May 29, 2025 • 16 mins
The digital landscape for local businesses has undergone a seismic shift that many owners haven't yet recognized. Google has fundamentally changed how customers find local services by introducing AI-powered search features that prioritize Google Business Profiles over traditional websites.
This transformation means your Google Business Profile has effectively become your primary digital storefront. When customers search for services "near me," they're increasingly shown an AI-generated summary and curated business list. The crucial change? Clicking a business name takes them directly to the Google Business Profile—not to your website. This direct path means many potential customers form their first impression from your GBP rather than your carefully designed homepage.
For local business owners juggling countless responsibilities, this shift actually presents an exciting opportunity. Unlike traditional SEO that favored businesses with large marketing budgets, Google Business Profile optimization creates a more level playing field. Small businesses can compete effectively by providing the AI with detailed, fresh information about their services. We break down exactly what the AI looks for in your profile—from comprehensive service listings and keyword-rich reviews to regular posts and complete information in every available section.
The analysis reveals five key strategies that form your new local search playbook: upload fresh content regularly, optimize reviews for keywords, list every service and product in detail, fill out every section completely, and link your active social media profiles. These actions create what amounts to your "AI resume"—the comprehensive document Google's AI scans to understand your business and match you with relevant searches.
Take a fresh look at your Google Business Profile today. How complete is it? What opportunities are you missing? One small improvement could significantly impact your visibility to local customers actively searching for exactly what you offer. Don't let an outdated or incomplete profile send those customers to your competitors instead.
Discover how Local Biz Domination can revolutionize your business operations. Our AI-driven CRM is designed to crush inefficiencies, automate tasks, and empower entrepreneurs to focus on growth and innovation. Visit https://LocalBizDominance.com to learn more and unlock the full potential of your business today.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right.
So if you're running a localbusiness maybe you're a plumber,
an electrician, you run acoffee shop, a local store.
You know any business peoplelook for near me.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
You're busy, you're juggling a million things, and
getting found online, especiallywithout pouring money into ads,
is well, it's crucial, right,and the last thing you need is
some super complex marketingthing to add to your plate.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Exactly, you need things that work and you know,
don't require a PhD in code.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Well, here's a heads up.
Google's made a really big move, a shift that fundamentally
changes how your business showsup when people search locally
online.
We've been digging into someinformation that really lays out
what this change is and, maybemore importantly, gives a clear
plan for what you need to do.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, think of it like a new map for getting found
.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
So our mission here is pretty simple.
We're going to break down thekey stuff from this analysis no
jargon, just what you need tounderstand about this Google
shift and the practical stepsyou can take, like today, to
make sure you're getting seen bythose local customers.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
And just to stress, this isn't some minor tweak.
Google's testing, theinformation suggests this is a
fundamental change in direction.
Paying attention to this andacting on what this material
shows, it's pretty muchnon-negotiable if you want to
stay competitive locally.
It shows where the customersare actually going now.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Okay, let's unpack it then.
What is this big shift?
The analysis we looked at callsit Google's AI mode in search.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Right, it's part of their push for well faster, more
direct answers, but the impactfor a local business it's huge.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So remember how local search used to work, like you
search best pizza place or ACrepair near me.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Yep, Get some ads.
Maybe a list of websites thatmap pack with three businesses.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
And you click a link, usually end up on their website
.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
That was the standard path for years.
Yeah, find a business, click totheir site, see if they're a
fit.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
But here's the kicker from this analysis, in this new
AI setup for a lot of thoselocal searches the results page
looks totally different Insteadof that list of websites.
Maybe being front and centerlooks totally different, instead
of that list of websites, maybebeing front and center.
The AI often gives you asummary, like an AI written
paragraph right at the top andthen often right below that,
just a short list of businessnames the ones the AI thinks are
(02:18):
the best match.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
And this is the absolute critical part based on
the material.
When someone clicks a businessname from that AI list, they go
directly to your Google businessprofile, your GBP.
They don't hit your websitefirst.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Whoa Okay, hold on.
So that means my website, theone I maybe spent good money on.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
It often gets bypassed in that initial
interaction.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, so the very first impression a potential
customer gets, it's now myGoogle business profile, not my
homepage.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
In many, many cases for local search.
Now, yes, the AI is basicallycurating the info and sending
people straight to the profileit thinks is most relevant.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Why are they doing that?
What's the thinking?
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Well, the sources point towards speed and
relevance.
Google wants to give thesearcher the answer, the contact
info, the location.
Like instantly Clicking throughto a website, loading it that
takes time.
It adds a step Going straightto a verified profile.
That's faster.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
OK, so the consequence then?
If my whole online strategy wasjust about getting my website
rank high with SEO, blog posts,all that stuff?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
You might see your website traffic dip from those
kinds of searches because thatstep is getting skipped more
often.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
And meanwhile my competitor down the street who's
maybe put more effort intotheir Google profile.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
They could be the ones getting featured in that AI
summary and getting the directcalls or directions request.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Feels a bit of a shock to the system.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
It can be, yeah, but you know the material actually
frames this as well as good newsin a way.
How so?
Because optimizing your Googlebusiness profile based on what
we're seeing, it's presented asway more accessible.
It's less technically demandingthan deep website SEO.
You don't need to be a codingwhiz.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
That's a relief.
And this isn't just a test,right.
This AI thing is rolling out.
Seems like it's becoming thedefault, the standard way.
Search works, especially forlocal queries.
Your Google business profileisn't just a thing anymore.
It's rapidly becoming your maindigital storefront for local
customers finding you throughsearch.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Okay.
So if the Google profile is thenew front door, what's the AI
actually looking at?
How does it decide whichbusinesses to show in that
summary or that shortlist?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
This is where it gets really interesting and, frankly
, empowering for localbusinesses.
The analysis shows the AI isincredibly focused.
It's primarily pulling theinformation it uses to
understand you and match you tosearches almost exclusively from
what you publish directly ontoyour Google business profile
itself.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Only from the profile , not necessarily digging
through my whole website.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
first, For building that initial AI summary and
shortlist.
It seems the profile is theprimary source.
Think of it like your AI resume, as the sources put it.
That was a great analogy.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
An AI resume.
I like that.
So what sections of that resumeis the AI reading?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Okay, so the sources list specifics.
It's scanning your chosenbusiness categories.
It's looking at your detailedlist of services, your product
names, if you list themCritically.
It reads the actual text withinyour customer reviews.
It looks at your photos and anytags or descriptions with them,
your main business description,the Q&A section, questions and
(05:22):
answers and any events or offersyou post.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Wow, ok, so it's really digging into the details
within the profile.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Absolutely, and this makes a key point super clear.
Just having a profile isn't thewin anymore, like the source of
stress.
It's the quality, thecompleteness, the detail of the
information you put into allthose sections.
That's what tells the AI whoyou are and if you're a good
match.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
So if my profile is kind of bare bones just the name
and address, maybe, Then yourAI resume is mostly blank.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
The AI just doesn't have enough information to
confidently recommend you forspecific searches.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
And that's how it puts together that summary at
the top by piecing together infofrom all these sections.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Exactly.
It grabs service details,matches keywords from
descriptions and reviews, looksat your location info, checks
your photos all from the GBP.
To answer a specific query,like emergency plumber available
weekends in downtown or bakerynear me with gluten free options
.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
It needs those specifics from your profile to
make the connection.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Precisely.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
OK.
So understanding what it'slooking at leads right into what
we need to do.
The sources basically give us achecklist right, the new
playbook for getting found inthis AI search world.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
That's right.
And again, it's not abouttricking Google, it's about
feeling the AI the best possibleinformation about your business
in the place it's looking mostclosely.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
So what's first on the list?
Speaker 2 (06:41):
First up, upload fresh content and do it often.
The analysis is really clear onthis Activity signals relevance
.
A profile that hasn't beentouched in months looks what
less relevant to the AI, like aclosed shop Kind of yeah.
So the action step isconsistency.
Try to post something weekly anupdate, a special offer, maybe
a quick tip related to yourbusiness, answer a common
(07:02):
question and upload new photosregularly.
Show your team, your work, yourshop, new products, videos too.
If you can.
The sources suggest Googlelikes video content.
It just keeps telling the AIhey, we're active, we're open,
we're relevant.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
OK, fresh content, keep it active, makes sense.
What's next?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Next and this was a bit of an eye opener from the
analysis optimize your reviewsfor keywords.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Meaning not just getting five stars.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Right, stars are great, obviously, but the AI is
actually reading the text inthose reviews.
It's looking for keywordsrelated to your services, your
location.
So if a happy customer writesthey did a great job fixing the
wiring in my garage, that phrasefixing the wiring is a signal
to the AI about what you do.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Ah, okay, so how do we influence that?
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Gently encourage happy customers to mention the
specific service they got, ormaybe the town or neighborhood
when they leave a review.
Just a simple ask.
And when you respond to reviewswhich you should be doing try
to naturally include those samekeywords like so glad we could
help with fixing the wiring inyour garage.
It reinforces it for the AI.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
So reviews are like double duty.
Now social proof in helping theAI understand you.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Exactly Keyword multipliers.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Cool Okay.
Number three.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Number three is super important.
List every service and productin detail.
The sources really hammeredthis home.
Broad categories aren't enoughfor the AI.
Just listing electriciandoesn't tell it.
You do EV charger installationor panel upgrades or smart home
wiring.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
You need the specifics, all the specifics.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Add detailed individual services under your
main categories.
The analysis suggests aimingfor quite a few, maybe 10, 20,
or even more, depending on howmany things you do.
Use the actual phrasescustomers might search for in
the service names anddescriptions.
Don't keyword stuff but bedescriptive.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Does this apply even if I don't sell physical
products like if I'm a servicebusiness?
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yes, you can use the product section to list service
packages, specific high-valueoffers or maintenance plans.
It's another place to showcasedetails.
This detail helps you matchthose longer, more specific
searches people make when theyknow exactly what they need.
Makes your AI resume reallydetailed.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Got it Detail, detail , detail.
What's number four on thechecklist?
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Number four, tackle something often overlooked Fill
out every section.
So many businesses just leaveparts of their profile blank the
Q&A section, the maindescription, those attributes.
People skip those All the time,but the AI scans everything.
So action steps Go into the Q&Aand add three to five common
questions yourself.
Then answer them with good,detailed, keyword-aware answers.
(09:37):
Rate a good, comprehensivebusiness description using terms
customers might search for anddefinitely check all the
relevant attributes things likewheelchair accessible, online
appointments, veteran-led,women-owned, whatever applies.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Basically, don't leave any field empty.
If you can help it.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Pretty much More complete information gives the
AI more chances to understandyou and match you correctly.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Okay, makes sense.
And the last one, number five.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Number five is link your social media profiles.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Oh, interesting.
Why does that matter for theGoogle profile?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Well, the sources indicate Google is starting to
actually show recent socialmedia posts directly on some
Google business profiles.
It seems to be another signalto the AI that your business is
active, engaged and has apresence beyond just the GBP
itself.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
So connect Facebook, Instagram, whatever else.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Yep, add the links, make sure those profiles are
public, not private, and ideallysomewhat active.
You can even repurpose content.
Post something on GBP, share iton Facebook too.
It adds another layer ofcredibility.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Okay, that's a pretty solid checklist Fresh content,
keyword reviews, detailedservices fill everything.
Link socials.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
That's the core of the optimization playbook based
on the analysis.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Now looking at that list it might feel like, wow,
that's a lot of work.
But the sources presented thisshift not just as a challenge
but actually as a bigopportunity, especially for
smaller, independent localbusinesses.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yes, that's a really crucial perspective.
It actually helps level theplaying field in some
significant ways.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
How so.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Think about traditional online marketing.
Often it felt like you werecompeting against big companies
with huge budgets, right.
Often it felt like you werecompeting against big companies
with huge budgets, right Moneyfor fancy websites, complex SEO
campaigns, armies of content,writers, link building.
It took serious cash andexpertise.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Yeah, it's hard to compete with that if you're
running a local shop.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Exactly, but now the AI is heavily prioritizing the
data in your Google businessprofile, and that's something
you control directly.
Optimizing your GBP doesn'trequire a massive budget or a
team of developers.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
So me, the local business owner, I can actually
compete with the big guys justby doing my Google profile
really well.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
That's the opportunity.
Yes, you can potentiallyoutrank larger competitors who
might be slow to adapt or arestill just focused on their
website, simply by nailing theGBP basics we just talked about.
It's a much more accessibleroute to getting found without
paying for ads.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
That's powerful.
What else makes it anopportunity?
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Speed Agility.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Local businesses can move so much faster.
Think about it A bigcorporation might need weeks or
months to get approval to updatewebsite content or add a new
service page Right.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Bureaucracy.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
But you, you can log into your GBP right now.
Add a new service.
You just started offeringupload photos from a job you
finished this morning.
Respond to a review instantly.
Post a special for thisafternoon.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I can react way faster.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Passively faster.
That agility is a hugeadvantage in this environment
where fresh, accurateinformation is key for the AI.
You can adapt while biggercompetitors are stuck in
meetings.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
OK, levels the field, lets me move faster.
Yeah, anything else?
Speaker 2 (12:44):
You get more control over that vital first impression
, since the GBP is often thefirst touch point now.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
You control what they see first.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Exactly.
You choose the photos, youwrite the descriptions, you
define the services, you shapethe narrative through your posts
and review responses.
You have direct control overhow your business is presented
right at that moment ofdiscovery in the AI search
results.
It actually gives you morepower over your initial online
image.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
So, yeah, it definitely sounds like focusing
on the GDP is the way forward.
It's about feeding the AI, notfighting it.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
That's the mindset shift.
Work with the AI by giving itwhat it needs.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Okay.
So, pulling it all togetherfrom this analysis, what are the
absolute must-do things peopleshould tackle, like right now?
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Priority one is definitely get into your Google
business profile and startworking through that checklist.
Seriously open it up today.
Check if all sections arefilled.
Start adding more detailedservices and products.
Think about how to encouragethose keyword-rich reviews.
Plan out how you can postupdates and photos regularly.
Just start.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
What about that basic stuff like name and address?
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Oh, absolutely critical, Foundational.
The sources really emphasizeconsistency.
You need to audit your businessname, address and phone number,
your NAP, everywhere it appearsonline.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Like Yelp Facebook industry sites.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Everywhere.
It needs to be exactly the sameSame spelling, same
abbreviations, same suite number.
Any inconsistency confuses theAI and, frankly, looks
unprofessional.
It hurts your visibility.
Fix errors, get rid ofduplicate listings and make sure
you're listed accurately on themajor platforms.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
That consistency builds trust with Google's AI.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Precisely.
It signals you're a legitimate,established business.
Now look that checklist iscomprehensive, but the analysis
did mention, sort of in passing,that there are tools out there
designed to help manage GBP andonline listings maybe automate
some tasks.
We're not endorsing anythingspecific, but know that help
exists to make it moremanageable long term.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
The goal is to start building that strong AI resume.
Okay, so to wrap this up, thecore message we're seeing is
pretty clear.
Google's AI changes mean yourGoogle business profile is now
essentially the main entrancefor many local customers finding
you online.
If that entrance is, you know,neglected or half finished,
(15:00):
you're missing customers.
They're being sent straight tocompetitors who have their
profiles dialed in.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
And taking action on that optimization checklist we
went through.
That's the clear path forwardbased on this research.
It's about giving the AI thecomplete, accurate, active
picture of your business so itcan feature you.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
So maybe the question to leave you with is this
Thinking about your own Googlebusiness profile right now, how
much could an outdated orincomplete profile be costing
your business in missedopportunities and customers
finding someone else instead?
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Or put positively what's one thing from that
checklist, just one you cantackle in the next?
Say 24 hours to start improvingyour AI resume and getting
found more often.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Definitely worth taking a fresh look at your
profile with this checklist inmind.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Absolutely Go check it out today.
All right.
So if you're running a localbusiness maybe you're a plumber,
an electrician, you run acoffee shop, a local store.
You know any business peoplelook for near me.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
You're busy, you're juggling a million things, and
getting found online, especiallywithout pouring money into ads,
is well, it's crucial, right,and the last thing you need is
some super complex marketingthing to add to your plate.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Exactly, you need things that work and you know,
don't require a PhD in code.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Well, here's a heads up.
Google's made a really big move, a shift that fundamentally
changes how your business showsup when people search locally
online.
We've been digging into someinformation that really lays out
what this change is and, maybemore importantly, gives a clear
plan for what you need to do.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, think of it like a new map for getting found
.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
So our mission here is pretty simple.
We're going to break down thekey stuff from this analysis no
jargon, just what you need tounderstand about this Google
shift and the practical stepsyou can take, like today, to
make sure you're getting seen bythose local customers.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
And just to stress, this isn't some minor tweak.
Google's testing, theinformation suggests this is a
fundamental change in direction.
Paying attention to this andacting on what this material
shows, it's pretty muchnon-negotiable if you want to
stay competitive locally.
It shows where the customersare actually going now.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Okay, let's unpack it then.
What is this big shift?
The analysis we looked at callsit Google's AI mode in search.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Right, it's part of their push for well faster, more
direct answers, but the impactfor a local business it's huge.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So remember how local search used to work, like you
search best pizza place or ACrepair near me.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Yep, Get some ads.
Maybe a list of websites thatmap pack with three businesses.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
And you click a link, usually end up on their website
.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
That was the standard path for years.
Yeah, find a business, click totheir site, see if they're a
fit.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
But here's the kicker from this analysis, in this new
AI setup for a lot of thoselocal searches the results page
looks totally different Insteadof that list of websites.
Maybe being front and centerlooks totally different, instead
of that list of websites, maybebeing front and center.
The AI often gives you asummary, like an AI written
paragraph right at the top andthen often right below that,
just a short list of businessnames the ones the AI thinks are
(02:18):
the best match.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
And this is the absolute critical part based on
the material.
When someone clicks a businessname from that AI list, they go
directly to your Google businessprofile, your GBP.
They don't hit your websitefirst.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Whoa Okay, hold on.
So that means my website, theone I maybe spent good money on.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
It often gets bypassed in that initial
interaction.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, so the very first impression a potential
customer gets, it's now myGoogle business profile, not my
homepage.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
In many, many cases for local search.
Now, yes, the AI is basicallycurating the info and sending
people straight to the profileit thinks is most relevant.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Why are they doing that?
What's the thinking?
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Well, the sources point towards speed and
relevance.
Google wants to give thesearcher the answer, the contact
info, the location.
Like instantly Clicking throughto a website, loading it that
takes time.
It adds a step Going straightto a verified profile.
That's faster.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
OK, so the consequence then?
If my whole online strategy wasjust about getting my website
rank high with SEO, blog posts,all that stuff?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
You might see your website traffic dip from those
kinds of searches because thatstep is getting skipped more
often.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
And meanwhile my competitor down the street who's
maybe put more effort intotheir Google profile.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
They could be the ones getting featured in that AI
summary and getting the directcalls or directions request.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Feels a bit of a shock to the system.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
It can be, yeah, but you know the material actually
frames this as well as good newsin a way.
How so?
Because optimizing your Googlebusiness profile based on what
we're seeing, it's presented asway more accessible.
It's less technically demandingthan deep website SEO.
You don't need to be a codingwhiz.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
That's a relief.
And this isn't just a test,right.
This AI thing is rolling out.
Seems like it's becoming thedefault, the standard way.
Search works, especially forlocal queries.
Your Google business profileisn't just a thing anymore.
It's rapidly becoming your maindigital storefront for local
customers finding you throughsearch.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Okay.
So if the Google profile is thenew front door, what's the AI
actually looking at?
How does it decide whichbusinesses to show in that
summary or that shortlist?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
This is where it gets really interesting and, frankly
, empowering for localbusinesses.
The analysis shows the AI isincredibly focused.
It's primarily pulling theinformation it uses to
understand you and match you tosearches almost exclusively from
what you publish directly ontoyour Google business profile
itself.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Only from the profile , not necessarily digging
through my whole website.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
first, For building that initial AI summary and
shortlist.
It seems the profile is theprimary source.
Think of it like your AI resume, as the sources put it.
That was a great analogy.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
An AI resume.
I like that.
So what sections of that resumeis the AI reading?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Okay, so the sources list specifics.
It's scanning your chosenbusiness categories.
It's looking at your detailedlist of services, your product
names, if you list themCritically.
It reads the actual text withinyour customer reviews.
It looks at your photos and anytags or descriptions with them,
your main business description,the Q&A section, questions and
(05:22):
answers and any events or offersyou post.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Wow, ok, so it's really digging into the details
within the profile.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Absolutely, and this makes a key point super clear.
Just having a profile isn't thewin anymore, like the source of
stress.
It's the quality, thecompleteness, the detail of the
information you put into allthose sections.
That's what tells the AI whoyou are and if you're a good
match.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
So if my profile is kind of bare bones just the name
and address, maybe, Then yourAI resume is mostly blank.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
The AI just doesn't have enough information to
confidently recommend you forspecific searches.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
And that's how it puts together that summary at
the top by piecing together infofrom all these sections.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Exactly.
It grabs service details,matches keywords from
descriptions and reviews, looksat your location info, checks
your photos all from the GBP.
To answer a specific query,like emergency plumber available
weekends in downtown or bakerynear me with gluten free options
.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
It needs those specifics from your profile to
make the connection.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Precisely.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
OK.
So understanding what it'slooking at leads right into what
we need to do.
The sources basically give us achecklist right, the new
playbook for getting found inthis AI search world.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
That's right.
And again, it's not abouttricking Google, it's about
feeling the AI the best possibleinformation about your business
in the place it's looking mostclosely.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
So what's first on the list?
Speaker 2 (06:41):
First up, upload fresh content and do it often.
The analysis is really clear onthis Activity signals relevance
.
A profile that hasn't beentouched in months looks what
less relevant to the AI, like aclosed shop Kind of yeah.
So the action step isconsistency.
Try to post something weekly anupdate, a special offer, maybe
a quick tip related to yourbusiness, answer a common
(07:02):
question and upload new photosregularly.
Show your team, your work, yourshop, new products, videos too.
If you can.
The sources suggest Googlelikes video content.
It just keeps telling the AIhey, we're active, we're open,
we're relevant.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
OK, fresh content, keep it active, makes sense.
What's next?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Next and this was a bit of an eye opener from the
analysis optimize your reviewsfor keywords.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Meaning not just getting five stars.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Right, stars are great, obviously, but the AI is
actually reading the text inthose reviews.
It's looking for keywordsrelated to your services, your
location.
So if a happy customer writesthey did a great job fixing the
wiring in my garage, that phrasefixing the wiring is a signal
to the AI about what you do.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Ah, okay, so how do we influence that?
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Gently encourage happy customers to mention the
specific service they got, ormaybe the town or neighborhood
when they leave a review.
Just a simple ask.
And when you respond to reviewswhich you should be doing try
to naturally include those samekeywords like so glad we could
help with fixing the wiring inyour garage.
It reinforces it for the AI.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
So reviews are like double duty.
Now social proof in helping theAI understand you.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Exactly Keyword multipliers.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Cool Okay.
Number three.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Number three is super important.
List every service and productin detail.
The sources really hammeredthis home.
Broad categories aren't enoughfor the AI.
Just listing electriciandoesn't tell it.
You do EV charger installationor panel upgrades or smart home
wiring.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
You need the specifics, all the specifics.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Add detailed individual services under your
main categories.
The analysis suggests aimingfor quite a few, maybe 10, 20,
or even more, depending on howmany things you do.
Use the actual phrasescustomers might search for in
the service names anddescriptions.
Don't keyword stuff but bedescriptive.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Does this apply even if I don't sell physical
products like if I'm a servicebusiness?
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Yes, you can use the product section to list service
packages, specific high-valueoffers or maintenance plans.
It's another place to showcasedetails.
This detail helps you matchthose longer, more specific
searches people make when theyknow exactly what they need.
Makes your AI resume reallydetailed.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Got it Detail, detail , detail.
What's number four on thechecklist?
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Number four, tackle something often overlooked Fill
out every section.
So many businesses just leaveparts of their profile blank the
Q&A section, the maindescription, those attributes.
People skip those All the time,but the AI scans everything.
So action steps Go into the Q&Aand add three to five common
questions yourself.
Then answer them with good,detailed, keyword-aware answers.
(09:37):
Rate a good, comprehensivebusiness description using terms
customers might search for anddefinitely check all the
relevant attributes things likewheelchair accessible, online
appointments, veteran-led,women-owned, whatever applies.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Basically, don't leave any field empty.
If you can help it.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Pretty much More complete information gives the
AI more chances to understandyou and match you correctly.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Okay, makes sense.
And the last one, number five.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Number five is link your social media profiles.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Oh, interesting.
Why does that matter for theGoogle profile?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Well, the sources indicate Google is starting to
actually show recent socialmedia posts directly on some
Google business profiles.
It seems to be another signalto the AI that your business is
active, engaged and has apresence beyond just the GBP
itself.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
So connect Facebook, Instagram, whatever else.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Yep, add the links, make sure those profiles are
public, not private, and ideallysomewhat active.
You can even repurpose content.
Post something on GBP, share iton Facebook too.
It adds another layer ofcredibility.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Okay, that's a pretty solid checklist Fresh content,
keyword reviews, detailedservices fill everything.
Link socials.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
That's the core of the optimization playbook based
on the analysis.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Now looking at that list it might feel like, wow,
that's a lot of work.
But the sources presented thisshift not just as a challenge
but actually as a bigopportunity, especially for
smaller, independent localbusinesses.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yes, that's a really crucial perspective.
It actually helps level theplaying field in some
significant ways.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
How so.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Think about traditional online marketing.
Often it felt like you werecompeting against big companies
with huge budgets, right.
Often it felt like you werecompeting against big companies
with huge budgets, right Moneyfor fancy websites, complex SEO
campaigns, armies of content,writers, link building.
It took serious cash andexpertise.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Yeah, it's hard to compete with that if you're
running a local shop.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Exactly, but now the AI is heavily prioritizing the
data in your Google businessprofile, and that's something
you control directly.
Optimizing your GBP doesn'trequire a massive budget or a
team of developers.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
So me, the local business owner, I can actually
compete with the big guys justby doing my Google profile
really well.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
That's the opportunity.
Yes, you can potentiallyoutrank larger competitors who
might be slow to adapt or arestill just focused on their
website, simply by nailing theGBP basics we just talked about.
It's a much more accessibleroute to getting found without
paying for ads.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
That's powerful.
What else makes it anopportunity?
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Speed Agility.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Local businesses can move so much faster.
Think about it A bigcorporation might need weeks or
months to get approval to updatewebsite content or add a new
service page Right.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Bureaucracy.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
But you, you can log into your GBP right now.
Add a new service.
You just started offeringupload photos from a job you
finished this morning.
Respond to a review instantly.
Post a special for thisafternoon.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I can react way faster.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Passively faster.
That agility is a hugeadvantage in this environment
where fresh, accurateinformation is key for the AI.
You can adapt while biggercompetitors are stuck in
meetings.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
OK, levels the field, lets me move faster.
Yeah, anything else?
Speaker 2 (12:44):
You get more control over that vital first impression
, since the GBP is often thefirst touch point now.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
You control what they see first.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Exactly.
You choose the photos, youwrite the descriptions, you
define the services, you shapethe narrative through your posts
and review responses.
You have direct control overhow your business is presented
right at that moment ofdiscovery in the AI search
results.
It actually gives you morepower over your initial online
image.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
So, yeah, it definitely sounds like focusing
on the GDP is the way forward.
It's about feeding the AI, notfighting it.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
That's the mindset shift.
Work with the AI by giving itwhat it needs.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Okay.
So, pulling it all togetherfrom this analysis, what are the
absolute must-do things peopleshould tackle, like right now?
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Priority one is definitely get into your Google
business profile and startworking through that checklist.
Seriously open it up today.
Check if all sections arefilled.
Start adding more detailedservices and products.
Think about how to encouragethose keyword-rich reviews.
Plan out how you can postupdates and photos regularly.
Just start.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
What about that basic stuff like name and address?
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Oh, absolutely critical, Foundational.
The sources really emphasizeconsistency.
You need to audit your businessname, address and phone number,
your NAP, everywhere it appearsonline.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Like Yelp Facebook industry sites.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Everywhere.
It needs to be exactly the sameSame spelling, same
abbreviations, same suite number.
Any inconsistency confuses theAI and, frankly, looks
unprofessional.
It hurts your visibility.
Fix errors, get rid ofduplicate listings and make sure
you're listed accurately on themajor platforms.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
That consistency builds trust with Google's AI.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Precisely.
It signals you're a legitimate,established business.
Now look that checklist iscomprehensive, but the analysis
did mention, sort of in passing,that there are tools out there
designed to help manage GBP andonline listings maybe automate
some tasks.
We're not endorsing anythingspecific, but know that help
exists to make it moremanageable long term.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
The goal is to start building that strong AI resume.
Okay, so to wrap this up, thecore message we're seeing is
pretty clear.
Google's AI changes mean yourGoogle business profile is now
essentially the main entrancefor many local customers finding
you online.
If that entrance is, you know,neglected or half finished,
(15:00):
you're missing customers.
They're being sent straight tocompetitors who have their
profiles dialed in.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
And taking action on that optimization checklist we
went through.
That's the clear path forwardbased on this research.
It's about giving the AI thecomplete, accurate, active
picture of your business so itcan feature you.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
So maybe the question to leave you with is this
Thinking about your own Googlebusiness profile right now, how
much could an outdated orincomplete profile be costing
your business in missedopportunities and customers
finding someone else instead?
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Or put positively what's one thing from that
checklist, just one you cantackle in the next?
Say 24 hours to start improvingyour AI resume and getting
found more often.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Definitely worth taking a fresh look at your
profile with this checklist inmind.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Absolutely Go check it out today.
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