Google has dominated local search for 20+ years, but things are shifting. AI-powered tools like ChatGPT are reshaping how people find businesses.
Instead of ranking local businesses the old-fashioned way, AI-driven search engines pull from multiple sources, including your website, trusted directories, business listings, and customer reviews.
If your business isn’t adapting, it might get left behind. That’s where Local SEO for ChatGPT comes into play for businesses worldwide.
Why ChatGPT Matters for Local SEO
Unlike Google, which relies on backlinks and traditional ranking factors, AI-powered search engines work differently. They gather information from various sources and summarize results more conversationally.
That means businesses must be visible across different platforms, not just their website. Some key factors include:
- Business Listings – AI tools pull data from sites like Yelp, Foursquare, and Yellow Pages.
- Location Data – AI considers mini-maps and geo-coordinates on a website.
- Structured Data – Schema markup helps AI understand business services.
- Customer Reviews – AI analyzes reviews for keywords and sentiment.
- Website Content – Clear, informative content improves visibility in AI search results.
No Ads Helps ChatGPT Win Local Searches
Unlike Google Search, which has traditional Google Ads and Local Service Ads above most of its local results, ChatGPT Answers doesn’t have any ads.
This is why some homeowners are switching to ChatGPT to find local plumbers, roofers, HVAC companies, and electricians.
As a local business owner, it’s always important to understand where your consumers are looking and what their user experience entails.
ChatGPT’s ad-free local results could allow others to gravitate to their platform for these queries.
How DataPins Helps Businesses Get Found in AI Search
DataPins produces the signals AI platforms seek when training their large language models (LLMs).
If you want ChatGPT to recommend your business to local homeowners, the models must know and trust your brand.
Here is how DataPins helps them do this:
Showcasing Real Jobs with Geo-Tagged Check-Ins
AI search engines prioritize real-world business activity. DataPins allows businesses to create geo-tagged check-ins that showcase actual work being done, showing AI search engines that your business is active and locally relevant.
Example:
An HVAC contractor in Warner Robins, GA logs job check-ins with details like the service performed, the location, and customer feedback. AI-powered search tools pick up on these details, making the business more visible for local searches.
Boosting Visibility Through Customer Reviews
Reviews play a role in AI search rankings. The more detailed and relevant they are, the better. DataPins makes it easier to collect customer feedback that contains real service-related terms that AI tools look for.
Why It Works:
- More positive reviews improve business credibility.
- AI search picks up on common phrases like “best plumber in Austin.”
- Authentic, recent reviews help businesses stay relevant in AI-driven results.
Helping AI Understand Local Business Services
Traditional search engines rely on backlinks, but AI tools focus more on structured data. DataPins enhances LocalBusiness schema, directly embedding job details, services, and real-time updates into a website.
Key Benefits:
- AI-powered search engines easily process business details.
- Helps businesses appear in voice and AI-generated search results.
- Improves chances of being included in AI-generated recommendations.
Showcasing Location Data on Your Website
AI search engines don’t just rely on Google Maps—they also pull location data from your company’s website.
A BrightLocal study found that company websites make up 58% of all local sources in ChatGPT.
Businesses need to ensure that their location information is displayed prominently rather than just mentioned in text.
Writing Local Content That Works for ChatGPT
Unlike the traditional Google SERP, which serves up a list of links, AI tools generate responses that answer user questions directly.
That means businesses need content that AI can easily process and summarize.
Best Practices:
- Write naturally, as if answering a customer’s question.
- Make website content clear and to the point.
- Use structured data to highlight key business details.
How DataPins Helps With Local AI
DataPins automatically edits your job captions using 15 years of proprietary SEO data to better suit ChatGPT’s requirements.
Some of your technicians might quickly write captions that lack clarity, but DataPins fixes them for ChatGPT and other AI platforms.
Does Google SEO Still Matter?
Of course. Google isn’t going anywhere, but AI search is growing fast. Businesses that optimize for both Google and AI-powered search engines will have the biggest advantage.
How to Stay Ahead
- Keep business listings updated on Yelp, Facebook, Angi’, and other directories.
- Inject structured data and geo-tagged check-ins into your website.
- Encourage customer reviews that mention real services and locations.
- Maintain consistent business details across multiple platforms.
Google’s Adoption of AI
Google already shows AI overviews in their search results, which means optimizing for AI will also help your Google visibility.
These overviews are powered by Google Gemini, which is Google’s version of ChatGPT.
Furthermore, Google recently started testing its AI Mode for users who have been accepted into its Search Labs program.
While we don’t yet know what AI mode holds for the future of search, it is likely to present as a hybrid of Gemini and Google Search.
Final Thoughts
Search is changing, and businesses that rely only on Google might struggle in the coming years. The DataPins software was developed to equip businesses with the tools they need to thrive online in the AI era, both on and off of Google.
Make no mistake, DataPins is not merely a shiny plugin to boost conversions (although it does that); it is a consolidation of signals to get your business to appear in local AI search results.
Learn More About DataPins
Want your business to appear in AI searches? DataPins can help. Schedule a demo to see how geo-tagged check-ins, AI-friendly schema, and customer reviews can improve your local SEO.
