate local AI search results.

Urban vs. Rural: Urban (0 businesses) and rural (0) areas perform similarly, with only a 0-point gap.

Opportunity

The Growth Factor

Contractors who optimize first in smaller municipalities have an advantage: less competition means more visibility per dollar invested.

Champions by Municipality

The top performer from each city. Is your local competitor here?
8 businesses25% AI-Ready
41
No champion
5 businesses0% AI-Ready
149 businesses5% AI-Ready
34 businesses0% AI-Ready
22 businesses0% AI-Ready
30 businesses0% AI-Ready
No champion
7 businesses0% AI-Ready
28
No champion
9 businesses0% AI-Ready
Market Leaders

Top 10 Regional Performers

These businesses have optimized their digital footprint for AI search, maintaining consistent schema data and verified identity signals.

Score Distribution
Headline
90% of contractors in Corpus Christi Coastal Bend are invisible to AI assistants like ChatGPT and Perplexity, according to an analysis of 1,229 local businesses.
Top Performer
U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer, a truck rental agency in Gregory, leads the region with an AI visibility score of 83/100.
Opportunity
Port aransas shows the greatest improvement potential with an average score of 13/100 — contractors who optimize now could dominate the local market.
vs Province
Corpus Christi Coastal Bend trails the Texas provincial average by 6.7 points — a wake-up call for local contractors.
Trade Comparison
windows lead in AI visibility (17% excellent), while locksmiths lag behind (0% excellent).
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