Question 1

How do I increase the chance of being cited by AI answers?

Accepted Answer

Make answers short, specific, and structured. Put them near the service they apply to, then mark them up so engines can ingest them (https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/intro-structured-data). Mainstay also adds service area context so citations match local intent.

Question 2

What is entity clarity and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Entity clarity is making your business identity unambiguous: name, services, locations, and proof. It reduces AI confusion and boosts trust. Use the same business name, service list, and locations everywhere. Google emphasizes consistent business info for relevance (https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091?hl=en).

Question 3

How do I write FAQs that actually help me get chosen?

Accepted Answer

Use the questions customers ask before they call: price drivers, timing, process, what to expect, and what can go wrong. Keep answers to 2-4 sentences, place them near the service page, and add proof or a next step when possible.

Question 4

What content types feed AI answers best?

Accepted Answer

Clear definitions, step-by-step processes, pricing factors, and comparison lists. Add checklists and short summaries. If the answer is not on the page in plain text, AI cannot reuse it.

Question 5

Why does my business not show up in AI answers?

Accepted Answer

Usually because the site is not clear about services and service area, there are not enough direct answers, or your facts are inconsistent across the web. Fix identity, service pages, FAQs, and consistent profiles first, then add schema.

Question 6

Which channels drive the most local service leads?

Accepted Answer

High-intent demand usually starts on Google Search and Google Business Profile, then social and YouTube close the trust gap. Reviews are the multiplier because they validate your claims. Mainstay starts with GBP and service pages, then layers social proof and review velocity. See Google's local ranking factors (https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091?hl=en) and BrightLocal's review research (https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/).

Question 7

What is the real cost of slow follow-up?

Accepted Answer

Harvard Business Review found that contacting leads within an hour made firms nearly 7x more likely to qualify, while waiting 24 hours made them more than 60x less likely (https://hbr.org/2011/03/the-short-life-of-online-sales-leads). Mainstay Automation closes the gap with capture, task creation, and automated follow-up in minutes.

Question 8

Do I need a new website or can we optimize what I have?

Accepted Answer

Start with optimization if the site loads, is editable, and can pass the trust test. Fix above-the-fold clarity, speed, proof, and the primary call-to-action first. Rebuild only when the structure or tech stack blocks those fixes.

Question 9

Is social media a lead channel or a trust channel?

Accepted Answer

For local services, it is usually trust first. Use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to show proof, process, and before/after clips, then retarget people back to your offer. Mainstay uses social to pre-sell trust so search traffic converts faster.

Question 10

What is Mainstay Automation in one sentence?

Accepted Answer

Mainstay Automation turns attention into booked jobs by stacking Clarity (SEO/AEO), Proof (reviews and trust), and Speed-to-lead automation. Your website plus Talk-to-Task captures the inquiry, creates a task, and triggers follow-up so leads never go cold.

Question 11

Why does marketing feel random for local businesses?

Accepted Answer

Because most setups track clicks, not calls or booked jobs. Mainstay Automation fixes this with one clear offer, tracked calls/forms, and a source-to-booking pipeline so you can see ROI by channel.

Question 12

How do you track ROI and attribution?

Accepted Answer

We tie calls, forms, and booked jobs back to channels so you can see what is paying off. Clean attribution turns marketing from a guess into a decision. You get a simple monthly scoreboard.

Question 13

How does automation help me scale without chaos?

Accepted Answer

Automation turns best practices into repeatable workflows so new leads and team members do not break the system. Pair automation with documented SOPs to protect quality. MIT research on digital operations highlights the advantage of consistent processes at scale (https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter).

Question 14

What must be above the fold to convert?

Accepted Answer

A clear headline (service + area), one primary action, and immediate proof (reviews, badges, or before/after). Add a short subhead that answers "why you." If any of those are missing, you leak conversions.

Question 15

How long should my contact form be?

Accepted Answer

As short as you can make it while still qualifying the job. Ask only what you need to schedule the next step; extra fields kill conversion.

Question 16

Where should reviews and proof go for the biggest lift?

Accepted Answer

Put proof near the first call-to-action and right below the headline. Stanford credibility research shows people judge trust quickly based on visible cues (https://credibility.stanford.edu/guidelines/index.html), and BrightLocal shows reviews heavily influence decisions (https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/).

Question 17

What are the most common conversion blockers?

Accepted Answer

Vague headlines, hidden phone number, weak proof, too many options, long forms, and slow mobile load. Fix the top of the page first, then tighten the rest.

Question 18

How does CRO translate into more revenue?

Accepted Answer

If traffic stays the same, a 10% lift in conversion is roughly a 10% lift in booked jobs. That compounding effect is why we prioritize the top of the page and speed before anything else.

Question 19

Why do I get traffic but no calls?

Accepted Answer

Usually the offer is unclear, the page lacks proof, or the next step is hidden. Mainstay uses Clarity -> Proof -> Action on the first screen, then removes friction like long forms, slow load time, and competing buttons.

Question 20

What should my homepage include to get more leads?

Accepted Answer

A clear headline (service + area), proof near the top (reviews, photos, credentials), and one main action. Mainstay orders it as Headline -> Proof -> Action -> Services -> FAQs. Keep it easy to read on a phone and cut competing CTAs.

Question 21

What industries do you work with?

Accepted Answer

Mainly contractors and local service businesses: roofing, GC/remodel, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and similar. We also work with independent clinics when the offer and operations are solid.

Question 22

Do I need both an Areas We Serve page and city pages?

Accepted Answer

Usually, yes. The Areas We Serve page is the hub that maps your footprint, and city pages are the spokes for priority towns where you have proof and want more of your best work.

Question 23

How do I stop out-of-area leads?

Accepted Answer

Tighten service-area signals: list priority towns, link them from an Areas We Serve hub, and avoid broad claims like "we serve all of Arizona" if you do not. Match GBP service areas and landing pages to those towns so your signals are consistent.

Question 24

How fast can you launch changes?

Accepted Answer

It depends on access and how much we are changing. Small fixes can ship quickly once we have what we need. Bigger builds move in clear cycles so you can see progress. Fast wins often land in the first couple of weeks.

Question 25

Do citations and NAP consistency still matter?

Accepted Answer

They do, because inconsistent name, address, or phone creates trust drag. Fix the core listings first, then expand only where it helps real customers find you.

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