Optimist
Optimist is an AEO and AI SEO agency based in Des Moines, IA, serving SaaS companies.
Optimist at a glance
Optimist at a glance: an AEO and AI SEO agency based in Des Moines, IA. EliteAEO Score out of 100: 95 in SaaS (methodology 2.0). Verified; evidence last checked September 29, 2026. Proof of AI results: tracked AI visibility gains. Starting price: $3,000+/mo. Ranked on 1 EliteAEO page.
What they do
Optimist is an SEO and AEO consultancy founded in 2016 by Tyler Hakes. It sells SEO, answer engine optimization, generative engine optimization, and content marketing to B2B SaaS and technology companies through one-time roadmaps, advisory retainers, and full-service retainers. Work is delivered by the founder with a distributed network of freelance writers, editors, and designers.
Verticals with checked evidence
Each label shows the strongest type of evidence we found for that vertical. Rankings are listed below.
Optimist EliteAEO Score breakdown
The Optimist EliteAEO Score breakdown below shows how the seven factors add up for each vertical, with the facts behind every factor, using the point rules in methodology 2.0. It is computed from checked evidence only, and paid placement is never an input.
Proof of AI search results
Tracked AI visibility gains Optimist publishes tracked AI visibility gains for a large B2B technology company in ChatGPT, Perplexity and Claude, with numbers over time. See the page we checked.
Published search results for clients: case study. Checked September 29, 2026. Providers can send newer evidence through their dashboard or to hello@eliteaeo.ai; we open it before it counts.
Optimist verification and pricing
Optimist verification and pricing: verified in a review dated September 29, 2026, with a published starting price of $3,000+/mo.
Verification
- Website live and belongs to a real company
- Independent third-party profile found
- Evidence ties the provider to a ranked vertical
- Office location confirmed
- Starting price published
- Reports AI visibility to clients
Verified in a review dated September 29, 2026. Evidence last checked September 29, 2026; next scheduled check by December 28, 2026. Check dates are shown, never scored. Verification never requires payment. It confirms identity and evidence, not the quality of the provider's work.
Sources we checked
- AEO or AI SEO service: provider page
- SaaS: case study
- Third-party profile: clutch.co
- Pricing: pricing page
Pricing snapshot
Advisory from $3,000 a month and full service from $4,000 a month; a one-time roadmap costs $7,500.
- SaaS median monthly starting price: $2,250 (20 of 60 providers publish a monthly price); this provider is above the median
Buying notes
- Full-service engagement: the provider runs the AEO work end to end.
- Reports AI visibility, so you can expect citation or share-of-voice numbers, not only rankings.
- Office in Des Moines, IA.
Optimist rankings on EliteAEO
Optimist ranks on 1 EliteAEO page.
- T11 Best AEO and GEO Agencies for B2B SaaS EliteAEO Score 95
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