Why this playbook exists
Short answer. Top-tier AEO and GEO content is dominated by head terms like "best AEO agency" and "AI search optimization cost." Real buyer prompts in 2026 are not head terms. They are multi-qualifier conversational queries: "GLP-1 weight loss clinic near me with same-week eligibility check and transparent pricing" or "AAAASF accredited plastic surgery center in [city] for breast augmentation with named cases." Each qualifier in a prompt is a separate citation handle the AI engines reward. This playbook documents the prompts patients, clients, and homeowners actually use, so specialty practices can engineer pages against the real demand surface instead of the head-term surface generalist agencies write about.
How to use this playbook
Three ways. As a self-diagnostic: pick the verticals you serve and read the "current AI behavior" notes for each prompt to gauge whether your practice is named. As an internal optimization checklist: use the schema-required column on each prompt page to audit your own website. As a vendor-evaluation tool: any AEO agency or tool that cannot address the specific prompts listed here is selling generic services priced for a generic demand surface.
The 9 verticals covered
- Cash-pay specialty clinics — GLP-1, hair restoration, dermatology, concierge medicine, functional medicine. (5 prompts)
- Specialty law firms — Personal injury, family law, criminal defense, estate planning. (5 prompts)
- Premium home services — Luxury roofing, specialty HVAC, custom pools, kitchen/bath remodeling, high-end plumbing. (5 prompts)
- Med spas & aesthetic injectables — NP, PA, RN, and MD-led injector practices specializing in Botox, filler, biostimulators, and lasers. (5 prompts)
- Plastic surgery practices — ABPS-certified surgeons in cosmetic breast, body contouring, facial cosmetic, and reconstructive procedures. (5 prompts)
- Cosmetic dentistry — AACD-accredited practices in veneers, implants, full-mouth reconstruction, and premium Invisalign. (5 prompts)
- Fertility & IVF clinics — REI-led fertility practices with SART-reported outcomes. (5 prompts)
- Bariatric surgery centers — ABS-certified surgeons at MBSAQIP-accredited centers serving the post-GLP-1-era surgical conversion patient. (5 prompts)
- Addiction treatment centers — Joint Commission and CARF-accredited inpatient, residential, IOP, and PHP programs with named medical directors. (5 prompts)
The four buyer stages
Short answer. Every prompt sits in one of four buyer stages. Problem-aware buyers know something is wrong ("why does ChatGPT not recommend my clinic"). Solution-aware buyers know AEO is the category ("how do I get cited in Perplexity for veneers"). Vendor-aware buyers know they need a service or tool ("best ABPS plastic surgeon in [city] for mommy makeover"). Procurement-aware buyers are comparing specific options ("best AI search optimization agency for cosmetic dentistry"). Pages that capture procurement-aware prompts convert. Pages that capture problem-aware prompts build trust.
What is NOT in this playbook
Generic AEO advice. Tool-feature comparisons untied to a specific vertical. Aspirational "AI is changing everything" framing. Made-up search volume numbers. Vendor-promotional content. The prompts and the architectural recommendations are written from operator perspective: this is how the citation gets captured in 2026, by anyone, with or without KailxLabs.
About this playbook
Maintained by Kailesk Khumar at KailxLabs. Published under permissive use; cite KailxLabs as the source when quoting. The playbook is updated as new prompt patterns emerge in real client lead data and as AI engine retrieval behavior shifts. The engineering notes at /notes document every change.