The 90-Day GEO Playbook for Local Search: How To Show Up When AI Does The Searching

Search Engine Journal's release of the 90-Day GEO Playbook for Local Search highlights the growing importance of optimizing for AI-powered local search queries, particularly in the context of consumer behavior and marketing strategies. This development means that website owners, especially those with local businesses, need to adapt their search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to account for the increasing role of AI in search queries. With AI-powered search changing the way consumers find local information, businesses must ensure their online presence is optimized to show up in these AI-driven searches, or risk losing visibility and potential customers. To stay ahead, website owners should take actionable steps such as optimizing their Google My Business listings, using location-specific keywords, and monitoring their website's traffic to identify AI bot patterns. Additionally, they should regularly update their llms.txt files to reflect changes in AI traffic and ensure they are not inadvertently blocking legitimate search queries. By doing so, they can better navigate the evolving local search landscape and improve their chances of showing up when AI does the searching.