AI-powered search is here to stay, but you can still get noticed.
The key is to make your business information clear, accurate, and easy for AI to understand. Because people are not clicking after they see the answer.
Answer Common Questions
Think about the questions customers ask most often. Add clear, concise details to your Virginia826.com profile and Q&A on your website. This increases the chances that Google’s AI-powered search and other AI tools like Perplexity or ChatGPT will pull your information into their instant answers. The AI tools will read every answer that you give, and if a Google Chrome user asks the same question, your answer may be shown before the search results. Users do not have to click on your website for the information. This is called a Zero-Click search.
Use Structured Data
Structured data (like schema markup) helps search engines understand your business details, such as address, hours, and services. These bits of technology tell search engines what your website is about. Schema markup is a way to add context to this information by defining it in a specific way, for example, “Local Business Schema”. Many website builders and directories (including Virginia826.com) offer easy ways to add this information. Your website should have the organization’s name, address, email, phone, address, description, and operating hours. Virginia826.com’s listings use Google Maps to help users, especially mobile users, find your business and provide directions to get there.
Keep Listings Up-to-Date
Make sure your business name, address, phone number, and hours are consistent everywhere online. This not only helps AI but also builds trust with customers. A strategy that many small businesses use successfully is to keep their website, social media presence, Google My Business (or Bing Places for Business), and directories like Virginia826 consistent to have the highest probability of being shown by AI tools when a user asks a question online.
In our final post (and 5th post in this series), we’ll share how to build customer loyalty and word-of-mouth, so your business grows, no matter what the search engines do.