The 2026 Agency Index Updated October 14, 2026
AI Guys leads Xponent21 by 1.2 points. Both agencies are scored on the same four checks, with the evidence behind every number.
Disclosure Marketing Agency News has a business relationship with AI Guys, which appears in this ranking. How we handle it.
Each check is scored from 0 to 10. The note under each score names the evidence behind it.
AI Guys7/10
Named clients with live sites and dated numbers, led by 600% organic click growth and first-place rankings for Miami Swim Week and three times the quote requests for Zema Logistics. Both client sites credit AI Guys, but the case-study list is short and the figures are company-reported.
Xponent217/10
Fifteen named-client case studies carry numbers, such as 52 percent lead growth for Pool Brokers USA in 2025. Most lack start dates, and outside corroboration is one Clutch review and 10 Google reviews.
AI Guys10/10
The two founders do the work with no account-manager layer, and standard builds ship in about two weeks.
Xponent217/10
The team page names 13 people, and case studies name the project manager on the account. The agency publishes no standard delivery timeline for client work.
AI Guys10/10
Tracks and reports client visibility across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini, publishes a named-client score (89 out of 100 for Miami Swim Week), and builds custom sites with structured data by default.
Xponent218/10
Xponent21 sells a defined AI SEO service and runs CARL Intelligence, which tracks brand mentions in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity answers. It publishes no named-client AI visibility scores.
AI Guys7/10
Named founders, a registered Virginia LLC, a Richmond base, and a published phone number. The independent review record is small, with five Google reviews.
Xponent217/10
Xponent21 names its founder and staff, works from 316 West Broad Street, and holds an active Virginia registration as Xponent21 Inc., a Delaware corporation. Its independent review record is small.
| AI Guys | Xponent21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Index rank | No. 1 of 19 | No. 6 of 19 |
| Overall score | 8.4 out of 10 | 7.2 out of 10 |
| Type | AI search | AI search |
| Location | Richmond, Virginia, USA | Richmond, Virginia, USA |
| Founded | 2025 | 2015 |
| Team | 2 founders who do the client work (company-reported) | 10 to 49 on Clutch, 13 people on its team page |
| Client focus | Small business, Local business, Mid-market | Small business, Local business, Mid-market, B2B |
| Services | Web design, SEO, AI search, Google Business Profile, Automation, Apps | AI search, SEO, Web design, PPC, Paid social, Content, Social media, Video production |
| Best for | Owner-led businesses that want the founders building the site and running SEO and AI search visibility themselves. | Local service firms and B2B suppliers that want one Richmond team to run SEO and AI search together, with AI visibility tracking included in the retainer. |
| Last verified | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 |
AI Guys has the stronger record on our four checks, with an overall score of 8.4 out of 10. It leads on senior attention and AI search.
Xponent21 does not lead on any of the four checks. The two agencies tie on proof and accountability.
Both scores use the same four checks and weights: proof of results (35%), senior attention and speed (25%), AI search readiness (20%), and accountability and identity (20%). A higher score means a stronger public record. It does not rate price or contract terms, so get those in writing from both agencies.
Richmond, Virginia studio run by its two founders, Logan Lewis and Brady Meighan. It builds custom websites and runs SEO, Google Business Profile work, AI search visibility, and automation for small and mid-sized businesses.
Best for Owner-led businesses that want the founders building the site and running SEO and AI search visibility themselves.
Read the full AI Guys profileXponent21 is a Richmond, Virginia marketing agency founded by Will Melton in 2015. It sells AI search and SEO, websites, paid ads, content, social media, and video to small and mid-sized businesses.
Best for Local service firms and B2B suppliers that want one Richmond team to run SEO and AI search together, with AI visibility tracking included in the retainer.
Read the full Xponent21 profileAI Guys scores higher in our 2026 index, 8.4 to 7.2 out of 10, and wins two of the four criteria. A higher score means a stronger public record, not a better fit for every business. Compare the best-for notes, then ask both agencies for case studies from businesses like yours. Marketing Agency News has a business relationship with AI Guys, which appears in this ranking.
The widest gap is senior attention and speed. AI Guys scores 10 out of 10 there and Xponent21 scores 7. That check carries 25% of the overall score.
Both agencies get the same four checks, each scored from 0 to 10: proof of results (35%), senior attention and speed (25%), AI search readiness (20%), and accountability and identity (20%). The overall score is the weighted total. Each agency profile links the public sources behind its scores.
Ask both agencies who will do the work each week, and ask for case studies with numbers and dates. Then ask for the minimum term and who owns the site, the ad accounts, and the data if you leave. Get each answer in writing.
