April 17, 2025 • 14 mins
The rules of local business visibility have fundamentally shifted. What once worked to rank your business on Google's search results page may leave you completely invisible to today's AI search tools.
This eye-opening discussion reveals how AI platforms like Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity find and recommend local businesses to potential customers. We break down the crucial differences between these systems and provide clear, actionable strategies for ensuring your business appears when someone uses AI to find services in your area.
For Google Gemini users, your Google Business Profile (GBP) serves as a direct data feed into the AI. We explain exactly which elements matter most: from the photos you upload (which AI can analyze for content), to the service descriptions that help it understand your offerings, to the Q&A section that functions like a pre-made FAQ for AI. Regular posts and fresh, detailed reviews complete the picture of a business that Gemini feels confident recommending.
For non-Google AI tools, we reveal their reliance on citation consistency across the web. Your business name, address, and phone number must appear identically everywhere online, or these systems may question which information is current and accurate. We also explore how mentions in local content, a diverse review profile, and backlinks from legitimate local sources strengthen your visibility.
Perhaps most importantly, we examine how your business website has evolved into a critical "AI ranking asset." Learn the technical requirements for AI crawling, the importance of schema markup, and what content elements most effectively demonstrate your expertise and credibility to artificial intelligence.
The digital landscape has changed. Some businesses will adapt and thrive, while others will become increasingly invisible as AI search tools reshape consumer behavior. After listening to this episode, you'll understand exactly how to position your local business for success in this new era of AI-powered discovery.
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):
Welcome, Look.
As representatives of local bizdomination, we know why you're
tuning in.
You run a local business Maybeyou're a home service pro or
you've got a brick and mortarshop and the goal is simple
right, you want to rank higheron Google.
You want more customers.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Yeah, and crucially, without just throwing money at
ads all the time.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Exactly that's the sweet spot we're all aiming for.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Absolutely.
And you know, based on some ofthe stuff you've shared the
articles and insights it'sobvious people are seeing the
landscape shift.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Oh, definitely.
It feels like search has justchanged dramatically, hasn't it?
Ai is now a major player.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
It really is.
It's changing how yourpotential customers actually
find you.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
It's not just about those 10 blue links anymore.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Not at all.
Think of these AI tools as well.
Like smart assistants, they'reanswering questions, making
recommendations in ways thatwere frankly science fiction a
few years back, and that's theopportunity, isn't?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
it If you understand this, if you adapt.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Hey, do it ahead, Become more visible, get more
traffic, more leads.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Right, all without necessarily upping your ad spend
.
So today we want to really getinto the nuts and bolts of this.
How does it work for yourbusiness?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
We're going to tackle a few key things based on the
info we've got.
First, Google's own AI, Gemini,and how it uses your Google
business profile.
That's huge.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Then we'll look at the other big AI players ChatGPT
, perplexity you know those guyshow they find businesses when
they don't have that directGoogle data?
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Right, because they operate differently.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Exactly and finally, we'll boil it all down to some
really concrete, actionablesteps you can take to make your
business well let's call it AIvisible Perfect.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Let's dive straight into Google Gemini and the
Google Business Profile, or GBP,you mentioned.
Gemini has direct access.
What's the significance of that?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It's a massive advantage for Google.
Gemini can tap right into thathuge, rich database of local
business information that Googlealready has.
Your GBP.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
So if someone asks Gemini, like find a good dentist
near me that does implants ormaybe best place for dog food
downtown.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Precisely those kinds of queries.
Gemini isn't just scraping theweb randomly.
It's analyzing the GBPs in thatspecific area.
It's looking at your profile tosee how relevant and
authoritative you are for thatsearch.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Okay, so just having a profile set up isn't enough
anymore.
It needs to be optimized for AI.
What specifically is Geminilooking at?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Well, several things are really standing out.
Take your photos, for instance.
It's not just about quantity.
The AI can actually analyzewhat's in the photos.
So if you're say, an AC repaircompany, photos of your team
working, your branded vans,maybe specific installations,
that tells Gemini what youactually do.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
That makes sense.
Showing is better than justtelling your posts, yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You know the updates you can put on your GBP.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yeah, like offers or news.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Right, regularly posting signals to Gemini that
you're active, you're engaged.
It builds trust, shows yourcurrent.
Then there are your servicesand the descriptions.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Ah, keywords Still important.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Absolutely.
You need to be specific.
Use the language your customersuse when they search.
The more detailed you are aboutwhat you offer, the better
Gemini understands if you're amatch.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Okay, and what about that Q&A section?
I see a lot of businesses kindof ignore that.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Big mistake.
Gemini can pull answersdirectly from there.
Think of it like a pre-made FAQfor the AI.
You can answer common questionsproactively.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Helps it understand your business faster, makes
sense.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
And reviews.
We know they're huge forcustomers, but for AI?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
AI reads them too.
It looks beyond the star rating.
It analyzes the text, thekeywords people use like fix my
leak quickly or great haircut.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
So it understands what service they like.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Exactly, and the sentiment positive, negative and
how recent the reviews are.
It gives the AI a much deeperpicture of your reputation and
quality.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Wow.
So if your GDP is just sittingthere, empty or outdated?
Speaker 1 (03:53):
It basically tells Gemini hey, maybe I'm not the
most relevant or active choicehere.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Okay, so let's get practical.
What are the immediate stepssomeone should take for their
GDP?
Thinking about Gemini?
First up photos.
Make it a habit, maybe weekly.
Upload a new relevant image.
Show your work, your space,your products, your team.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Show, don't just tell Got it.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Then look at your services list and descriptions.
Are they really detailed?
Do they use the keywords peoplesearch for in your area?
Beef those up.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Okay, weekly photos, updated services what else?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Try to publish at least one post a week, an update
, an offer, something helpful.
Keep it fresh.
Okay, and tackle that Q&Asection.
Add common questions andprovide clear, helpful answers
and finally, keep encouragingfresh reviews.
Ask happy customers to mentionthe specific service they
received.
That's gold for the AI.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Right, it feeds those keywords right into the reviews
.
The big takeaway here seems tobe your GBP is like a live feed
directly into Google's AI.
Keep it active and accurate.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Precisely, a stale profile is a missed opportunity.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Okay, let's switch gears.
What about the other AI tools?
Chatgpt, Perplexity, Grok?
You said they don't have thatdirect GBP access.
How do they figure out whichlocal businesses to recommend?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yeah, that's a key difference.
They work by essentiallyscanning the whole public
internet for mentions and dataabout your business.
They scrape websites, crawldirectories, look at articles,
cross-reference everything.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
So they're piecing together a picture from lots of
different places.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Exactly.
If someone asks ChatGPT, say,recommend a good landscaper in
my town or who does emergencyHVAC repair, it's pulling data
from Yelp, Yellow Pages, maybelocal news sites, your own
website, all sorts of places.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
So what kind of information do they rely on most
heavily, then?
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Citations are foundational.
That's your business name,address and phone number NAP.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
NAP right.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
The crucial thing here and the research really
backs this up is consistency.
Your NAP needs to be identicaleverywhere.
Yelp, angie, bbb, localdirectories everywhere.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Because if it's different, like street spelled
out on one, saint on another,yeah, or a slightly different
business name or an old phonenumber.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
It confuses the AI, it creates distrust.
It doesn't know which listingis the correct current one.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
That makes total sense.
Inconsistency looks bad.
What else are these AI toolslooking for besides NAP
consistency?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Mentions.
If your business gets talkedabout on a local blog or in the
online version of the localpaper or even a neighborhood
guide, that's a strong signal.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Shows you're part of the community recognized.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Exactly, and your overall online reputation
matters too.
They scan review scores andcomments across multiple
platforms, not just Google, Yelp, Facebook, industry-specific
sites.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
So a broad reputation matters.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Definitely and importantly, if the AI can't
find strong, consistent citationdata or if it wants more detail
, your own business websitebecomes super important.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
It's often the next best source of truth.
Okay, so for these non-GoogleAIs, it's about having a wide,
consistent, positive presenceonline.
What are the action steps here?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
First, you really need to audit your citations.
Check your listings across allthe major directories and even
the smaller local ones.
Are there errors,inconsistencies?
Speaker 1 (07:07):
How do you even do that?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Manually you can, but it's tedious.
There are tools and servicessome free, some paid that can
help you find and monitor yourlistings.
Once you find problems, fixthem.
Standardize that NAP everywhereSame name, same address format,
same phone number.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Standardize, standardize, standardize.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Okay, then actively look for ways to get mentioned
online locally.
Maybe pitch a story to a localblogger.
Sponsor a local event that getsonline coverage.
Publish helpful local contentyourself.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Build that local buzz .
Speaker 2 (07:41):
And encourage reviews on platforms other than Google
too Yelp, Facebook whatever'srelevant for your industry,
Diversify your review profileand, finally, build backlinks
from legitimate local sourceschamber of commerce, local
directories, partner businesses.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Right Building those connections online.
The theme seems to be make iteasy for any AI to find
consistent, positive informationabout you wherever it looks.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
That's the core idea.
You want to remove any doubt orconfusion.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
OK, this brings us perfectly to the website you
mentioned.
It becomes critical, especiallyfor non-Google AI.
Let's really dig into that.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Yes, absolutely.
I think many businessesunderestimate this.
They might focus heavily on GBPor maybe Yelp, but your website
, it's your home base.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
So just having a basic brochure site isn't
cutting it anymore.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Not in the age of AI.
No, these AI engines all ofthem are actively crawling
websites, looking forinformation they can understand
and, importantly, quote or usein their answers.
Your website isn't just forhumans anymore.
It's a direct feed for AI.
It's become a real AI rankingasset.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
An AI ranking asset.
I like that.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
So when an AI like ChatGPT or even Gemini crawls
your site, what's it looking for?
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Okay, a few key things.
First, basic crawlabilitySounds obvious, but you need to
make sure your robotstxt fileisn't blocking the AI crawlers.
There are specific ones now,like GPT bot, perplexity bot.
You need to let them in.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Right, if they can't see it, they can't rank it.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Exactly, then.
Structure is huge, clearheadings, h1s, h2s.
Logical layout using formattinglike bullet points and schema
markup.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Spema, that's like adding labels for the search
engines, right.
Yeah, and schema markup.
Spema, that's like addinglabels for the search engines
right.
Pretty much it's structureddata that explicitly tells AI
this is our business name, thisis our address, these are the
services we offer.
This is a customer review.
Local business schema isespecially vital.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Okay, so technical stuff, Allow crawlers use
structure and schema.
What about the actual content?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Content richness is key.
You need more than just ahomepage and a contact form.
Have dedicated pages for eachmajor service you offer.
Explain what you do, thebenefits.
Detail the specific areas youserve.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Service pages.
Location pages yes.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Maybe an about us page with team info,
testimonials or case studies, adetailed FAQ section answering
common questions.
The more comprehensive andhelpful your content, the more
the AI has to work with andhighlight your reputation.
Signals on the site Wait whatAwards you've won certifications
(10:05):
, industry affiliations.
You can even embed reviewsdirectly from Google or Yelp
onto your site.
It adds credibility that AI canrecognize.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
So build trust signals right into the website
content.
Okay, actionable steps for thewebsite build trust signals
right into the website content.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Okay, actionable steps for the website.
First, double check thatrobotstxt file.
Make sure common AI crawlersare allowed.
Second, implement localbusiness schema markup.
Use online tools to generate itif you need to.
It's really important,especially if you have multiple
locations.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Schema markup.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Got it.
Third, build out thosededicated service pages.
Don't just list services.
Describe them using thekeywords your customers search
for.
Fourth, display social proof.
Embed those reviews, mentionawards.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Show off your reputation.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Definitely Fifth create a really good FAQ page
answering common customerquestions.
Ai loves FAQs and a bonus tipbased on what's working now.
Publish blog posts that answerspecific local questions.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Like the example you gave earlier cost of X service
in Y city.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Exactly that kind of thing and directly targets
queries AI might get.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
So having a thin website or one that's hard to
navigate or, worse, blocks AI,you're just helping your
competitors.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
You really are.
Your website needs to be a rich, clear, trustworthy resource
for humans and for AI.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Okay, this has been incredibly insightful.
Let's try to summarize thisinto a kind of AI SEO checklist
the absolute must-dos.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Sounds good.
Let's break it down for GoogleBusiness Profile Targeting
Gemini Weekly photo uploads.
Show your work.
Detailed service categories anddescriptions.
At least one weekly post.
Keep it fresh.
Respond to reviews and Q&Apromptly and make sure that NAP
is 100% accurate.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
GBP checklist.
Photos, services posts, q&areviews.
Nap accuracy Got it.
What about citations for theother AIs like ChatGPT?
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Audit your listings, find and fix errors, standardize
that NAP format everywhere,build mentions in local online
content and maybe use a tool tomonitor and sync this data
ongoingly.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Citationsaudit, standardize NAP, get local
mentions monitor.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Right and finally, the website optimization for all
AI platforms.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Allow AICrawlersandRobotstxt.
Add schema markup, especiallylocal business.
Clearly display reviews, awards, services on the site itself.
Publish rich, helpful localcontent regularly.
Include that FAQ page and othertrust signals views awards
services on the site itself.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Publish rich, helpful local content regularly.
Include that FAQ page and othertrust signals Website.
Allow crawlers Use schema.
Show proof, rich content, faqsand the overall theme.
It's clarity, credibility andconsistency.
Ai prioritizes businesses thatprovide clear, trustworthy,
consistent information acrossthe board.
Forget trying to find loopholes.
Focus on building that solidfoundation.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
So, wrapping up, the main point we've hammered home
today is that AI search isn'tsome future trend.
It's happening right now.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Absolutely.
Gemini is using your GBP datadirectly.
Other AIs are crawling the webconstantly.
Your customers are alreadyusing these tools.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
And if your business isn't showing up in those AI
results?
Speaker 2 (12:56):
it likely means you haven't given the AI enough
clear, consistent, positiveinformation to feel confident
recommending you.
It's often an information gap.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
So in this new era of AI-powered search, you're
either visible, you're part ofthe conversation or you're
invisible.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
You're letting potential customers find your
competitors instead.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
The time to act is definitely now.
Get your digital house in orderfor AI.
Welcome, Look.
As representatives of local bizdomination, we know why you're
tuning in.
You run a local business Maybeyou're a home service pro or
you've got a brick and mortarshop and the goal is simple
right, you want to rank higheron Google.
You want more customers.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Yeah, and crucially, without just throwing money at
ads all the time.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Exactly that's the sweet spot we're all aiming for.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Absolutely.
And you know, based on some ofthe stuff you've shared the
articles and insights it'sobvious people are seeing the
landscape shift.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Oh, definitely.
It feels like search has justchanged dramatically, hasn't it?
Ai is now a major player.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
It really is.
It's changing how yourpotential customers actually
find you.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
It's not just about those 10 blue links anymore.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Not at all.
Think of these AI tools as well.
Like smart assistants, they'reanswering questions, making
recommendations in ways thatwere frankly science fiction a
few years back, and that's theopportunity, isn't?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
it If you understand this, if you adapt.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Hey, do it ahead, Become more visible, get more
traffic, more leads.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Right, all without necessarily upping your ad spend
.
So today we want to really getinto the nuts and bolts of this.
How does it work for yourbusiness?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
We're going to tackle a few key things based on the
info we've got.
First, Google's own AI, Gemini,and how it uses your Google
business profile.
That's huge.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Then we'll look at the other big AI players ChatGPT
, perplexity you know those guyshow they find businesses when
they don't have that directGoogle data?
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Right, because they operate differently.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Exactly and finally, we'll boil it all down to some
really concrete, actionablesteps you can take to make your
business well let's call it AIvisible Perfect.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Let's dive straight into Google Gemini and the
Google Business Profile, or GBP,you mentioned.
Gemini has direct access.
What's the significance of that?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It's a massive advantage for Google.
Gemini can tap right into thathuge, rich database of local
business information that Googlealready has.
Your GBP.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
So if someone asks Gemini, like find a good dentist
near me that does implants ormaybe best place for dog food
downtown.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Precisely those kinds of queries.
Gemini isn't just scraping theweb randomly.
It's analyzing the GBPs in thatspecific area.
It's looking at your profile tosee how relevant and
authoritative you are for thatsearch.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Okay, so just having a profile set up isn't enough
anymore.
It needs to be optimized for AI.
What specifically is Geminilooking at?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Well, several things are really standing out.
Take your photos, for instance.
It's not just about quantity.
The AI can actually analyzewhat's in the photos.
So if you're say, an AC repaircompany, photos of your team
working, your branded vans,maybe specific installations,
that tells Gemini what youactually do.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
That makes sense.
Showing is better than justtelling your posts, yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
You know the updates you can put on your GBP.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yeah, like offers or news.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Right, regularly posting signals to Gemini that
you're active, you're engaged.
It builds trust, shows yourcurrent.
Then there are your servicesand the descriptions.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Ah, keywords Still important.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Absolutely.
You need to be specific.
Use the language your customersuse when they search.
The more detailed you are aboutwhat you offer, the better
Gemini understands if you're amatch.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Okay, and what about that Q&A section?
I see a lot of businesses kindof ignore that.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Big mistake.
Gemini can pull answersdirectly from there.
Think of it like a pre-made FAQfor the AI.
You can answer common questionsproactively.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Helps it understand your business faster, makes
sense.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
And reviews.
We know they're huge forcustomers, but for AI?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
AI reads them too.
It looks beyond the star rating.
It analyzes the text, thekeywords people use like fix my
leak quickly or great haircut.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
So it understands what service they like.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Exactly, and the sentiment positive, negative and
how recent the reviews are.
It gives the AI a much deeperpicture of your reputation and
quality.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Wow.
So if your GDP is just sittingthere, empty or outdated?
Speaker 1 (03:53):
It basically tells Gemini hey, maybe I'm not the
most relevant or active choicehere.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Okay, so let's get practical.
What are the immediate stepssomeone should take for their
GDP?
Thinking about Gemini?
First up photos.
Make it a habit, maybe weekly.
Upload a new relevant image.
Show your work, your space,your products, your team.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Show, don't just tell Got it.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Then look at your services list and descriptions.
Are they really detailed?
Do they use the keywords peoplesearch for in your area?
Beef those up.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Okay, weekly photos, updated services what else?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Try to publish at least one post a week, an update
, an offer, something helpful.
Keep it fresh.
Okay, and tackle that Q&Asection.
Add common questions andprovide clear, helpful answers
and finally, keep encouragingfresh reviews.
Ask happy customers to mentionthe specific service they
received.
That's gold for the AI.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Right, it feeds those keywords right into the reviews
.
The big takeaway here seems tobe your GBP is like a live feed
directly into Google's AI.
Keep it active and accurate.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Precisely, a stale profile is a missed opportunity.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Okay, let's switch gears.
What about the other AI tools?
Chatgpt, Perplexity, Grok?
You said they don't have thatdirect GBP access.
How do they figure out whichlocal businesses to recommend?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yeah, that's a key difference.
They work by essentiallyscanning the whole public
internet for mentions and dataabout your business.
They scrape websites, crawldirectories, look at articles,
cross-reference everything.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
So they're piecing together a picture from lots of
different places.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Exactly.
If someone asks ChatGPT, say,recommend a good landscaper in
my town or who does emergencyHVAC repair, it's pulling data
from Yelp, Yellow Pages, maybelocal news sites, your own
website, all sorts of places.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
So what kind of information do they rely on most
heavily, then?
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Citations are foundational.
That's your business name,address and phone number NAP.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
NAP right.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
The crucial thing here and the research really
backs this up is consistency.
Your NAP needs to be identicaleverywhere.
Yelp, angie, bbb, localdirectories everywhere.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Because if it's different, like street spelled
out on one, saint on another,yeah, or a slightly different
business name or an old phonenumber.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
It confuses the AI, it creates distrust.
It doesn't know which listingis the correct current one.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
That makes total sense.
Inconsistency looks bad.
What else are these AI toolslooking for besides NAP
consistency?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Mentions.
If your business gets talkedabout on a local blog or in the
online version of the localpaper or even a neighborhood
guide, that's a strong signal.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Shows you're part of the community recognized.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Exactly, and your overall online reputation
matters too.
They scan review scores andcomments across multiple
platforms, not just Google, Yelp, Facebook, industry-specific
sites.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
So a broad reputation matters.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Definitely and importantly, if the AI can't
find strong, consistent citationdata or if it wants more detail
, your own business websitebecomes super important.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
It's often the next best source of truth.
Okay, so for these non-GoogleAIs, it's about having a wide,
consistent, positive presenceonline.
What are the action steps here?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
First, you really need to audit your citations.
Check your listings across allthe major directories and even
the smaller local ones.
Are there errors,inconsistencies?
Speaker 1 (07:07):
How do you even do that?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Manually you can, but it's tedious.
There are tools and servicessome free, some paid that can
help you find and monitor yourlistings.
Once you find problems, fixthem.
Standardize that NAP everywhereSame name, same address format,
same phone number.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Standardize, standardize, standardize.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Okay, then actively look for ways to get mentioned
online locally.
Maybe pitch a story to a localblogger.
Sponsor a local event that getsonline coverage.
Publish helpful local contentyourself.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Build that local buzz .
Speaker 2 (07:41):
And encourage reviews on platforms other than Google
too Yelp, Facebook whatever'srelevant for your industry,
Diversify your review profileand, finally, build backlinks
from legitimate local sourceschamber of commerce, local
directories, partner businesses.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Right Building those connections online.
The theme seems to be make iteasy for any AI to find
consistent, positive informationabout you wherever it looks.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
That's the core idea.
You want to remove any doubt orconfusion.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
OK, this brings us perfectly to the website you
mentioned.
It becomes critical, especiallyfor non-Google AI.
Let's really dig into that.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Yes, absolutely.
I think many businessesunderestimate this.
They might focus heavily on GBPor maybe Yelp, but your website
, it's your home base.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
So just having a basic brochure site isn't
cutting it anymore.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Not in the age of AI.
No, these AI engines all ofthem are actively crawling
websites, looking forinformation they can understand
and, importantly, quote or usein their answers.
Your website isn't just forhumans anymore.
It's a direct feed for AI.
It's become a real AI rankingasset.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
An AI ranking asset.
I like that.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
So when an AI like ChatGPT or even Gemini crawls
your site, what's it looking for?
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Okay, a few key things.
First, basic crawlabilitySounds obvious, but you need to
make sure your robotstxt fileisn't blocking the AI crawlers.
There are specific ones now,like GPT bot, perplexity bot.
You need to let them in.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Right, if they can't see it, they can't rank it.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Exactly, then.
Structure is huge, clearheadings, h1s, h2s.
Logical layout using formattinglike bullet points and schema
markup.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Spema, that's like adding labels for the search
engines, right.
Yeah, and schema markup.
Spema, that's like addinglabels for the search engines
right.
Pretty much it's structureddata that explicitly tells AI
this is our business name, thisis our address, these are the
services we offer.
This is a customer review.
Local business schema isespecially vital.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Okay, so technical stuff, Allow crawlers use
structure and schema.
What about the actual content?
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Content richness is key.
You need more than just ahomepage and a contact form.
Have dedicated pages for eachmajor service you offer.
Explain what you do, thebenefits.
Detail the specific areas youserve.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Service pages.
Location pages yes.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Maybe an about us page with team info,
testimonials or case studies, adetailed FAQ section answering
common questions.
The more comprehensive andhelpful your content, the more
the AI has to work with andhighlight your reputation.
Signals on the site Wait whatAwards you've won certifications
(10:05):
, industry affiliations.
You can even embed reviewsdirectly from Google or Yelp
onto your site.
It adds credibility that AI canrecognize.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
So build trust signals right into the website
content.
Okay, actionable steps for thewebsite build trust signals
right into the website content.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Okay, actionable steps for the website.
First, double check thatrobotstxt file.
Make sure common AI crawlersare allowed.
Second, implement localbusiness schema markup.
Use online tools to generate itif you need to.
It's really important,especially if you have multiple
locations.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Schema markup.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Got it.
Third, build out thosededicated service pages.
Don't just list services.
Describe them using thekeywords your customers search
for.
Fourth, display social proof.
Embed those reviews, mentionawards.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Show off your reputation.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Definitely Fifth create a really good FAQ page
answering common customerquestions.
Ai loves FAQs and a bonus tipbased on what's working now.
Publish blog posts that answerspecific local questions.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Like the example you gave earlier cost of X service
in Y city.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Exactly that kind of thing and directly targets
queries AI might get.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
So having a thin website or one that's hard to
navigate or, worse, blocks AI,you're just helping your
competitors.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
You really are.
Your website needs to be a rich, clear, trustworthy resource
for humans and for AI.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Okay, this has been incredibly insightful.
Let's try to summarize thisinto a kind of AI SEO checklist
the absolute must-dos.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Sounds good.
Let's break it down for GoogleBusiness Profile Targeting
Gemini Weekly photo uploads.
Show your work.
Detailed service categories anddescriptions.
At least one weekly post.
Keep it fresh.
Respond to reviews and Q&Apromptly and make sure that NAP
is 100% accurate.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
GBP checklist.
Photos, services posts, q&areviews.
Nap accuracy Got it.
What about citations for theother AIs like ChatGPT?
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Audit your listings, find and fix errors, standardize
that NAP format everywhere,build mentions in local online
content and maybe use a tool tomonitor and sync this data
ongoingly.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Citationsaudit, standardize NAP, get local
mentions monitor.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Right and finally, the website optimization for all
AI platforms.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Allow AICrawlersandRobotstxt.
Add schema markup, especiallylocal business.
Clearly display reviews, awards, services on the site itself.
Publish rich, helpful localcontent regularly.
Include that FAQ page and othertrust signals views awards
services on the site itself.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Publish rich, helpful local content regularly.
Include that FAQ page and othertrust signals Website.
Allow crawlers Use schema.
Show proof, rich content, faqsand the overall theme.
It's clarity, credibility andconsistency.
Ai prioritizes businesses thatprovide clear, trustworthy,
consistent information acrossthe board.
Forget trying to find loopholes.
Focus on building that solidfoundation.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
So, wrapping up, the main point we've hammered home
today is that AI search isn'tsome future trend.
It's happening right now.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Absolutely.
Gemini is using your GBP datadirectly.
Other AIs are crawling the webconstantly.
Your customers are alreadyusing these tools.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
And if your business isn't showing up in those AI
results?
Speaker 2 (12:56):
it likely means you haven't given the AI enough
clear, consistent, positiveinformation to feel confident
recommending you.
It's often an information gap.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
So in this new era of AI-powered search, you're
either visible, you're part ofthe conversation or you're
invisible.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
You're letting potential customers find your
competitors instead.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
The time to act is definitely now.
Get your digital house in orderfor AI.
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