Client Overview
My client is a roofing company in Tampa, Florida. Specifically, they offer residential and commercial roofing, repair, and replacement services. Like most local contractors, their biggest challenge wasn’t ranking on Google. Instead, it was staying visible as search itself was changing. For example, Google started rolling out AI Overviews and generative AI results. Because of this, traditional SEO alone was no longer enough.
The Challenge
Before I started, the roofing company had almost no presence inside Google’s new AI-powered search results. Meanwhile, search behavior was shifting toward AI-generated answers. As a result, the business risked losing visibility to competitors already optimizing for this new format. This was true even though their old-school rankings looked fine on paper.
Overall, here are the core challenges I found:
- Minimal visibility inside Google’s Generative AI (AI Overviews) results
- Website content not structured for AI and answer engines to understand easily
- Inconsistent local SEO signals, such as Google Business Profile and citations
- Limited topical authority and a weak backlink profile
- No strategy in place for AIO, AEO, or GEO
My Strategy
To fix this, I built a full-funnel SEO strategy. Specifically, it was designed to improve both traditional rankings and visibility inside Google’s Generative AI search features.
1. AIO, AEO & GEO Optimization
First, I optimized the site for AI Overviews (AIO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). To do this, I wrote content in a format AI models can easily read, pull from, and cite. For instance, this meant clear, direct answers. It also meant structured headings and FAQ-style content.
2. Technical SEO & Structured Data
Next, I added schema markup, including LocalBusiness, Service, FAQ, and Review schema. As a result, search engines and AI systems could clearly understand what the business offers. Additionally, they could see where it operates and how trustworthy it is.
3. On-Page & Content Optimization
Then, I rewrote and expanded the core roofing service pages, including roof repair, roof replacement, and storm damage pages. Furthermore, I published supporting blog content that targeted real customer questions — the same approach I cover in my SEO tips and updates. After all, these are exactly the kinds of queries AI Overviews are built to answer.
4. Local SEO
After that, I optimized the Google Business Profile. Similarly, I cleaned up and rebuilt citations across directories. Because of this, local relevance signals grew stronger. In turn, this supported both map pack rankings and AI-generated local answers — the same local SEO process I use for contractors across Tampa and Orlando.
5. Link Building & Authority
Finally, I earned relevant backlinks to build topical authority and trust. Consequently, this helped the domain qualify as a credible source. So, Google’s AI systems became more likely to reference it.
The Results
After running this strategy, I tracked performance directly inside Google Search Console’s Generative AI Features (Beta) report. Essentially, this report shows how often a site gets surfaced inside Google’s AI-powered search results.
| Metric | Previous 3 Months | Last 3 Months | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Impressions (AI Search Results) | 34.2K | 173K | +405% |
In short, that’s roughly a 5x increase in impressions inside Google’s Generative AI results, and it happened in just one comparison period. In other words, the roofing company now shows up far more often when Google’s AI answers roofing-related searches in Tampa. You can see more verified wins like this on my SEO case studies page.
Of course, daily impressions naturally go up and down, as the trend line shows. Still, the overall trajectory reflects a much stronger and more consistent presence in AI-generated search results.
Key Takeaways
- SEO is evolving. Specifically, ranking well in traditional blue links is no longer enough, so visibility inside AI Overviews is becoming a critical growth channel.
- Structured content wins. In particular, content written to directly answer user questions performs better in both traditional and AI search.
- Combined tactics compound. After all, no single tactic drove this growth. Instead, AIO/AEO/GEO optimization, technical SEO, local SEO, and link building worked together.
- Early movers benefit most. Therefore, businesses that optimize for Generative AI search now are getting ahead of competitors who still focus only on traditional rankings.
Conclusion
Overall, this case study shows what’s possible with a modern, AI-aware SEO strategy. Instead of relying only on outdated tactics, I combined AIO, AEO, GEO, technical SEO, local SEO, and authority building. As a result, I helped this Tampa roofing company grow its Generative AI search visibility by over 400%. Ultimately, that means more potential customers see them at the exact moment they’re searching for roofing help.
