AI assistants like Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa have fundamentally changed how consumers find local businesses. Here's how to adapt your local SEO strategy.
The Shift to Conversational Search
Traditional local search: "pizza near me" AI assistant search: "What's the best pizza place open right now that delivers?"
This shift means your local SEO strategy needs to handle:
- Natural language queries
- Intent-rich questions
- Context-aware requests (time, location, preferences)
Google Business Profile Optimization
Your Google Business Profile is now the most important local SEO asset.
Essential Optimizations
- Complete every field: hours, services, attributes
- Add high-quality photos weekly
- Respond to all reviews within 24 hours
- Use Google Posts for updates and offers
- Enable messaging and Q&A
AI-Specific Tips
- Write your business description in natural language
- Include conversational phrases in your FAQ
- Add structured data for services and products
Reviews and Reputation
AI assistants heavily weight review signals:
- Volume: More reviews = more trust signals
- Recency: Recent reviews matter more than old ones
- Sentiment: AI can analyze review sentiment at scale
- Response rate: Businesses that respond rank higher
Schema Markup for Local
Implement these schema types:
- LocalBusiness (with all sub-properties)
- OpeningHoursSpecification
- GeoCoordinates
- Review and AggregateRating
- Service and Product
Conclusion
Local SEO in the AI era is about being the best answer to conversational queries. Focus on your Google Business Profile, earn authentic reviews, and structure your data for AI comprehension.
