Hello, fellow business owner. Local SEO is something that might sound a little nerdy, but it’s really important for your business.
You may have heard that “traditional” SEO is dying because of all the new AI-powered search engines. That’s not true, especially when it comes to businesses in your area. Local SEO is more important than ever now that we have AI.
Imagine it like this: If you ask an AI model a general question like “how to bake a cake,” it might give you a long, detailed answer. You can get the recipe, the steps, and maybe even a video without leaving the search page. That’s good for the person looking for something, but not so great for the websites that used to get clicks for that kind of content.
But what happens when someone types “best bakery near me” into a search engine? That’s a whole new game.
In the age of AI, local SEO is your secret weapon.
1. AI can’t read your mind or know where you are. In its current form, generative AI doesn’t know where you are unless you tell it. If you type “pizza near me” into Google, it will use your location to show you a map of the best-rated places right down the street. But if you don’t type in your exact address, an AI chatbot will probably just give you a list of pizza chains. This “real-world” context gives local search a big edge.
2. People want to do something, not just get answers. Most of the time, local searches aren’t just for information. They are about finding a way to meet a real need, like getting a plumber for a leaky sink, a dentist for a toothache, or a hairdresser for a new look. When someone finds you through a local search, they want to know your phone number, address, or hours. These are high-intent searches, and having a strong local SEO presence is what links your business to these customers who are ready to buy.
3. The Local Pack is your best bet. The “Local Pack” is still very important, even with AI-powered search results. It’s the box with the map and a few business listings that shows up when you search for something nearby. This is where your Google Business Profile that has been well-optimized comes in. It’s your free store on Google, so it’s important to make sure it’s complete, correct, and full of good reviews. Even if the user doesn’t click on your website, you’re still winning because the AI models use this data to give their answers.
4. AI helps you work smarter, not harder. AI isn’t bad. You can use it to improve your local SEO even more. You can get help from AI tools: Read reviews to find out what your customers like and don’t like. Make content that is very specific to your area.
Look for long-tail keywords that people in your area are actually using to search.
The basics of local SEO are more important than ever, even though the search landscape is changing. Don’t worry about being a small fish in a big ocean. Instead, focus on being the biggest, most obvious fish in your own pond. No matter what new technology comes along, your business will keep getting new customers and doing well as long as you make it easy to find.
