This is post #100 on the Good Company AI blog. We started writing about local business marketing a few weeks ago, and one topic keeps coming up in every conversation we have with business owners: AI search.
Not because they’re asking about it — because they don’t know they should be.
The Shift Happening Right Now
In 2025, Google started putting AI-generated summaries at the top of search results. By early 2026, these “AI Overviews” appear on 30% of searches. For local service queries, the percentage is even higher.
At the same time, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and voice assistants are becoming how a growing segment of consumers find businesses. According to Gartner, traditional search traffic will decline 25% as people shift to AI-first discovery.
For a local roofer, plumber, or cleaning company, this means: the way customers find you is fundamentally changing.
What This Means in Plain English
Old way: Customer types “plumber near me” into Google → sees a list of 10 businesses → calls 2-3 and picks one.
New way: Customer asks ChatGPT “who’s the best plumber in San Antonio for a slab leak?” → gets 1-2 specific recommendations with reasons → calls that one.
In the old way, you needed to be on page 1. In the new way, you need to be THE recommendation.
The Good News
Everything that helps you win in AI search also helps you win in traditional Google search. There’s no tradeoff. The businesses that optimize for both will dominate.
Here’s what matters:
Content depth. AI pulls from your website when generating recommendations. Pages that answer specific questions in detail — with real costs, timelines, and your professional opinion — are exactly what AI cites. Generic “we provide quality service” pages get ignored.
Review volume and quality. AI weighs reviews heavily when deciding who to recommend. A company with 200 reviews at 4.8 stars is far more likely to be recommended than one with 15 reviews at 5.0.
Data consistency. Your business name, address, and phone number need to match across every platform — Google, Yelp, BBB, industry directories. AI cross-references these for confidence.
Third-party mentions. AI leans on places other people talk about you. About 60% of the local sources behind Google’s AI answers come from sites like Yelp and Reddit. A real recommendation in a community forum, or a spot in a “best [your trade] in [your city]” roundup, carries more weight than anything on your own site.
Three Things You Can Do Today
-
Check if AI can find you. Ask ChatGPT: “Who’s the best [your service] in [your city]?” If you don’t show up, you have work to do.
-
Write one detailed page. Pick the question your customers ask most. “How much does [your service] cost?” Write a real answer with real numbers. Publish it on your website.
-
Ask 5 customers for reviews. Text them your Google review link today. Not tomorrow, not next week — today.
Why the First Movers Win
AI recommendations compound. Once an AI starts recommending your business, your reviews and traffic increase, which makes the AI even more confident in recommending you. It’s a flywheel.
The businesses that establish themselves in AI search results now will be extremely difficult to displace later. The window for easy entry is open but narrowing.
Where Good Company AI Fits
This is exactly why we exist. We help local service businesses show up in both Google and AI search — not through tricks or hacks, but through the fundamentals that actually work: great content, genuine reviews, complete business profiles, and consistent data.
If you’re curious where your business stands, run our free audit. It takes 30 seconds and shows you exactly what to fix first.
Or book a call — we’ll walk you through it personally. No sales pitch, just honest advice about your specific business.