AEO for Local Businesses: Get Recommended by AI
When someone asks an AI assistant for the best local option, it names two or three businesses — and most owners have no idea whether they're one of them.
The buyer question that matters
In your category, the highest-stakes AI query is some version of “best [service] near me”. When a prospect asks it, the AI names a short list — and the businesses on that list win. AEO is how you get on it.
Your highest-leverage AEO moves
- A complete, consistent Google Business Profile (categories, hours, photos, Q&A).
- Consistent name-address-phone (NAP) across every directory and citation.
- Recent, keyword-rich reviews that AI engines summarize.
- LocalBusiness schema on your site with geo-coordinates and service area.
- Pages that answer 'best [service] in [city]' directly.
Know where you stand
Run a free AI Visibility Scan for your business to see whether ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI Overviews recommend you for “best [service] near me” today — and exactly what to fix. Then follow the AEO Playbook.
Frequently asked questions
How do local businesses get found in AI search?
By making facts consistent everywhere, adding the right schema, publishing pages that directly answer buyer questions like “best [service] near me”, and building reviews and off-site presence the engines cite.
What's the fastest AEO win for local businesses?
A complete, consistent Google Business Profile (categories, hours, photos, Q&A).