Local SEO in the Age of AI: What’s Changed and What It Means for You
The way customers find local businesses is changing fast. Over the past two months, Google has rolled out major updates—and AI is now shaping how people search and what they see. For neighborhood businesses, this shift makes your Google presence more important than ever.
At Talloo, we keep a close eye on these changes so you don’t have to. Here’s what’s happening and how it affects your business.
What’s Changed
Google’s Core Algorithm Update — The June 2025 update caused big swings in rankings. Businesses with outdated websites or weaker content were hit hardest.
AI Overviews are everywhere — Google is now answering many questions directly at the top of the page, leaving fewer clicks for websites.
AI Mode in Search — Search is getting more conversational. Customers can refine questions, and Google’s AI reshuffles results in real time.
Structured data matters more — Schema markups and clear formatting help Google’s AI pull accurate business info, reviews, and FAQs.
Google Business Profiles are changing automatically — AI is suggesting edits to hours, services, and descriptions, which means passive listings are at risk of drifting out of date.
Traffic patterns are shifting — Zero-click results mean less traffic for some sites, especially for broad or informational queries.
What This Means for Your Business
Your Google Business Profile is your storefront — Keep it accurate, updated, and active. Regular posts, fresh reviews, and complete details matter more than ever.
Answer questions directly — Add FAQs and clear, simple answers on your site and profile. If Google is going to pull answers, make sure they come from you.
Build trust through reviews — Reviews aren’t just nice to have—they’re a core ranking factor and a signal customers rely on when AI summarizes results.
Keep your website sharp — Fast load times, mobile-friendly design, and structured content give you an edge in this AI-driven search world.
Think like your customer — Focus on the longer, conversational questions customers might ask: “best plumber near me open now” or “HVAC repair in Boise North End.”
Bottom Line
AI isn’t replacing local search—it’s reshaping it. Businesses that stay active, accurate, and trusted will still win customers. At Talloo, our job is to make sure you’re one of them.
We’ll keep tuning your local SEO so you don’t just keep up—you stay ahead.
