Are AI Overviews really detrimental to local search efforts?

AI Overviews in local-driven searches can definitely change the landscape of local SEO, but it’s not a huge detriment. Even though it feels like a huge blow to your strategy, realistically, AI Overviews are just changing how your local business gets discovered. Being cited in an AI summary actually means Google trusts your content enough to cite and rank it. It’s a quality signal that can actually lead to you earning more qualified traffic through your Google Business Profile and website. You also have to see this as a great opportunity if your business currently doesn’t rank in the top three for the traditional local pack. The addition of AI Overviews essentially reshuffles the deck — it allows you to have the opportunity to get your website in the Overviews and appear at the top of search results. But that only happens if you start adapting your strategy now to account for AI search features. The businesses that see the visibility loss and miss out on traffic are the ones hesitating to make changes.

Should I abandon all my local search efforts?

Absolutely not! This situation is similar to when AI Overviews started appearing for informational queries. Companies didn’t just start abandoning their traditional SEO efforts, but instead, adapted them. The same goes for local search. It’s important to still focus on fully optimizing your Google Business Profile. You’ll also still want to ensure your local information is accurate across directories and other places. All of that will help you appear in local searches, regardless of whether it’s leveraging AI Overviews. If you want to give your local strategy an extra boost, you can focus on ensuring your Google Business Profile answers common user questions, demonstrates E-E-A-T, and has trust signals like reviews. All of this will help ensure you are a trustworthy business that accurately represents itself online. So, while it might feel like AI Overviews and summaries in local searches are detrimental to your visibility, the businesses that adapt their local SEO strategies and prepare will see more visibility and earn more qualified traffic with these changes.

Meet Abby Fields, SEO Consultant at WebFX

Abby Fields

SEO Consultant, WebFX

Education

B.A. in History

Certifications

Google Analytics, OmniSEO® Semrush Local SEO, Hubspot SEO, Hubspot Content Marketing, Hubspot Inbound Marketing

Industry Experience

B2B

Expertise

SEO AI SEO GEO Local SEO Content Marketing Marketing

About

Abby Fields is an SEO Consultant at WebFX, one of the top SEO agencies in the USA! She spends her days implementing, optimizing, and analyzing data-backed SEO strategies.

With certifications in Google Analytics, SEO, Local SEO, OmniSEO®, and more, Abby has implemented and supported hundreds of optimizations and initiatives that improve online visibility, traffic, leads, and revenue.

When she’s not optimizing or sharing her expertise, you’ll find her walking her dog, traveling around Europe, or watching her favorite reality TV show.

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