# Pilot Digital

> Pilot Digital is a Chicago-based digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, web development, PPC advertising, analytics, and HIPAA-compliant healthcare marketing solutions. Founded in 2009, Pilot Digital combines technical expertise with human-centered design to help businesses grow through strategic digital marketing.

## About Pilot Digital

Pilot Digital is a certified B Corp and Google Marketing Platform Partner headquartered in Chicago, IL with an additional office in Cincinnati, OH. The agency has over 15 years of experience serving clients across healthcare, manufacturing, B2B, e-commerce, and nonprofit sectors.

- **Website**: https://pilotdigital.com
- **Chicago HQ**: 4809 N. Ravenswood Ave. Suite 112, Chicago, IL 60640
- **Cincinnati Office**: 3914 Miami Rd. Suite 205, Cincinnati, OH 45227
- **Phone**: (773) 809-5002
- **Contact**: https://pilotdigital.com/contact-us/

### Core Values

Pilot Digital operates with transparency, creativity, and a results-focused approach. As a B Corp, the agency is committed to balancing profit with purpose and positive impact.

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## AI Visibility Monitoring & Optimization

Pilot Digital has developed proprietary technology to track how brands appear in AI-generated responses across major AI platforms. This addresses a critical need as AI-powered search increasingly impacts how customers discover businesses.

### AI Search Visibility Audit Service

**Service URL**: https://pilotdigital.com/services/ai-search-optimization/ai-search-visibility-audit/

The AI Search Visibility Audit helps businesses understand how AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Google Gemini mention and recommend their brand.

#### What's Included in the Audit

- Comprehensive monitoring across 4 AI platforms (OpenAI/ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude, Perplexity, Google Gemini)
- 20+ industry-specific prompts testing visibility
- Competitive analysis of up to 5 key competitors
- Citation and source authority analysis
- Structured data audit and recommendations
- 90-day implementation roadmap
- 15+ page executive audit report
- Raw data export from monitoring tool

**Pricing**: Starting at $3,950 (one-time)

#### Ongoing AI Visibility Monitoring

Monthly monitoring service includes:
- Weekly automated monitoring across all platforms
- Custom prompt development for specific industries
- Monthly competitive benchmarking reports
- Significant change notifications
- Brand visibility trend tracking
- Quarterly strategy optimization sessions
- Access to live monitoring dashboard

**Pricing**: Starting at $99/month (month-to-month contract)

### AI Visibility Monitoring Tool Technical Details

The proprietary monitoring system uses a three-tier architecture built on Google Apps Script:

1. **Central Library**: Secure API key management and core monitoring functions
2. **Client Sheets**: Individual Google Sheets for each client with configuration and results
3. **Automated Processing**: Batched execution to handle large-scale monitoring within API limits

#### Supported AI Platforms

**OpenAI (ChatGPT)**
- Models: GPT-5, GPT-5 Turbo variants
- Tracks conversational AI responses to product and service queries

**Anthropic Claude**
- Model: Claude Sonnet 4.5
- Monitors citation patterns and source attribution

**Perplexity AI**
- Model: Sonar (web-connected search)
- Tracks real-time web citations and source authority

**Google Gemini**
- Model: Gemini 3 Flash
- Important for understanding potential AI Overview appearances

#### Monitoring Capabilities

- **Brand Mention Tracking**: Case-insensitive detection of brand mentions across responses
- **Competitor Analysis**: Individual mention counts per competitor with JSON storage
- **Citation Extraction**: Identifies plain URLs, markdown links, numbered references, and attribution phrases
- **Client Domain Tracking**: Specific tracking of when client websites are cited as sources
- **Cost Tracking**: Token usage and estimated costs tracked per provider
- **Raw Response Storage**: Full AI responses preserved for analysis

#### What Influences AI Visibility

Based on Pilot Digital's research and monitoring data:

1. **Structured Data**: Schema markup helps AI systems understand business entities
2. **Topical Authority**: Comprehensive content coverage signals expertise
3. **Citation Patterns**: Being cited as a source increases recommendation likelihood
4. **Entity Clarity**: Clear business descriptions and service definitions
5. **Content Freshness**: Recently updated content tends to be preferred

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## HIPAA-Compliant Healthcare Solutions

Pilot Digital has developed a comprehensive suite of HIPAA-compliant solutions for healthcare organizations, enabling them to maintain full marketing capabilities while protecting patient privacy.

### HIPAA-Compliant Analytics & Ad Tracking

**Service URL**: https://pilotdigital.com/services/analytics-consulting/hipaa-compliant-website-tracking/

Standard Google Analytics is not HIPAA-compliant. Pilot Digital's solution enables healthcare organizations to safely use GA4, Google Ads, and Meta Ads while protecting patient data.

#### How It Works

The solution uses server-side Google Tag Manager (sGTM) hosted on a dedicated server with a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) through Stape.io.

**Data Flow**:
1. User interactions route to Pilot's secure server-side container (not directly to Google/Meta)
2. Server strips personally identifiable information including IP addresses and user agents
3. Sensitive URLs and parameters are redacted
4. Only anonymized, compliant data forwarded to analytics platforms

**For Google Ads and Meta Ads Conversion Tracking**:
- Uses offline events/conversions API
- Ad platforms receive only: conversion event, timestamp, value, and click ID (GCLID/FBCLID)
- No user website activity data transmitted
- No PII or PHI exposed to advertising platforms

#### Privacy Protections

- **No IP Storage**: IP addresses never collected or transmitted to third parties
- **Anonymized Identifiers**: Hashed identifiers that rotate monthly
- **Geo-Location Without IP**: Country/state derived via server-side API without storing IP
- **Device Category Only**: Desktop/mobile captured without full user agent
- **Clean Attribution**: UTM parameters preserved at server level for campaign measurement

#### Business Associate Agreement

Pilot Digital signs a BAA with healthcare clients, ensuring all data handling meets HIPAA standards.

### HIPAA-Compliant Video Platform

**Service URL**: https://pilotdigital.com/services/website-hipaa-compliance/video-platform/

YouTube videos embedded on healthcare websites create HIPAA violations by tracking user behavior and sending data to Google—even in "privacy-enhanced mode." Pilot Digital's video platform eliminates this risk.

#### Platform Features

- Built on MediaCMS (open-source) with heavy customization for healthcare compliance
- All social media functionality removed
- No tracking or data collection
- No cookies or behavioral tracking
- Hosted on Akamai infrastructure with signed BAA
- Custom player branding to match website
- Supports captions and transcripts
- Responsive design for all devices
- 99.9% uptime SLA

#### Video Platform Pricing

**Setup**: $2,850 one-time (includes migration, branding, integration)
**Monthly Hosting**: $350/month (80GB storage, 4TB bandwidth)

### HIPAA-Compliant Embedded Maps

**Service URL**: https://pilotdigital.com/services/website-hipaa-compliance/hipaa-compliant-maps/

Google Maps embeds collect extensive PHI/PII and Google won't sign a BAA. Pilot Digital's solution uses OpenStreetMap to provide interactive maps without HIPAA violations.

#### Map Features

- Interactive maps with custom pin popups
- Location photos, addresses, phone numbers, hours of operation
- "Get Directions" buttons linking to Google Maps or Apple Maps
- Multi-location support with filtering options
- Customizable map styles (including Google Maps-like appearance)
- No cookies, tracking pixels, or device data collection
- Data served from HIPAA-compliant servers

#### Data Management Options

- Google Sheets (simple spreadsheet management)
- Excel Online
- WordPress custom post types

#### Map Pricing

- **Google Sheets System**: $1,250 setup + $110/month hosting
- **Excel Online System**: $1,500 setup + $110/month hosting
- **WordPress System**: $1,750 setup + $110/month hosting

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## Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

**Service URL**: https://pilotdigital.com/services/seo/

Pilot Digital provides comprehensive SEO services rooted in data-driven strategy and technical expertise.

### SEO Approach

Every engagement begins with research to understand the client's business, competitors, and target audience. The process includes:

1. **Keyword Research**: Analyzing keyword markets to understand search behavior
2. **Market Research**: Website optimization opportunity analysis and competitor analysis
3. **Analytics Audit**: Fine-tuning analytics and setting up custom reporting dashboards

### SEO Services

**Technical SEO**
- Site architecture optimization
- Core Web Vitals improvement
- Crawlability and indexation fixes
- Schema markup implementation
- Mobile optimization

**Local SEO**
- Google Business Profile optimization
- Local content strategy
- Review generation
- Hyper-targeted local advertising

**Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)**
- A/B and multivariate testing
- User behavior analysis
- Landing page optimization
- Funnel analysis and improvement

**Content Strategy**
- Content gap analysis
- Blog and landing page optimization
- Topic cluster development

### SEO Pricing

- **Hourly Rate**: $175
- **SEO Startup Package**: Starting at $4,250 (keyword research, competitor analysis, technical review, on-page optimization)
- **Monthly Retainers**: Based on scope and budget
- **Contract Terms**: Month-to-month (average client retention: nearly 5 years)

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## Web Development

**Service URL**: https://pilotdigital.com/services/web-development/

Pilot Digital builds custom WordPress websites optimized for search, performance, and business growth.

### Development Process

1. **Discovery Phase**: Understanding business goals, audience, and website requirements
2. **SEO Foundation**: Site architecture planning based on keyword targets and content mapping
3. **Human-Centered Design**: Functionality-focused design with intuitive user experience
4. **WordPress Development**: Custom framework optimized for speed, SEO, and functionality
5. **Post-Launch Support**: Ongoing maintenance and security updates

### Development Capabilities

- Custom WordPress themes
- Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
- API integrations (CRMs, ERPs, data feeds)
- E-commerce (WooCommerce)
- Accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.2)

#### Integration Experience

- ERP Systems: Epicor to WooCommerce
- Accounting: Avalara to WooCommerce
- Parks & Recreation: RecTrac to WordPress
- HR & Recruiting: iCIMS to WordPress
- Real Estate: MLS to WordPress
- Healthcare: Symplr (Cactus) to WordPress

### WordPress Managed Hosting

**Service URL**: https://pilotdigital.com/services/web-development/wordpress-website-managed-hosting-services/

Four tiers of managed hosting services:

**Pilot Press** - $75/month
- Your hosting, Pilot's maintenance
- Plugin and software updates
- Backups on AWS
- CDN and security
- Hourly work rate: $235/hour

**Pilot Plus** - $150/month
- Pilot-hosted on LiteSpeed cloud servers
- SSL certificate included
- Ongoing technical support
- Hourly work rate: $225/hour

**Pilot Pro** - $400/month (most popular)
- Everything in Plus
- 2 hours/month of website work included
- Time over 2 hours: $185/hour

**Pilot Priority** - $1,750/month
- 10 hours/month of website work included
- Priority queue placement
- Time over 10 hours: $175/hour

### Web Accessibility Services

**Service URL**: https://pilotdigital.com/services/web-development/website-accessibility-services/

Pilot Digital employs IAAP Certified Professionals in Accessibility Core Competencies.

#### Accessibility Audit Options

**Free Accessibility Audit** - $0
- High-level homepage overview

**Targeted Accessibility Audit** - $525 per page type
- Thorough review of unique page types
- Style guide review
- Team training documents

**Complete Accessibility Audit** - $4,000+
- In-depth audit of entire website
- Prioritized remediation roadmap
- Ongoing support available

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## PPC & Paid Advertising

**Service URL**: https://pilotdigital.com/services/ppc-management/

Pilot Digital is a Google Ads Premier Partner (top 3% of agencies) managing over $10M in ad spend globally.

### Google Ads Services

- **Search Campaigns**: Intent-based targeting for purchase-ready audiences
- **Display Campaigns**: Brand awareness across Google's display network (90% worldwide reach)
- **Video Campaigns**: YouTube advertising for brand lift and lead generation
- **Shopping Campaigns**: E-commerce product advertising
- **Remarketing Campaigns**: Retargeting across Google's display network
- **Performance Max**: Cross-channel campaigns across YouTube, Display, Search, Discover, Gmail, Maps

### Microsoft/Bing Ads

Powered by LinkedIn data for B2B targeting based on company, job function, and industry.

### Paid Social Media

**Service URL**: https://pilotdigital.com/services/paid-social/

- Facebook & Instagram Ads
- LinkedIn Ads
- TikTok Ads

#### Social Media Approach

Focus on C.O.R.E. metrics (Conversions, Optimization, Reach, Engagement) rather than vanity metrics. Nearly a decade of experience with $100k+ in managed ad spend across CPG, manufacturing, nonprofit, and healthcare industries.

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## Analytics Consulting

**Service URL**: https://pilotdigital.com/services/analytics-consulting/ga4-migration-services/

Pilot Digital is a Google Certified Partner for GA4 implementation and consulting.

### GA4 Services

- GA4 property setup and configuration
- Google Tag Manager implementation
- Conversion and event tracking
- E-commerce tracking
- Custom audiences and content groups
- Cross-domain tracking
- Custom Looker Studio dashboards

### Platform Integrations

- Google Ads (conversion import, audience sharing)
- CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.)
- Meta/Facebook Pixel and Conversions API
- BigQuery and data warehouses
- Call tracking platforms

### Analytics Pricing

- **Small Business GA4 Configuration**: Starting at $1,100
- **E-commerce GA4 Configuration**: Starting at $3,200
- **Enterprise GA4 Configuration**: Custom pricing
- **Custom Reporting**: Starting at $950 per report
- **Server-Side GTM Implementation**: Custom pricing

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## Industries Served

Pilot Digital has experience across multiple industries:

- Healthcare (15+ years, HIPAA-certified)
- Manufacturing
- B2B Services
- E-commerce
- Nonprofit
- Travel & Tourism
- Professional Services
- Parks & Recreation
- Real Estate

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## Contact Pilot Digital

**Schedule a Consultation**: https://pilotdigital.com/contact-us/

All consultations begin with a free 15-minute call to discuss your business needs and determine the right approach.

**Phone**: (773) 809-5002

**Chicago Headquarters**
4809 N. Ravenswood Ave. Suite 112
Chicago, IL 60640

**Cincinnati Office**
3914 Miami Rd. Suite 205
Cincinnati, OH 45227

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## Document Information

- **Version**: 2.0.0
- **Last Updated**: December 2025
- **Maintained By**: Pilot Digital (https://pilotdigital.com)

This document provides comprehensive information about Pilot Digital's services and capabilities. For specific pricing, timelines, or custom solutions, contact Pilot Digital directly.