Get ready for AI local visibility

The quick answer

Ranking your local business on AI assistants is the new challenge. A recent report shows it's much harder than ranking on Google. Here is what you need to do now for better AI local visibility:

1. Audit your data accuracy. AI assistants like ChatGPT and Perplexity show business information that is only 68% accurate. Find and fix every inconsistency in your name, address, phone number, and hours across all platforms.
2. Master your Google Business Profile. Google's Gemini assistant shows 100% data accuracy and recommends far more businesses than its competitors. A complete and active GBP is your direct path to visibility on Gemini.
3. Strengthen your website as the source of truth. Use structured data (Schema markup) on your site to clearly label your business information for AI crawlers. This reduces errors and builds trust.
4. Focus on a consistent digital presence. AI models synthesize information from multiple sources. Your website, GBP, social media, and local directories must all tell the same story about who you are, where you are, and what you do.

The new benchmark for local search

For years, the goal for local businesses has been clear: rank in the Google Local 3-Pack. New research shows this is no longer enough. The rise of AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity has created a new, more difficult challenge for AI local visibility.

The 2026 Local Visibility Index report published by SOCi reveals a massive gap. While Google's Local 3-Pack features 35.9% of businesses for a given search, AI assistants are far more selective. ChatGPT includes a mere 1.2% of locations, Perplexity 7.4%, and Gemini 11%.

This means getting recommended by an AI can be up to 30 times harder than securing a top spot on Google. Customers are increasingly asking AI for recommendations, and if your business isn't visible, you don't exist in that conversation.

Why Google ranking is not enough

Your high Google ranking doesn't automatically transfer to AI assistants. The report highlights a critical issue: data accuracy. While Gemini (Google's AI) pulls information with 100% accuracy, likely from Google Business Profile, the results are different elsewhere.

Both ChatGPT and Perplexity showed only 68% accuracy for business profile information. This means for every 3 times an AI mentions a business, 1 of those mentions could have the wrong hours, phone number, or address. This happens because these AI models synthesize data from a wide range of online sources, not just Google. If your data is inconsistent across the web, AI models are more likely to present incorrect information or ignore you completely.

Your plan for AI local visibility

You cannot directly "optimize" for an AI model's algorithm in the same way you do for Google. Instead, you must build a flawless data foundation that makes your business the most reliable and logical choice for an AI to recommend. This requires a precise and disciplined approach to your entire digital presence.

A well-built website is the central hub for this foundation. It acts as the ultimate source of truth for all your business information. When an AI crawler needs to verify your details, a fast, clear, and properly structured website is its most trusted resource. Building and maintaining one is no longer optional. Find out more about how we build websites that are designed to convert and rank.

Step 1: Conduct a ruthless data audit

The 68% accuracy rate on major AI platforms is a direct result of inconsistent data across the web. Your first step is to find and fix every error. This is a non-negotiable task.

Create a master spreadsheet with the following "single source of truth" information:

• Business Name: The exact legal name, without variations.
• Address: The precise, mailable address recognized by the postal service.
• Phone Number: Your primary local phone number.
• Website URL: The canonical homepage URL.
• Hours of Operation: For all seven days of the week.
• Service Categories: A concise list of your primary services.

Next, search for your business on Google, Bing, Yelp, Apple Maps, and top industry-specific directories. Compare every detail against your master list. Correct every discrepancy you find, no matter how small.

Step 2: Reinforce your Google ecosystem

The SOCi report makes one thing very clear: the Google ecosystem is still the most powerful driver of local visibility. Gemini's 11% recommendation rate and 100% accuracy show its deep integration with Google Business Profile.

Your GBP is no longer just a listing; it is your direct line to the most accurate AI assistant. To optimize it for AI local visibility, you must:

• Complete every field. Fill out the services, attributes, accessibility options, and business description.
• Upload high-quality photos and videos. Regularly add new images of your location, products, and team.
• Use Google Posts weekly. Announce offers, events, or news to show your profile is active.
• Answer every question in the Q&A section. Proactively add your own common questions and answer them to control the narrative.
• Respond to all reviews. Thank positive reviewers and address negative feedback professionally.

Step 3: Implement structured data on your website

Structured data, or Schema markup, is code you add to your website to explicitly tell search engines what your information means. It’s like putting labels on your content so AI can read it without guessing.

For AI local visibility, the most important type is `LocalBusiness` schema. This markup clearly identifies your business name, address, phone number, hours, and geographic coordinates. It removes ambiguity and helps AI models confidently cite your information, pushing their accuracy rate up from 68% closer to 100%.

Implementing schema is a technical task, but it is fundamental to modern SEO content strategy. It turns your website into a structured database that AI assistants can easily understand and trust.

Step 4: Generate consistent local signals

Once your data is clean and your website is structured, you must prove your local relevance through consistent activity. AI models look for signals that your business is an active and respected part of its local community.

Create content that ties your business to its physical location. This could include:

• Blog posts about local events or news relevant to your industry.
• Location-specific pages on your website if you have multiple branches.
• Mentions of local landmarks or neighborhoods in your service descriptions.
• Active participation on platforms like Nextdoor or local Facebook groups.

Consistent social media activity also plays a role. When your social profiles share the same business information and engage with local topics, it provides another trusted data point for AI. A managed social media plan can ensure these signals are steady and on-brand.

Your AI visibility checklist

The age of AI search is here. Waiting to adapt is not an option. According to the original report from Search Engine Land, the gap between traditional ranking and AI recommendation is already significant.

Use this checklist to secure your business's place in the future of local search:

• Data Audit: Is your business name, address, and phone number 100% consistent everywhere online?
• Google Business Profile: Is every single section of your GBP filled out and regularly updated?
• Website Schema: Does your website use `LocalBusiness` schema to define your core information?
• Local Content: Are you creating content that proves your connection to your local service area?
• Review Management: Do you have a system to actively generate and respond to reviews on Google and other key sites?

By focusing on a strong, consistent, and technically sound digital foundation, you position your business to be the trustworthy answer AI assistants are looking for.