Discover how 1840 & Co. leaned into Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) with Profound to achieve 11% AI visibility and become a top 5 brand in remote staffing.

The Challenge: Standing Out Against Heavyweights

Standing out against heavyweights
  • Industry Giants: Toptal boasts around 74% AI visibility in the remote staffing space; Upwork claims about 29%.
  • 1840 & Co.’s Starting Point: 0% AI visibility, meaning they simply never appeared in AI answers—no matter how relevant they were.

Despite well-established names dominating traditional search results, 1840 & Co. recognized that AI search was a fresh playing field. They could leapfrog competitors by mastering this emerging channel first. That's where Profound came in.

The Shift to AEO: Why Traditional SEO Isn’t Enough

Traditional SEO once hinged on keywords and backlinks. But answer engines don’t serve up 10 blue links; they generate a single consolidated response. A brand’s mention depends less on backlink quantity and more on content clarity and direct brand statements.

1840 & Co.’s Path to 11% Visibility

1840 & Co.’s Path to 11% Visibility

1. Discovering the Gaps with Profound

Using Profound’s platform, 1840 & Co. scanned hundreds of queries—like “best remote staffing agencies” or “top US-based staffing for developers”—across popular AI engines. Profound’s Citation Analysis revealed:

  • Key Competitors: Toptal, Upwork, and a few unexpected smaller firms.
  • Winning Content Formats: Short compare-and-contrast lists, straightforward “Why Choose Us” statements, and FAQ sections.
  • Potential ‘Hidden Influencers’: Niche industry blogs that held surprising sway in AI citations.

Insight: By mapping the AI citation landscape, 1840 & Co. realized they didn’t need million-dollar ad budgets or a massive SEO overhaul. They just needed precise, AI-friendly content.

2. Crafting AI-Optimized Content

Armed with Profound’s insights, 1840 & Co. published one targeted blog post:

  • Headings & Bullet Points: Clear segment titles like “10 Best Agencies For Remote Staffing Solutions.”
  • Direct Brand Placement: Instead of burying themselves in a bottom paragraph, 1840 & Co. placed themselves at the top of curated lists.
  • Short, Relevant FAQs: AI often cites bite-sized Q&A sections.

Insight: In just two weeks, visibility jumped from 0% to 6%. By the end of the month, it climbed to 11%—making 1840 & Co. one of the top five players cited by AI-driven searches in their space.

3. Iteration & Monitoring

Rather than a set-it-and-forget-it approach, 1840 & Co. tapped into Profound’s real-time tracking:

  • Citation Share: They observed exactly how often AI answers included their brand.
  • Content Insights: Learning exactly what type of content was being cited across answer engines gave 1840 & Co. a clear direction for their content strategy.
  • Competitive Benchmarking: Comparing their improvements against Toptal, Upwork, and others kept them nimble.

Insight: Continuous monitoring allowed 1840 & Co. to see immediate impact from each content tweak and quickly outpace bigger rivals.

Why This Matters for Your Brand

  1. First-Mover Advantage: While competitors focus on traditional SEO, you can establish early dominance in AI search results.
  2. Rapid Results: A single well-structured post can yield measurable gains within weeks—no huge link-building campaigns required.
  3. High-Intent Visibility: AI-driven answers often cater to specific, conversion-ready queries. When your brand is cited, it shapes the narrative. You own the discussion around your brand, products, and even wider industry.
  4. Long-Term Flexibility: As AI models evolve, you can adapt content strategy in real-time using Profound’s data to stay ahead.

How Profound Delivers AEO ROI

Jay Douglas

Jay Douglas, Marketing Director at 1840 & Company

Profound is built to track, analyze, and boost AI visibility:

  • Citation & Content Analysis: Learn which content pieces AI engines value most—yours and your competitors’.
  • Content Pattern Discovery: Uncover exactly what content formats, structures, and messaging styles drive AI citations—from heading patterns to content depth.
  • Search Intent Analysis: Track keyword volume and discover what users are actually asking AI about your industry—helping you create content that matches real search behavior.
  • Continuous Insight: We run thousands of queries daily to ensure you’re always up-to-date with the latest AI visibility trends.

For 1840 & Co., Profound meant not just playing catch-up—it meant leaping into the top tier of remote staffing results overnight.

Your Next Steps

1. Assess Your AI Visibility

  • Ask ChatGPT, Perplexity or Microsoft Copilot industry questions. Are you mentioned at all?
  • If not, time to prioritize AEO in your content strategy.

2. Optimize Key Content

  • Create or revise one blog post to reflect AI-friendly headings, concise bullet points, and direct brand mentions.

3. Measure & Repeat

  • Use Profound’s platform to track immediate results.
  • Update your content monthly or quarterly based on real-time citation data.

Ready to replicate 1840 & Co.’s rapid gains in AI visibility? Let Profound show you how.

Final Thoughts

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is no longer a futuristic concept—it's already reshaping how consumers discover and choose brands. 1840 & Co.’s journey from total obscurity to a top 5 player is a clear, data-driven testament that any brand can capture AI-driven leads with the right approach.

At Profound, we empower you to unlock these same results—helping marketers reach qualified prospects swiftly and cost-effectively in the age of AI.

Talk to Our Team

Interested in seeing how Profound can transform your brand’s AI visibility?

Book a demo and let's explore your path to AEO success.