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- Strategies for ranking in AI results
Strategies for ranking in AI results
+ useful resources and local SEO tips
Hi everyone,
Here are my top local search thoughts for the week 👇️
1. You need to write descriptions for your GBP services. Seriously.
Most of your competitors aren't adding descriptions to their services, so this is your chance to make your Profile stand out. By adding descriptions, you’re not just listing your services — you’re selling them.
Think of each description as an additional advertisement or sales pitch for your business. Highlight why customers should choose your service over the competition. What sets you apart? What makes your service the best option?
Just compare the services section of these two businesses and tell me which one looks more compelling:
💡 Bonus tip: Put emojis in the titles of the services to make them stand out even more.
2. Did you hear about our new local SEO guides?
Last week, Whitespark launched a free local SEO guide series to help local SEOs and business owners improve their digital marketing work.
These guides are meticulously researched and written by Miriam Ellis, a brilliant figure in the local SEO space and one of the top five most prolific women writers in the industry.
They are designed to give you a deeper understanding of some of the bigger and more complex topics in the digital marketing space and provide you with additional, downloadable resources that you can use in your local SEO work.
Find our first guide here 👇️
3. If you're not asking for reviews, you're basically invisible in AI search results.
Claudia Tomina recently shared some great research on how reviews now play a big role in AI-powered search.
Reviews are no longer just about building trust. They are used as training data that helps AI decide how and when your business shows up in search.
Read her full article to understand what kind of reviews you need to be getting in order to show up in AI results, and how to ask your customers for reviews that will propel your business forward 👇️
4. Speaking of AI, I chatted about it with the Near Media guys recently
Conversations with Greg and Mike are the most interesting and insightful conversations. Here are some conclusions we came to last week 👇️
AI is quietly influencing discovery – While SMBs aren't asking about AI, tools like ChatGPT are starting to drive traffic.
Google still rules local – Most businesses focus SEO efforts on Google Business Profiles.
First-party reviews are crucial – AI tools often pull reviews directly from business websites, making onsite testimonials essential.
Diversified review strategy – Relying solely on Google reviews is outdated; platforms like Yelp, YellowPages, and vertical-specific sites matter.
Blog strategy has evolved – Blogs are useful when part of a siloed structure that builds brand relevance, especially in AI search.
Video and social grow brand – YouTube and LinkedIn as lead sources outside traditional SEO.
Watch/listen to the full podcast episode here to understand what the heck any of this means 👇️
5. Did you catch the Local SEO Roundup for Q2 2025?
Miriam Ellis just published her Q2 2025 Roundup, and it contains the 21 most important local search developments from the last quarter that you MUST know about.
Think new GBP video verification developments, AI features for GBPs, ChatGPT local ranking factors, and much more 👇️
Darren