Whether you have a company that actively uses AI tools to aid in your operations or you’ve largely ignored the latest trend in tech, AI is changing the way businesses operate, including how they gain recognition. AI-driven search is the next generation of how people are finding online information, and that includes your online presence. To thrive in AI-driven search, your business needs a flawless and consistent digital identity.
Here’s what we recommend:
- Master your Google Business Profile by completing all fields, updating it regularly, and adding service details and other information. Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is often the first thing that both users and AI systems are going to evaluate. Populating all the fields helps give Google more structured data to work with, and consistent updates also deliver signals that your business is legitimate, active, and trustworthy. AI-search tools heavily pull from GBP data to answer local “near me” queries, so a complete and current profile helps you build a strong presence.
- Encourage your customers to write specific and story-rich reviews that highlight your strengths. A generic, short review may increase your star count, but a detailed, experience-based review offers far more, including helping you stay visible to AI searches. Customers who mention specific events, situations, outcomes, or staff interactions give AI (and potential customers) context about what you do well. These narratives increase trust for human readers while also helping strengthen your online footprint.
- Build your website content around real questions instead of just keywords. A key thing to know about AI-driven search is that it’s designed to help answer questions, not just match keywords. Crafting website content around real questions customers are likely to ask aligns your site with how people actually search and targets individuals who are actually looking for what you have to offer. FAQs, service explanations, and scenario-based content help make it easier for AI to garner clear answers and showcase your business to searchers.
- Use schema markup to ensure AI can read your site with accuracy. Schema markup is a more behind-the-scenes way to help AI accurately interpret your website, but it’s no less important than more visible tactics. Labeling key information like services, locations, reviews, FAQs, and other details removes ambiguity and reduces the likelihood of misinterpretation. AI systems depend on structured data to validate your business, so a proper schema significantly improves your chances of being understood and cited correctly.
- Provide real-world knowledge by demonstrating your experience, expertise, authority, and trustworthiness everywhere you can online. AI search systems prioritize businesses that can clearly show experience, authority, and trustworthiness. This includes highlighting years in business, certifications or licensure, professional affiliations, and real-world experience across your website, GBP, and third-party listings. The goal is to leave no doubt – for AI or for human users – that your business is legitimate, experienced, and worthy of their recommendation or business.
Local businesses across all industries that follow these steps are already seeing dramatic results. For example, garage door companies, plumbers, and other service providers we work with who optimized their Google Business Profiles, enhanced their service details, and earned descriptive customer reviews saw significant increases in visibility, traffic, and top AI rankings.
AI-driven search isn’t killing SEO – it’s raising the bar and helping customers make more strategic decisions. Now, more than ever, it’s critical that businesses prioritize fulfilling the criteria that AI search looks for.
