6 Ways to Improve Your Local SEO Strategy in the Age of AI Search

As AI-driven tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Apple Intelligence expand their reach, optimizing your brand’s visibility across multiple platforms has become more critical than ever. Today’s search engines rely on trustworthy data, pulled from a wide array of sources, to determine which businesses to surface to users. In this evolving landscape, a strong local SEO strategy ensures your business remains discoverable and competitive.

Local SEO connects your brand to customers in your target geographic area, driving engagement and conversions while building trust. Below, we outline six strategies to refine your local SEO approach in the age of AI search.

1. Manage More Listings Than Just Your Google Business Profile

A robust local SEO strategy involves maintaining accurate and complete information across various platforms, not just Google. Brands appearing on over 75% of listings networks, see a 186% increase in clicks from Google searches.

Here’s how you can optimize:

• Keep information such as hours, address, and contact details consistent.
• Ensure map platforms like Google Maps and Apple Maps point to the correct locations.
• Regularly post updates about offers, events, or announcements.
• Add FAQs to your profile to help customers while enhancing crawlability for search engines.

2. Ensure Brand Information is Consistent Everywhere

Search engines reference multiple platforms to validate your brand’s credibility. Inconsistent information across listings, websites, and social platforms can harm your local search visibility and create a poor user experience.

For example, Google’s “local justifications” feature pulls content directly from your site, reviews, or listings to display relevant results. By ensuring accuracy, you reduce friction in the customer journey and improve your rankings.

3. Optimize Local Landing Pages

Your local landing pages are separate entities from your main website and are designed to attract and convert local traffic. To ensure they perform well:

• Prioritize fast load speeds, as these contribute to higher rankings.
• Make pages mobile- and tablet-friendly since most searches happen on mobile devices.
• Implement Schema Markup to help search engines understand your content better.

4. Develop a Reputation Management Strategy

Customer reviews and ratings significantly influence search rankings. Google rewards businesses with positive reviews by prioritizing them in search results, especially for terms like “best” or “top-rated.”

• Encourage customers to leave reviews across platforms.
• Monitor and respond to feedback to maintain a strong reputation.
• Highlight positive reviews on your local landing pages to build trust and improve SEO.

5. Use Analytics to Refine Your Strategy

Local SEO isn’t a “set it and forget it” process. Instead, leverage analytics to understand performance trends, user behavior, and engagement metrics. Key insights to monitor include:

• Keywords driving traffic to your site.
• Trends in user engagement and performance over time.
• Feedback from reviews to identify and resolve potential issues.

6. Leverage Social Media

Social media has become a crucial tool for local search, with platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook being used to discover businesses. Customers trust brands with an active presence, so focus on building both a global and local social media strategy.

• Maintain up-to-date information and structured data principles across your platforms.
• Stay consistent in messaging to build trust and engagement.
• Regularly post and interact with your audience to enhance visibility and credibility.

Earn SEO offers local SEO services in New York, ensuring visibility for your business in search results. Be it an optimization of the Google Business Profile, management of listings, or analytics utilization, our tailored approaches ensure your business remains competitive and ahead in this ever-changing digital world. Visit us to discover ways our services will help upgrade your local SEO approach today.