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.
State of AI Visibility:
Buffalo-Niagara Falls
Algorithmic analysis of contractors across 19 municipalities in the region.
We analyzed 453 businesses across 19 municipalities in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls region. The findings reveal that 84% of local businesses remain invisible to AI assistants like ChatGPT and Google AI.
The region outperforms the provincial average by 1.1 points, demonstrating superior digital adoption compared to New York.
Only 3% of businesses achieve "AI-Ready" status—the minimum threshold to appear consistently in AI-generated recommendations.
The Performance Gap
The data reveals a 6x gap between market leaders and the rest of the pack.
Market leaders (top 10%) maintain an average score of 69/100 with 405 reviews on average. These businesses consistently appear in AI recommendations.
At-risk businesses (bottom 50%) stagnate at 34/100 with only 66 reviews. Despite their expertise, they're invisible to consumers using AI.
Lancaster leads the regional rankings with a score of 47/100 across 25 businesses analyzed.
Kenmore shows the lowest score at 36/100—a 11-point gap from the regional leader.
What This Means for Consumers
Performance Gap
Top 10% vs Bottom 50%
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 16% of businesses in Buffalo-Niagara Falls have schema markup, compared to 16% 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.
Schema Markup Explained
The Review Paradox
Visibility by Trade
Not all trades are created equal when it comes to AI visibility. In Buffalo-Niagara Falls, we analyze 9 core trades (plumbers, electricians, roofers, HVAC, general contractors, landscapers, painters, foundation specialists, and HVAC/R) plus 7 other categories grouped together.
appliances lead the pack with 20% of businesses "AI-Ready" and an average score of 53/100. This trade has 6.5x more optimized businesses as the regional average.
fencings lag behind with only 0% of businesses "AI-Ready" and an average score of 32/100. For homeowners searching for these services, this means fewer AI-visible options.
If You Need a fencing
AI Visibility by Trade
Where Businesses Cluster
The score distribution reveals a bifurcated market:
The Elite (75-100): 14 businesses (3%) have optimized for AI discovery. These are the contractors AI assistants recommend.
The Middle Ground (50-74): 66 businesses (15%) are visible but not prioritized. A few optimizations could push them into recommendation territory.
The Danger Zone (0-49): 373 businesses (82%) are effectively invisible to AI search. Despite averaging 122 reviews, their technical infrastructure fails them.
The tipping point is 50. Below this threshold, businesses rarely appear in AI-generated recommendations regardless of reputation.
The Intense Competition Zone
Visibility Score Distribution
The Three Tiers of AI Visibility
Excellent (14 businesses, 3%) These businesses appear in AI recommendations consistently. They have schema markup, verified business data, and strong review signals. Average score: 80+.
Good (66 businesses, 15%) 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 (373 businesses, 82%) Effectively invisible. Despite averaging 122 reviews and 4.5 stars, these businesses lack the technical signals AI assistants need. They're competing with one hand tied behind their back.
The Cost of Being in the Wrong Tier
AI Market Readiness
Geographic Patterns
The Leader: Lancaster With 25 businesses analyzed and an average score of 47/100, Lancaster leads the region. 0% of local contractors are "AI-Ready"—near the regional average.
The Opportunity: Kenmore Kenmore averages 36/100 across 24 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.
The Growth Factor
Champions by Municipality
| # | Municipality | Top Business | City Score | AI-Ready |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lancaster(25 businesses) | 47 | 0% | |
| 2 | Tonawanda(25 businesses) | 46 | 4% | |
| 3 | Williamsville(25 businesses) | 45 | 4% | |
| 4 | Clarence(25 businesses) | 45 | 0% | |
| 5 | Buffalo(25 businesses) | 44 | 12% | |
| 6 | Hamburg(25 businesses) | 43 | 4% | |
| 7 | Depew(25 businesses) | 43 | 4% | |
| 8 | Orchard Park(25 businesses) | 43 | 0% | |
| 9 | North Tonawanda(25 businesses) | 43 | 8% | |
| 10 | Lackawanna(25 businesses) | 42 | 0% | |
| 11 | Amherst(25 businesses) | 41 | 8% | |
| 12 | East Aurora(25 businesses) | 41 | 4% | |
| 13 | Lockport(25 businesses) | 41 | 0% | |
| 14 | West Seneca(25 businesses) | 40 | 4% | |
| 15 | Cheektowaga(25 businesses) | 40 | 4% |
Explore Municipality Guides
Detailed trade-by-trade analysis for each city in Buffalo-Niagara Falls
Top 10 Regional Performers
These businesses have optimized their digital footprint for AI search, maintaining consistent schema data and verified identity signals.
84% of contractors in Buffalo-Niagara Falls are invisible to AI assistants like ChatGPT and Perplexity, according to an analysis of 453 local businesses.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup, a plumber in Buffalo, leads the region with an AI visibility score of 89/100.
Kenmore shows the greatest improvement potential with an average score of 36/100 — contractors who optimize now could dominate the local market.
Buffalo-Niagara Falls outperforms the New York provincial average by 1.1 points in AI visibility, suggesting faster tech adoption.
appliances lead in AI visibility (20% excellent), while fencings lag behind (0% excellent).
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