Google’s AI Overviews feature is changing how customers discover nearby businesses. While the traditional “Local Pack” (the map and three business listings) remains, AI is shifting the focus from simple keyword matching to providing comprehensive, synthesized answers.
For simple searches like “dentist near me,” the traditional Local Pack still appears. However, when users ask more complex questions – like “Where is the best place to grab pizza with kids in Langley?” – AI will synthesize a direct answer. AI Overviews now appear for about 68% of local business-type queries, pulling information directly from reviews, trusted articles, and business profiles. Here’s how you can increase your odds of appearing in an AI Overview, and how we can help.
1 – Own Your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile is a primary source of information for Google’s AI. You need to take control of it and ensure that it’s always up to date.
What you can do: Find your Profile on Google and click on “Own this business?” A pop-up will show you if there is a current manager. Make sure you recognize the email and that the person indicated has been assigned to manage your profile. Keeping your profile up to date – and ensuring the same information is on your website – is really important.
What we can do: If you don’t recognize the email address, or if no one has claimed the Profile yet, please give us a call. We can get it set up for you and ensure that one or more of your locations are properly placed on Google’s map.
2 – Ask for and respond to reviews
I know. As Canadians, it’s hard to ask, but it’s essential. Reviews are a big factor for AI, so you need to keep them coming.
What you can do: Encourage customers, especially happy customers, to post a review. Assign a customer service employee to review them regularly and to respond to them.
What we can do: There are several ways we might be able to help with this, from adding a link to order confirmations to setting up a QR code poster at your sales counter. Once you’ve started gathering reviews, we can also post them to your website. Give us a call to discuss some options.
3 – Embed questions and answers into your content
We’ve talked before about the benefits of a FAQ (frequently asked questions) page, and making sure that your content answers specific questions. Embedding questions and answers is another way to make it easy for AI and customers to quickly get the info they’re looking for.
What you can do: Make a list of the top 10 to 15 questions customers ask, and provide as much detail as you can in the answers.
What we can do: Our content experts will find the best locations on your current site to add this content.
