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AI Overviews Now Answer Most Local Searches – How To Get Your Business Cited

30Jul

By Adam HeitzmanNo Comments

Generative AI, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

AI Overviews Now Answer Most Local Searches – How To Get Your Business Cited

If your local search traffic has felt off lately, you’re not imagining it. Fewer clicks. Fewer calls. Customers finding answers and moving on without ever hitting your site. That’s not a seasonal dip or a technical issue. That’s AI Overviews doing exactly what Google designed them to do. Local SEO used to be predictable. Optimize your Google Business Profile, build citations, stack localized keywords, and protect your Map Pack spot. That system worked for years. In 2026, it’s not enough. Working across 15+ client markets at our agency, spanning home services, legal, fitness, healthcare, and financial verticals, we’re seeing businesses rank well in the traditional local pack while being completely invisible in AI-generated answers for the exact same queries. Those two things used to be the ...

3May

By Matt G. SouthernNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, News, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO

20% of Local Searches Now Start Here

New research shows that map platforms have become key search engines for local businesses. One in five consumers now searches directly in map apps instead of traditional search engines. BrightLocal’s Consumer Search Behavior study found that Google, Apple, and Bing Maps make up 20% of all local searches. This is a big part of search traffic that many marketers might be missing in their local SEO plans. The Rise of Map-First Search Behavior The research found that 15% of consumers use Google Maps as their first choice for local searches. This makes it the second most popular platform after Google Search (45%). The study reads: “Another significant finding is the prominence of Google Maps in local search. 15% of consumers said they would use Google Maps as their first port of call, meaning t...

How Local Businesses Can Rank For Popular Near Me Searches

1Dec

By Kristi HinesNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company

How Local Businesses Can Rank For Popular Near Me Searches

A recent feature on The Verge highlighted businesses that try to get an edge in local search rankings with clever names like Thai Food Near Me. So, I set out to discover if this strategy could impact local rankings and, more importantly, if other local businesses could replicate it. Before I get started, I should preface this with some good and bad news. Bad News: Distance Is An Important Ranking Factor Most restaurants will not rank as the best restaurants near me unless they are physically located near the search user’s location. The reason? One of the three critical ranking factors for Google local search results is distance. Suppose a restaurant owner wants people in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York to discover their dining establishment with the term best restaurant near me...

Yelp Reports Major Growth in Searches For Diverse Businesses

8Apr

By Matt SouthernNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, News, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO

Yelp Reports Major Growth in Searches For Diverse Businesses

Yelp Search Data Shows Growing Consumer Interest in Diverse BusinessesAdditional Highlights From Yelp’s ReportNew Attribute For Asian-Owned BusinessesYelp’s latest local economic impact report reveals that searches for diverse businesses grew significantly over the past year.The report defines a diverse business as a women-owned, Black-owned, Asian-owned, or Latinx-owned establishment.Businesses that identify as either women-owned, Black-owned, Asian-owned or Latinx-owned can display attributes on their Yelp page to assist people searching for a diverse business.Business owners can opt-in to more than one attribute, if applicable, such as Black-owned and women-owned.Yelp data tracks when business owners opt into those attributes on their business page. Its latest report aims to measure the...