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From Yellow Pages to Google to AI: This Isn’t About Trusting or Liking, It’s About Survival

Last Updated: July 31, 2025

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If you’re a small business owner saying, “I don’t trust AI stuff, and I’m not using it,” we’re not here to argue with you. You don’t need to like AI. You don’t even need to use it. But you do need to understand something very important: It’s not about whether you use AI. It’s about the fact that your customers already are.

This isn’t the first time we’ve been here.

Remember the Yellow Pages?

Back in the day, if you needed a plumber, an electrician, or a good HVAC guy, you reached for that fat yellow book. Then Google showed up. And at first, plenty of people said, “I don’t need that internet stuff. I’ve got ads in the book, and my phone’s still ringing.”

And for a little while, that was true. But slowly (and then all at once), the phone stopped ringing. Because customers stopped looking in the book. They started searching online. And if your business wasn’t showing up in Google, you simply didn’t exist.

Now we’re at the next leap forward. We’re moving from Google to AI. And this time, it’s not going to take years. It’s going to take months.

The Shift Has Already Started

AI tools like ChatGPT, Google’s SGE (Search Generative Experience), Perplexity, and others are changing how people search. They’re not scrolling through 10 blue links anymore. They’re asking questions, and expecting a clear, confident answer.

  • “Who’s the best local roofer?”
  • “Is there a plumber near me that answers the phone on Sundays?”
  • “Find an HVAC company with great reviews that services older homes.”

These questions are being asked right now and AIs are answering them with recommendations. If your business isn’t part of that data? You don’t get mentioned. Period.

This Time, You Won’t Get the Luxury of Delay

Back in the Yellow Pages days, if you were slow to adapt to Google, you had time. Revenue might dip, and you could course correct. Things moved slowly enough that you could recover. But AI adoption is happening fast. And what’s worse, AI tools aren’t updating your info in real-time. They’re retrained every few months at most. If you miss the next training cycle, you could be shut out until the one after that. That means you could be waiting 6-12 months with:

  • No visibility
  • No recommendations
  • No chance to compete

So whether or not you trust AI, you still have to get your business in front of it because your customers both trust and use it.

Here’s How to Stay in the Game

If you’ve invested in solid website architecture and good SEO, you’re in great shape to take advantage of this shift. If not, the time to act is right now. As we talked about in a previous article about how we’re no longer playing the “Top 10 Game,” you’ve got to start aiming to be the top 1 (or 3 if you’re lucky).

1. Double Down on SEO

The same SEO practices that helped with Google? They matter even more for AI. Think of it as SEO on steroids. With fewer spots available, you’ve got to be on your game.

2. Watch Out for Technical Debt

If you’ve been kicking the can down the road (cheap platforms, sloppy hosting, cut-rate domains), it’s about to catch up with you. Start fixing these problems immediately. WordPress users can add new AI-friendly features like an llms.txt file in minutes. If you’re stuck in a closed system like Wix or Squarespace, you may not be able to add it at all. You saved a few bucks, but now you may need a full rebuild just to stay competitive. That’s technical debt in action. Start clearing these things out before it’s too late.

3. Add a Strong FAQ Strategy

AI loves websites that answer questions clearly and directly. Build a global FAQ page, and sprinkle smart, natural-language questions across all your service and location pages. Make sure you’re using proper markup though or you might end up wasting your efforts.

4. Create AI-Friendly GEO Pages

Make location pages that speak clearly to AI tools. Keep them simple, specific, and packed with the info bots look for, not just humans. It’s important to remember that the AI bots read and infer things differently than humans. You need to speak to them with authority, confidence, and boldly. Prove your worth to them with awards and recognitions received and boast about your track record, time in business, etc. If you don’t tell the AI explicitly, it thinks you don’t do it.

Bottom Line: You’re Not Competing Against AI. You’re Competing for Its Attention

This isn’t a choice between “using AI” and “not using AI.” This is about showing up where your customers are looking. And right now, they’re asking AI for help.

So the question isn’t “Do I trust AI?” The question is: “Will I let AI ignore my business while it recommends my competitors?”

You’ve seen this kind of transition before. The ones who move early win. The ones who wait get left behind. Let’s make sure you’re in the first group.

 

 

AI‑Driven Search Survival FAQs


The shift is critical because consumers now ask AI tools like ChatGPT or Google’s SGE questions like “Who’s the best local roofer?”, and if your business isn’t part of the AI data set, it won’t be recommended. This transition is happening over months, not years, so businesses must adapt quickly to remain visible and competitive.


No. Unlike the gradual transition from Yellow Pages to Google, AI adoption is happening fast. If your business misses the next training cycle, which may only happen every few months, you risk losing visibility for 6–12 months.


SEO becomes even more important in an AI context—what the blog calls “SEO on steroids.” You need top technical SEO, strong content architecture, and structured Q&A content to be visible to AI-driven assistants.


Technical debt refers to outdated platforms, cheap hosting, or closed systems like Wix/Squarespace that limit your ability to add AI‑friendly features like llms.txt. Without fixing these, you may need a full site rebuild to stay competitive.


Create global FAQ pages with smart, natural‑language questions and mark them up with proper schema. Also add AI‑friendly GEO pages—location‑specific pages that speak directly to AI bots using awards, service data, and credibility markers.


No—you don’t need to like or personally trust AI tools. But your customers are already using them. If AI doesn’t recognize your business, you effectively don’t exist to potential customers. It’s about survival, not preference.

Bringing a Go-Kart to a Drag Race: The One Mistake That’s Killing Your Local SEO

Last Updated: July 8, 2025

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Let’s be honest: every business owner knows you need something online. No website = No calls. But here’s the mistake almost everyone makes: they throw up a one-page “el-cheapo” site and call it good. That’s like showing up to a drag race in a go-kart.

Mistake #1: The One-Page Wonder

A single-page site barely gets you off the starting line. It doesn’t give Google (or your customers) much to go on, so you’re stuck at the back, treated like a domain squatter instead of a real contender. It’s definitely better than nothing, but not by much.

Mistake #2: The Basic Three-Pager

You try to up your game by adding pages: Home, Contact, Services. Then you make a long bullet list of everything you do on that Services page. But to Google, this is just a rolling chassis with no engine. You look the part, but you’re not moving up in the rankings. Your site still isn’t built to win. That long list of scattered ideas has less focus than a squirrel in a peanut factory.

The Game-Changer: One Service, One Page

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Take that list of services and turn each one into its own dedicated page. Now you’re up to 19 pages instead of three, each one a powerhouse of detail and value. Suddenly, you’ve got a W16 engine under the hood. Google finally knows what you do best, and customers find exactly what they need, right when they need it.

The Problem and the Opportunity

Here’s the opportunity: Most of your competitors are still stuck with the basics. They don’t realize they’re running a go-kart while the real winners have tuned, targeted, turbocharged sites. This is your chance to race right past them, if you do it right.

In the Age of AI, One Page Per Thought Is More Important Than Ever

It’s not just about Google anymore. AI search and answer engines (think ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews, and even voice assistants) are picking the one best, most specific answer to every question. With fewer chances to get in front of customers, you need to be the single best answer every time.

That means your pages can’t be generic. They need to be dialed in, crystal clear, and laser-focused on exactly what the user is looking for. It’s not just SEO, it’s AI optimization, too.

Build the Engine, Then Fuel It With AEO

Once your SEO foundation is solid (one service, one page, all dialed in), it’s time to pour in the race gas:

Add FAQ and Answer Sections to Every Page
These aren’t just for people, they’re for AI, too. Adding detailed, relevant FAQs to each service page helps you show up in answer engines and voice searches. It’s literally impossible to do this with a single “services” page; you need those individual pages first.

Think of it this way: building all those service pages is like assembling your W16 motor. Adding high-quality FAQ content is pouring in the high-octane fuel. You can’t cross the finish line without both.

Action Steps: Outrace the Competition in the AI Era

  1. Break out every service onto its own page. No exceptions!

  2. Optimize each page for SEO: clear titles, strong content, and targeted keywords.

  3. Add location-specific pages for every town you serve. That means a page for each combination of service offered and town served.

  4. Supercharge every page with FAQs. This is how you win with AEO.

  5. Keep tuning: Update, expand, and improve over time. The AI “race” never really ends!

Are You Nuts?

Look, you’d probably rather pluck your own eyeballs out with a rusty spoon and wash them off in hot sauce than write 16 pages of content for your website. Like most people, you’re probably struggling just to get the invoices out and collect payment for the jobs you’ve done. And with all of that taking time away from your family, it’s a lot to ask to add this to your list, too.

Just remember two things:

  1. You don’t have to do this all at once. This can be done a little at a time over a series of months.

  2. You don’t have to be the one banging on the keyboard. This is something you can outsource. There are plenty of companies (including us) who can help you with this. Just make sure you vet them thoroughly, so you’re not handed a bunch of trash content that does little more than drain your wallet.

Ready to Fuel Up and Win?

Most local competitors don’t even realize they’re racing against AI answer engines, not just Google. But you do. Build your engine, pour in the race gas, and watch as you cross the finish line far ahead.

Need help tuning up? We help businesses win in Google, and in the new age of AI.

Local SEO and AI Optimization FAQs


A one-page website lacks the depth and specificity needed for local SEO. It provides minimal content for Google and answer engines to index, making it hard to rank well or get found by potential customers. It’s comparable to entering a drag race in a go-kart—technically present but not competitive.


Creating a separate page for each service allows you to target specific keywords, provide detailed information, and match the intent of users and AI search engines. It makes your website more comprehensive, authoritative, and better suited for both traditional SEO and AI optimization.


AI optimization is the practice of structuring website content so it is easily understood by AI-driven search engines and answer platforms. For local businesses, this means being the single best result for specific queries, which is critical in an era where AI selects one top answer instead of a list of results.


SEO focuses on optimizing for search engines like Google, using techniques like keyword targeting, backlinks, and site structure. AEO, or Answer Engine Optimization, targets AI-driven platforms that prioritize the most specific, well-structured answer, often from a single, focused page with FAQs and clear intent.


Adding FAQ sections helps you rank in AI-driven answer engines and voice search results. They clarify your offerings for both people and machines, increase your visibility, and position your business as the definitive answer to common customer questions.


Yes. Creating a unique page for each combination of service and town helps your business rank in local searches and stand out in AI-driven results. It ensures content relevance and specificity, which are critical for both SEO and AEO success.

Google’s AI Search Results Are Here, and They Don’t Like Your Website

Last Updated: July 3, 2025

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Why Showing Up in Google Search Isn’t Enough Anymore, and What to Do Before You Disappear

If your website traffic is down but your SEO rankings haven’t changed, you’re not imagining things. Google’s new AI-powered search results are changing how local businesses get found online.

Your site might still rank on page one, but fewer people are clicking. Instead, they’re getting answers directly from Google’s new AI Overviews, which appear at the top of the search results before any website links.

This is what’s called a zero-click search. If your content isn’t being pulled into those AI-generated summaries, your business is effectively invisible.

What’s Really Happening

Google’s AI Overviews use artificial intelligence to gather and summarize information from across the web. Users see concise answers at the top of the page, often without needing to click through to any websites.

That means your content might be getting used to answer a question, but you don’t get the traffic, credit, or the lead.

Worse, Google might be pulling content from a competitor who is better optimized for this new system.

Why This Hurts Small Businesses

You’re not just losing site visitors. You’re losing potential customers, and it’s happening quietly.

AI Overviews primarily rely on:

  • Pages with short, clear answers
  • Pages that use structured data like FAQ or How-To schema
  • Sites with strong trust signals like reviews, updated listings, and user engagement

If your content is outdated or poorly structured, it’s not being chosen to answer searchers’ questions.

What You Can Do

You don’t need to rebuild your site from scratch, but you do need to make it easier for AI to understand and pull content from.

Add an FAQ Section to Key Pages

AI Overviews prefer clear questions and direct answers. Add a short FAQ section to your main service pages. Address common questions such as:

  • Do you offer emergency services?
  • What areas do you serve?
  • How long does [specific service] take?

Even a few well-written Q&As can improve your visibility.

If you’re not sure where to start or how to format it properly, we can help. Our Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) service includes done-for-you FAQ sections, schema markup, and other behind-the-scenes enhancements designed specifically to help small businesses get featured in AI Overviews.

Use Schema Markup

Schema is behind-the-scenes code that helps AI understand your content. Without it, Google has to guess, and that’s rarely in your favor.

Be Direct and Clear

Make sure the first paragraph of your landing pages gives a direct, useful answer to the visitor’s main question. Skip the filler and go straight to what you do and how you can help.

Focus on Engagement

Google tracks what people do after they land on your site. If visitors bounce quickly or don’t interact, that sends a signal that your content isn’t helpful. Keep your pages clear, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate.

The New SEO: Be the Answer

Search engines are no longer just showing links. They’re giving users direct answers. If your business isn’t showing up in those answers, someone else is.

Now is the time to adapt. If you want to make sure your site is showing up in AI results, not just traditional rankings, our AEO service can help.

Let us know if you’d like a review of your current pages or a quick consultation. This change isn’t coming someday… it’s already here.

Google AI Overviews & Answer Engine Optimization FAQs


Google AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of search results, providing concise answers to user queries without requiring clicks to external websites.


AI Overviews can reduce website traffic by providing direct answers in search results, leading to fewer clicks on traditional website links.


Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of structuring website content to be easily understood and utilized by AI tools, increasing the likelihood of being featured in AI-generated summaries.


To optimize for AI Overviews, add clear FAQ sections, use structured data like schema markup, ensure content is concise and direct, and enhance user engagement through mobile-friendly design and interactive elements.


Structured data helps AI tools understand and categorize content accurately, increasing the chances of your website being selected for AI-generated summaries.


AEO enhances visibility in AI-driven search results, drives targeted traffic, and improves user engagement by providing direct, relevant answers to queries.

We’re Not Playing The “Top 10” Game Anymore, Thanks To AI

Last Updated: June 20, 2025

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Imagine Mrs. Johnson’s basement was flooding. She grabbed her phone and said, “Hey ChatGPT, find me a plumber.” She didn’t get a list of ten plumbers or a page of links. She got one name. The AI decided who was “best” and that’s what it delivered. Was it you? If not, you’re missing jobs you used to land, because the way customers find you is changing fast.

For 20 years we’ve been playing the “Top 10 Game” where being on Google’s first page was the goal. It meant calls, customers, and cash flow. But now, AI tools like ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, and smart home devices are taking over. They don’t show ten options and let you pick. They might show you a few options, or they might just give you one single option. If you’re not at the very top, you’re out of the picture. Here’s why this matters and how to make sure you’re the one customers find.

The Future Is Closer Than You Think

In less than 2 years, asking your device for recommendations (like Mrs. Johnson did) will be the norm. It won’t just be your phone either. These questions will be asked of home assistants like Alexa, sure, but you’ll start seeing AI infused into everything. You might soon be asking your smart fridge, “Who’s the best plumber in town?” or “Find me an electrician.” These devices are already here, and they’re getting smarter every day. They don’t give long lists of options. Instead, they give you between 1 and 5 names, based on reviews, relevance, and trust signals.

Want To See The Future Present?

We asked ChatGPT and Grok to provide a plumber for a leaking toilet. The MOST we got was 5 options. Sometimes we got just one single option.

“Hey ChatGPT, find me a plumber in St Louis MO to fix a leaking toilet”

need a plumber prompt 1 - chatgpt
ChatGPT – 3 Results
need a plumber prompt 1 - grok
Grok – 5 Results

“Help, I have a leaking toilet. Who should I call to fix it? I’m in St Louis MO.”

need a plumber prompt 2 - chatgpt
ChatGPT – 3 Results
need a plumber prompt 2 - grok
Grok – 5 Results

“Help! I need a plumber to fix this leaking toilet NOW! Give me the number to the best plumber in St Louis MO.”

need a plumber prompt 3 - chatgpt
ChatGPT – 2.5 Results
need a plumber prompt 3 - grok
Grok – 2 Results

But that’s just the beginning. Within the next 2–5 years, talking to robots in your home will be totally normal. Seriously! We already have robo-taxis cruising around cities, and soon we’ll see compact, task-specific robots doing real household chores like folding laundry, scrubbing bathrooms, and tidying up. These won’t just be cleaning machines; they’ll be smart, connected, AI-powered assistants roaming from room to room. And with an AI in every corner of the house, traditional search engines? Yeah… those days are numbered.

Still skeptical? This isn’t sci-fi. It’s already happening:

  • TidyBot is a robot that can pick up items, sort laundry, and clean up based on voice commands. Watch it work
  • Neo by Redwood AI is a humanoid robot that can do housework without human control. See it in action

 

How AI Is Changing the Game

AI isn’t just replacing Google, it’s making the game tougher. As we explained in our blog on AI vs. Google, Google has spent decades figuring out what makes a business trustworthy and helpful. AI uses that same info (reviews, website quality, local listings, etc.) but narrows it down to the absolute best. When someone asks, “Who’s the best plumber in town?” AI doesn’t list every decent option. It picks the cream of the crop based on:

  • Customer reviews and ratings
  • A clear, mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, up-to-date website
  • Local signals like your Google Business Profile and directory listings

If you haven’t updated your online presence in a couple of years, you’re likely slipping out of that top spot. And as more people turn to AI for recommendations, being “good enough” won’t cut it anymore.

Don’t Get Left Behind

The shift to AI is already happening, and waiting to act could mean losing customers to the handful of pros who get it. The “top 10” game is dead. The “top 3” game is here, and the “top 1” game is right around the corner. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to stay ahead… just take a few smart steps now.

The fastest, easiest way to get started is our AI Quick Start product. It’s turnkey, efficient, simple, and affordable. It’s designed specifically for busy pros like you. We handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on what you do best: fixing problems and keeping customers happy.

Want more details? Check out our simple guide to getting AI-ready for additional steps you can take today, all on your own.

Act Now. It’s Your Business on the Line

When Mrs. Johnson’s basement floods or Mr. Brown’s AC quits, their phones, fridges, or even their home robots will pick one pro to call. Make sure it’s you. Don’t wait! Jump over to our AI Quick Start and take the first step today to keep those jobs coming.

AI‑Driven Search & Local Visibility FAQs


AI-powered assistants (like ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, and smart home devices) don’t display lists of ten links anymore—they prioritize delivering just the best single result, based on trust signals like reviews, website quality, and local listings. That makes ranking in the traditional top 10 insufficient.


In tests, ChatGPT and Grok returned only 1–3 recommendations (sometimes up to five), unlike Google which traditionally shows a top‑10 list. Users searching for services like plumbers often got just one or two suggestions.


AI recommendation systems evaluate customer reviews and ratings, website performance and quality, Google Business Profile strength, and consistency across directory listings—and then pick only the most trusted business.


Within about 2 years, asking AI-powered devices—from smartphones to home assistants—to recommend services is expected to be mainstream, and in 2–5 more years, AI-enabled robots could make this even more common.


Ensure top-tier visibility signals: excellent client reviews, a responsive and up‑to‑date website, consistent Google Business Profile data, and directory listings. Optimizing for AI systems can start with solutions like Prospect Genius’ AI Optimization Quick Start.


AI Optimization Quick Start is a turnkey, cost-effective package that strengthens your digital foundation—analytics, website updates, and business listings—to improve your chances of being the top AI-powered recommendation.

A Simple Analogy: The Main Difference Between How AI and Google Behave When Visiting Your Site

Last Updated: June 6, 2025

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If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably heard a lot lately about how AI is changing everything, especially when it comes to search engines, online content, and how customers find you. And let’s be honest: most of it sounds like techno-babble. You’re busy, so the last thing you need is jargon. You just need to know what’s actually changing, and what you should do about it.

Here’s why this matters:

  • If you understand how AI and search bots function differently, you can spot B.S. from a mile away, especially from marketers or “AI experts” who are just trying to sell you something.

  • And more importantly, you can start making smart, focused improvements to your website, so you’re not just guessing or stabbing in the dark.

In short, this is about playing the new game with your eyes wide open.

So, let’s break it down with a simple analogy that shows exactly how search bots (like Google) and AI bots behave when they visit your site, and how that changes the way your business shows up online.

Imagine:

  • The houses in your town are like websites, each containing interesting documents, books, etc.
  • Your town’s network of streets is just like the internet itself.
  • The “bots” from Google and ChatGPT and others, are mail-carriers.

Search Bots: The Mail Carrier with a Giant Bag

Like mail-carriers, search bots walk down the street, knock on every door, and take a copy of whatever documents are inside each house. They toss those pages into a giant mailbag and move on to the next house.

Later, when someone types a question into a search engine, like “how to fix a leaky faucet,” the search engine digs into that bag and pulls out the 10 pieces of paper it believes are the best answer to that question. Then it hands those over to the person who asked.

From there, it’s up to the searcher to read through the results, decide what’s helpful, and choose what to click on.

AI Bots: The Quiet Visitor Who Just Reads

AI bots go door to door too, but they work differently. Instead of taking copies of the documents, they just go inside, read the information, and leave. They don’t keep a physical copy; they just remember what they read.

So when someone asks an AI a question, it doesn’t go dig up 10 links. It says: “Oh yeah, I remember reading about that. Here’s what I think.” The response is a unique, personalized answer, based on everything the AI has read and learned over time, not a list of search results.

⚠️ Quick note: Yes, we’re oversimplifying a bit here. AI bots don’t literally remember things like people do, and they don’t “read” in the human sense. But this analogy helps explain the key difference: Search bots collect and return copies. AI bots process and create something new.

SEO Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Growing Up

Search engines like Google have spent the last 20+ years figuring out what makes a web page trustworthy and useful. That’s how they decide what to show people.

And AI tools aren’t tossing that playbook in the trash. They’re using that same information (things like authority, helpfulness, and relevance) but layering on their own way of understanding content.

In other words, if your site is already well-optimized for search, you’re in a great spot. But now, you also need to start thinking about how your content “reads” to an AI bot that’s trying to explain things in its own words.

This isn’t a replacement, it’s an add-on. You still need SEO, but you also need to speak AI. That’s a very important shift to understand.

What This Means for Your Business

Before, you needed to be one of the top 10 results to show up in search. Now, you might need to be the one best answer…or one of just a few.

The internet is changing fast. For customers, it’s becoming easier than ever to find help. But for businesses, it’s becoming more competitive and difficult to stand out.

Now is not the time to pause, wait, or hope for the best. Now is the time to double down on strong content, helpful information, and new strategies that help both search bots and AI bots understand and trust what you’re offering.

Remember, the businesses that adapt fastest are the ones who’ll stay ahead, while the others get left behind.

A good first step toward playing the AI game is our AI Optimization Quick Start package. It gives you the baseline of optimization you need to start competing in the AI arena, while still being incredibly affordable and approachable. You can always build on top of it later as cash-flow allows but it at least gets you in the game!

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