How to Build Local Business Visibility in AI-Powered Search

Don’t Abandon Local SEO

While AI is changing the way people search for information, it doesn’t mean you need to overhaul your entire SEO strategy. If your current efforts follow best practices and align with the latest search engine guidelines, they’ll still deliver results—even in the age of AI. Traditional SEO isn’t dead, but it does need to evolve alongside technologies like ChatGPT and Google’s AI-powered search features.

That’s why you shouldn’t abandon local SEO. Make sure your website is well-optimized for the keywords that already drive traffic to your site, as well as terms that have strong potential to attract new visitors from your area.

Optimize Your Google Business Profile

AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini often pull information directly from Google Business Profiles—so keeping yours optimized is more important than ever. Make sure the details listed on your profile are consistent with what’s on your website, your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) listings, and local directories.

Keep your profile up to date—any changes to your business hours, address, or services should be reflected right away in your Google Business Profile. If you’re serious about improving local visibility, consider actively optimizing your profile for local search. Consistent effort here can help you outperform competitors on Google Maps—so don’t wait until your rankings start to drop.

Need help managing your Google Business Profile or looking for long-term local SEO support? Feel free to reach out: [email protected]

Collect and Showcase Customer Reviews

Customer reviews are a key part of your online presence—and something you can’t afford to overlook. Positive feedback, especially when detailed and experience-based, helps convince potential customers who are still on the fence. Even more importantly, AI models often reference these types of reviews when users ask about specific businesses.

Encourage satisfied customers to leave thoughtful reviews—not just star ratings. The more context and real experiences they share, the better your business will look in AI-generated search results.

👉 Want to learn how to get more Google reviews? Check out our guide!

Boost Visibility by Appearing in Trusted AI Data Sources

Where Does AI Get Its Information? AI models often reference various comparisons, lists, and rankings—so it’s smart to ensure your business appears in these kinds of sources. Being featured on local directories, industry rankings, or blog roundups can significantly boost your brand’s visibility in AI-generated answers on platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity.

What types of listings are especially valuable? Here are some examples:

• Best hair salons in New York City
• Top 10 sushi restaurants in San Francisco
• Best coffee shops in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood

These kinds of posts not only attract user attention but are also frequently used by AI to craft responses. Make sure your business is included in them.

Optimize Your Website for AI (AISO)

While local SEO should remain the foundation of your strategy, AI Search Optimization (AISO) is rapidly gaining importance. This emerging field focuses on helping your business appear in answers generated by AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and other intelligent systems. So, what key elements should you focus on to succeed in AISO?

“About Us” Page

AI models rely heavily on concrete company data, and much of this information is typically found on your “About Us” page. Make sure this page is thoroughly completed with the following details:

• What your business does,
• Who your services are for and the areas you serve,
• Your location, including address, neighborhood, and city,
• Optionally, include a map with a Google Maps pin showing your exact location.

Providing these details helps AI better connect your website with your Google Business Profile and gives it reliable data to reference when generating answers for users.

Homepage

Tailor your homepage to reflect how users typically phrase questions when interacting with AI. A great way to do this is by adding an FAQ section with specific questions and clear answers, for example:

• Where can I find the best pizza in New York City?
• Which hair salon in Los Angeles has the best reviews?

Your website should directly answer these types of questions to increase the chances that AI models will reference your site in their responses.

Technical Website Optimization

Don’t overlook the technical side of your website. A site that’s well-optimized for both search engines and users is more likely to be cited by AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity. Make sure the following elements are properly implemented:

• Structured data markup (e.g., LocalBusiness, FAQPage – BTW: you can generate it yourself with our Free FAQ Schema Generator),
• Well-organized menu and header structure,
• Clean, optimized code,
• Fast loading speed.

These factors increase the chances that AI will correctly interpret your content and more readily present your site as a trusted source in responses.

Blog Content Targeted to Local Searches

Create blog articles that directly reference the location where your business operates. For example, if you run a burger joint, publish content that appeals to local audiences and encourages them to visit your restaurant. Not sure where to start? Here are some sample topics that can help your business show up in AI-generated answers:

• What to eat near Seattle’s Pike Place Market?
• Where to get the best burger in Chicago?
• Top lunch spots in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village

Wondering if users asking questions are actually finding your business? Or if AI is showing your business as a source and displaying accurate information about what you offer?

First, put yourself in the user’s shoes and think about what questions they might ask. Then, use the prompts below to check your current visibility:

• What’s the best [your service] in [neighborhood] in [city]?
• Recommend a [category] in [neighborhood] [city]

If ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity aren’t showing any information about your business, that’s a clear sign it’s time to take action. And if you notice outdated or incomplete data, find out which sources AI is pulling from and update your information as soon as possible. Maintaining your presence in AI search is just as important!

Pssst, we’ve got something special for you!

If you want to easily track AI-driven traffic on your website, we’ve prepared an AI report in Looker Studio. It lets you see your current AI traffic and monitor trends over time.