The Future of SEO is AI & Local

Local businesses need to prep for an AI-driven search future.

It's about being the trusted answer, not just a keyword-stuffed page.

Think direct answers, not just blue links.

AI search engines (like Perplexity, ChatGPT with browsing, and Google's upcoming SGE) are designed to give users immediate answers, often by summarizing information from multiple websites.

This means your website needs to be a primary source of truth that AI can easily understand and cite.

How to make your local business AI-search-friendly:

1. Content is still king, but context is queen: Create high-quality, informative content that directly answers common customer questions. Think FAQs, detailed service descriptions, and blog posts that solve specific local problems. For example, a local bakery could write about "Where to find the best custom cakes in [City]?"

2. Structured Data Markup (Schema): Implement schema markup on your website. This is like adding little labels to your content that tell search engines exactly what each piece of information is (e.g., business name, address, phone number, opening hours, services offered, reviews). This makes it much easier for AI to pull accurate information.

3. Hyperlocal Focus: Double down on local keywords and content. Mention specific neighborhoods, landmarks, and local events. AI will use this to determine your relevance for "near me" searches and location-specific queries.

4. Reputation Management: AI relies heavily on signals of trust and authority. This includes online reviews (Google, Yelp, industry-specific sites), mentions on other reputable local websites, and a consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) profile across the web.

5. Voice Search Optimization: People often use more natural, conversational language when using voice search with AI assistants. Optimize your content to answer these longer-tail questions. For example, instead of just targeting "plumber Auckland," also target "who is the best emergency plumber in Auckland CBD?"

6. Bing Places & Apple Maps: Don't just focus on Google Business Profile. Ensure your listings on Bing Places and Apple Maps are complete and optimized. AI models, especially those integrated with specific ecosystems (like Microsoft's Copilot with Bing), will pull from these sources.

7. Technical SEO: A fast, mobile-friendly website with a clear site structure is crucial. AI crawlers, like traditional search engine bots, need to be able to access and understand your site easily.

The takeaway: The goal is to make your business the most authoritative, easily digestible, and trustworthy source of information in your local niche. If AI can confidently present your business as the answer, you'll win in this new era of search.