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What Business Owners Should Know About Google’s SGE (Search Generative Experience)

November 6, 2025November 5, 2025 by Jonathan Deleon

Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) is a new way of delivering search results using generative AI. Instead of just showing a list of links, Google now provides AI-generated summaries at the top of the results page—offering users an instant, concise overview pulled from multiple sources. It’s designed to help users research more efficiently, especially for complex or multi-step queries. But for business owners, it also introduces a new layer of competition for visibility. How Does SGE Work? SGE uses large language models to understand user intent and generate informative summaries from high-quality content across the web. These overviews cite sources, but they also push traditional organic listings and ads further down the page. They currently appear more often on desktop than mobile and are triggered by certain types of queries—especially questions, comparisons, or educational topics. Why Should Local Business Owners Care About SGE? 1. Your Website Might Appear Lower on the Page With AI Overviews taking the top spot, traditional listings—even high-ranking ones—can get buried. If your site isn’t part of the overview or the cited sources, your visibility could take a hit. 2. SGE Highlights Educational Content Websites that publish in-depth, people-first content are more likely to be cited in these AI summaries. If your business produces helpful guides, FAQs, or blog posts, you may benefit from added exposure—even if users don’t click through immediately. 3. It Affects Buyer Behavior Many customers now get their initial answers from SGE, which influences who they trust and click later. If your brand doesn’t appear in the overview phase, you risk being left out of the buyer’s journey entirely. What Types of Searches Trigger SGE? SGE is most common in: It’s less common for direct transactional searches (like “buy AC unit near me”)—but that’s starting to change as Google tests SGE on more query types. How Can You Optimize for Google’s SGE? 1. Create In-Depth, Helpful Content SGE pulls from sites that offer real value. Focus on writing content that fully answers your customers’ questions. Go deep into your services, comparisons, or common customer concerns. 2. Use Schema Markup Structured data (like FAQPage, HowTo, or LocalBusiness) helps Google understand your content more easily, increasing your chance of being referenced in AI summaries. 3. Keep Your GBP Fully Optimized Your Google Business Profile should be up-to-date with accurate info, categories, services, and reviews. These elements still appear in local packs and can be referenced in SGE. 4. Build First-Person Authority Google values content written by real people with real experience. Add your voice as the business owner to key pages—via quotes, blogs, or case studies—to increase perceived trust and expertise. 5. Think Conversational SGE is fueled by questions and natural-language queries. Format your content to reflect that. Add FAQs, use headers like “Should I replace my AC or repair it?” and write like you’re answering a customer’s question directly. What Are the Risks and Challenges? You Might Lose Organic Traffic Even if your site is cited in an AI Overview, users may get their answer without clicking. This could reduce your website visits—though not necessarily your brand exposure. Harder to Measure Attribution It’s not always clear where a lead came from if users saw your brand in an AI summary but didn’t click through. Increased Competition for Fewer Spots With traditional organic links pushed down, fewer listings get real visibility. That makes it even more important to build authority and relevance in your content. The Future of Search Is Hybrid Search isn’t going away—but how people use it is evolving. You’ll need both a strong organic presence and content that can feed into AI-driven features like SGE. Visibility now means being helpful, being structured, and being present wherever users look. Final Thoughts: Start Preparing Now SGE is already live for millions of users. Whether you run a local service business, an ecommerce brand, or a consultancy, now’s the time to optimize your strategy for AI-powered search. Partner With Experts Who Understand AI Search At Next Level Marketing Agency, we help businesses adapt to the fast-changing world of SEO and AI search. Whether you need content that gets cited in SGE or a full local SEO strategy that gets your phone ringing, we’re ready to help you win. Book a free strategy call today and get ahead in the era of AI-powered search.

How AI Is Changing Local SEO—and What You Can Do About It

November 6, 2025November 4, 2025 by Jonathan Deleon

Local SEO has long been the backbone of small business visibility on Google. Whether you run a dental practice, HVAC company, or local service business, your presence in map packs, local listings, and organic results has been key to driving foot traffic and leads. But the rise of AI-driven search engines like ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews, and Perplexity is transforming how people find and interact with local businesses online. The search landscape is no longer just about ranking on page one. It’s about showing up in AI-generated answers, being cited as a trusted source, and earning visibility in new, AI-powered interfaces. So what does this mean for your local SEO strategy, and how can you keep up? Let’s explore how AI is changing local SEO—and what your business can do right now to adapt. What’s Different About AI Search? AI search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity don’t display traditional search engine results pages. Instead of returning a list of ten links, they provide direct, conversational answers using content pulled from across the web. These answers often include citations or references to the sites used to generate the response. Google’s own AI Overviews take a similar approach. When you search for something like “best HVAC companies in Orlando,” Google may now show an AI-generated summary at the top of the page that includes recommendations, tips, or even links to specific businesses—sometimes even before the local pack or map results appear. This means your website or listing needs to be optimized not just for human readers and Google’s algorithm, but also for AI models that are summarizing content and choosing what to surface. Why Local Businesses Should Pay Attention AI is reshaping user behavior. Instead of clicking around multiple sites, users are increasingly trusting AI-generated summaries for fast answers. This is especially true during the research and evaluation phase of local buying decisions. Here’s why that matters: This is a major shift from “rank and convert” to “inform and get cited.” How AI Pulls Local Business Data AI systems learn from structured data, consistent listings, and authoritative content. Here’s where they commonly pull local data from: If your business isn’t visible or consistent across these sources, there’s a chance AI tools will either ignore you—or worse, recommend a competitor instead. Key Ways AI Is Changing Local SEO How to Optimize Your Local Business for AI Search Now that you know the landscape is changing, here’s what you can do to stay ahead: Should You Change Your Local SEO Strategy? Not completely—but you should definitely evolve it. The fundamentals of local SEO still matter: mobile-friendly websites, strong GBP profiles, local backlinks, and keyword optimization. But now you need to consider how AI is interpreting your business. If you’re not showing up in AI answers, you’re potentially missing a growing segment of search visibility. This is especially true for service-based businesses where users ask questions like “What’s the best pest control company in Sanford?” or “Who’s open for HVAC repairs near me tonight?” These are the exact kinds of queries AI models are trained to answer—and businesses that optimize for them will win the attention. Final Thoughts AI is not replacing search; it’s transforming how people search. And local businesses that move fast will gain an edge. Whether it’s getting cited in AI Overviews or appearing in a ChatGPT recommendation, visibility in these spaces is quickly becoming just as valuable as a #1 ranking on Google. Now is the time to future-proof your local SEO strategy by aligning your digital presence with how AI models gather and surface business information. Need Help Getting Found in AI Search? At Next Level Marketing Agency, we specialize in helping small and medium-sized businesses across Central Florida adapt to the latest changes in SEO, AI, and digital visibility. From website optimization to structured data and local listing management, we can position your business to thrive in both traditional and AI-driven search. Let’s get your business in front of the right customers—no matter how they search. Book a free strategy session today.

How to Win in the Age of Google AI Overviews: What Research vs. Purchase Trends Mean for Your Business

November 4, 2025November 1, 2025 by Ross Canaoay

AI is changing the way people use Google Search, but here’s the bottom line: traditional search still drives the sale. That’s what new data from recent ecommerce keyword studies is confirming, and it’s reshaping how businesses should think about content, SEO, and the buyer journey. At Next Level Marketing Agency, we’ve been closely tracking these shifts, especially since they directly impact how small and medium businesses appear in both research and purchase phases. Let’s break down what’s happening and what you should do to stay ahead. AI Overviews Are Changing Discovery, Not Replacing Search Google’s AI Overviews, those auto-generated summaries at the top of search results, are starting to dominate the research phase of shopping behavior. This means when people are asking “what’s the best type of home treadmill” or “how does Invisalign compare to braces,” Google may respond with an AI-generated answer instead of listing traditional websites first. But when it comes time to buy, users are still clicking through to product pages, service providers, and local businesses via traditional search results. In other words, AI is guiding people during early research, but it’s still your website, landing page, or Google Business Profile that wins the sale. The Data Behind the Shift According to recent analyses, Google’s AI Overview visibility spiked to about 26% of ecommerce keyword coverage in September, then dropped to 9% in October. Why does that matter? It shows AI is still in flux. Google is testing and pulling back, particularly with transactional queries. The keyword churn (82% year-over-year) means the AI Overview landscape is still being defined. Some categories like groceries, home entertainment, and small appliances are seeing consistent AI usage, while others like furniture and home décor aren’t being prioritized in AI answers. For small businesses, this signals that AI is here to assist, not replace. You don’t need to overhaul everything, but you do need to adjust your content to match how people are searching during the discovery phase. What This Means for Your SEO Strategy Let’s be clear: Google is not abandoning traditional search. It’s layering on new behavior. So your content strategy needs to do two things at once: That means creating two types of content: Timing Also Matters Another key insight from the data is that seasonality plays a role in when different types of content perform best. November is shaping up to be the prime discovery window, when people are researching and comparing before buying in December. That means your educational content should already be in place before the holiday rush hits. If you wait until December to publish that comparison guide or local service checklist, you may miss the customer entirely—they’ve already made their decision and are in checkout mode. How Local Businesses Can Capitalize on AI Overviews If you’re a service provider or ecommerce shop in Central Florida, here are a few practical ways to adapt: 1. Publish Comparison Content Write blog posts that compare your services, products, or packages. Example: “Standard vs Premium Lawn Care: Which One Do You Need This Spring?” 2. Add Structured Data to Your Content Using schema markup helps Google (and its AI) better understand your site. This increases your chances of being included in Overviews and featured answers. 3. Answer Common Customer Questions Use FAQ sections on service pages or blog posts that directly answer your most-asked customer questions. These make you more visible in AI-generated results. 4. Create Localized Guides Google’s AI prefers specific, helpful content. A guide like “How to Choose the Right Web Design Agency in Orlando” not only positions you as an expert, it’s also more likely to be pulled into AI responses. 5. Don’t Neglect Your Purchase Pages Even as you create content for the research phase, make sure your product or service pages are optimized for conversion. Clear calls to action, fast loading speeds, mobile responsiveness, and local SEO matter more than ever when it’s time to close the deal. AI Doesn’t Replace Search, It Expands It Here’s the key takeaway: AI isn’t replacing the traditional sales funnel. It’s enhancing the top of the funnel—bringing in more educated, better-prepared customers. If your brand can be part of their learning journey early, you’re more likely to earn their trust by the time they’re ready to buy. Businesses that ignore this shift risk becoming invisible during that first phase of discovery. But those who embrace it—by publishing smart, relevant, structured content—are setting themselves up for better leads, stronger visibility, and higher conversions. Let’s Get You Ready for AI-Driven Search At Next Level Marketing Agency, we help businesses across Central Florida build digital strategies that work for both traditional and AI-powered search. From content plans and local SEO to website upgrades and structured data, we’ll make sure your business is present where it matters—especially when it matters most. Need help aligning your content strategy with today’s AI-powered buyer journey? Schedule a free strategy session and let’s build your next level together.

Top Tools for Tracking SEO Visibility on AI Platforms

October 15, 2025 by Jonathan Deleon

As artificial intelligence (AI) search platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and others continue to shape the way people find answers online, business owners and marketers face a new challenge: how do you know if your brand is showing up in these tools? Traditional SEO tools are great for tracking Google rankings, keyword impressions, and backlinks, but they don’t always show how your website is performing in AI-powered search engines. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, it’s time to understand how to track visibility on these emerging platforms. This guide breaks down the best tools, tactics, and techniques for monitoring your SEO presence in AI search environments and explains why this matters more than ever in today’s evolving search landscape. Why Tracking AI Search Visibility Matters When someone asks ChatGPT or Perplexity “Who are the top HVAC contractors in Orlando?” or “What is the best dental clinic near me?”, these platforms generate answers using information pulled from across the web. Unlike Google, where users choose from a list of links, AI search tools deliver one synthesized response, which means fewer opportunities for brands to appear. If your business isn’t mentioned or referenced in those responses, you’re missing out on visibility, leads, and brand trust. That’s why tracking where and how your business is mentioned in AI-generated results is now a critical piece of your SEO strategy. What to Look for in AI Visibility Tools AI search is still new, so the tracking tools are evolving. When exploring options, look for tools that: Now, let’s look at some of the top tools available today. 1. Glimpse by Originality.ai Glimpse is one of the first tools built specifically to track brand and content visibility within AI outputs. It scans answers from platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, identifying whether your content or competitors are being cited. Key features: Glimpse is ideal for agencies and businesses who want to know how often their content shows up in AI-generated answers and where they might be falling behind. 2. AlsoAsked and AnswerThePublic (AI Content Research) While these tools don’t directly track AI visibility, they’re helpful for discovering question-based search queries that AI platforms are likely to be fed. By understanding what real people are asking, you can create more content that aligns with AI prompts. Use these tools to: 3. Perplexity Labs Perplexity.ai has launched features allowing users to track citations and see what sources are being used in responses. If you’re creating content that’s being picked up by Perplexity, it may show up in their citation panel. While there’s no formal dashboard yet, you can manually: 4. Google Search Console + Brand Monitoring Tools Traditional tools like Google Search Console remain valuable. Many AI platforms still use Google Search as part of their index. Monitoring your performance for long-form, question-based queries can show you how well your content is positioned to be referenced by AI. Combine GSC with brand monitoring tools like: These tools can help you spot if your brand is being referenced in public-facing AI outputs or if content you’ve published is being shared on websites AI tools often crawl. 5. ChatGPT Pro + Manual Prompt Testing One of the most direct ways to check visibility is to simply ask the tools yourself. If you have access to GPT-4 (via ChatGPT Pro), Perplexity Pro, or Gemini Advanced, start prompting with phrases like: Look at what responses are generated. Is your business mentioned? Are your competitors showing up instead? You can log responses over time to track progress. 6. SparkToro SparkToro helps uncover how your audience thinks, talks, and searches. While it doesn’t monitor AI search directly, it helps you build the kind of content AI platforms tend to favor: consistent, natural, and widely cited across web and social platforms. Use SparkToro to: How to Increase Your Visibility on AI Search Now that you have the tools, how do you make sure your content appears in AI-generated responses? Here are a few tips: Publish Useful, Authoritative Content AI platforms reward helpful, accurate, and in-depth content. Focus on writing blog posts, service pages, and FAQs that clearly answer real user questions in simple terms. Use Schema Markup and Structured Data Help AI tools understand your site’s content by adding structured data like FAQ schema, article schema, and LocalBusiness schema. This improves your chances of being cited. Increase Mentions on Trusted Sources Get listed and mentioned on other authoritative websites like directories, niche blogs, and news articles. AI platforms often pull from multiple trusted sources. Update Content Regularly Fresh content tends to perform better with AI tools. Keep your service pages and blog content updated to reflect the latest info and best practices. Track Competitors in AI Search Use the tools above to monitor who is getting mentioned in AI results and study their content. What questions are they answering? Where are they being cited? Reverse engineer what works. Final Thoughts: AI Visibility Is the New Frontier of SEO As more users turn to AI platforms for answers, businesses that show up in those tools first will have a major advantage. While traditional search is still important, AI search is growing fast, and being visible in these tools could soon be as valuable as ranking on Google. This isn’t about replacing your current SEO strategy, but about expanding it. With the right tools and approach, you can ensure your business is part of the future of search. Need Help Getting Found on ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity? At Next Level Marketing Agency, we help businesses in Central Florida and beyond optimize their content to get discovered across both traditional search engines and AI platforms. Whether you need visibility in Google or want to appear in AI-powered answers, we’ve got you covered.

The Role of Structured Data in AI Search Optimization

October 24, 2025October 9, 2025 by Jonathan Deleon

As search evolves from traditional links to AI-powered answers, one tool is proving more valuable than ever: structured data. Structured data is not new. For years, SEO professionals have used it to help Google understand websites better. But today, as platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity change how people find information, structured data has a new role: helping your content become the trusted source these AI tools rely on. If you want your business to show up in AI-generated answers, it’s time to get serious about structured data. This blog post breaks down what it is, why it matters for AI search, and how you can implement it to get discovered more often. What Is Structured Data? Structured data is a standard format for giving search engines more information about your website content. It uses a system called Schema.org, which turns regular page elements into clearly labeled data points. For example: This added layer helps search engines (and now AI tools) understand your content better, which makes it more likely to be used, ranked, or cited. How AI Search Tools Use Structured Data AI search platforms generate answers by pulling from millions of online sources. But they do not simply list websites. They extract facts, summaries, and context. Structured data tells these tools exactly what your page contains. If your website uses clear schema markup, it becomes easier for an AI to identify and trust your information. For example: In short, structured data is how you label your content in a way AI can instantly understand and use. Why Structured Data Is Crucial for AI SEO Here’s why structured data matters more than ever in the world of AI search: 1. It Improves Content Discovery AI search tools crawl structured data more efficiently than unstructured text. Using schema tags makes it easier for your content to be discovered and referenced when AI is generating an answer. 2. It Enhances Credibility and Trust Well-structured content signals that your website is organized and authoritative. AI systems are more likely to trust and cite websites that clearly define their information. 3. It Increases the Chances of Being Cited AI platforms often show links or cite websites when answering questions. Structured data gives your content a better shot at being included in that answer, especially if it contains properly tagged reviews, services, or product info. 4. It Supports Voice and Conversational Search Schema helps platforms like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant answer voice queries. As AI search becomes more conversational, structured data helps your content become part of those answers. What Types of Schema Should You Add? Not every schema type will apply to your business, but here are the most important ones to consider: How to Add Structured Data to Your Site There are three main ways to implement structured data: 1. Use a Plugin (for WordPress and Similar Platforms) If you use WordPress, plugins like Rank Math, Yoast SEO, or Schema Pro can handle the heavy lifting. These tools allow you to apply schema to pages without needing to code. 2. Manually Add JSON-LD Code JSON-LD is Google’s preferred format for structured data. If you have developer support, you can add this code directly to your website’s <head> section. It’s clean, lightweight, and works well with modern AI systems. Example for LocalBusiness: 3. Use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper This free tool helps you tag content on your website and generates the correct schema format. It’s a beginner-friendly option to start learning how to add structured data. How to Test Your Structured Data Once you add schema, test it with tools like: Fix any errors and make sure Google is reading your schema correctly. Structured Data and the Future of Search AI search is evolving fast. Instead of showing 10 links, tools like ChatGPT and Gemini provide direct answers. That means your content needs to be easily understandable, authoritative, and accessible to these systems. Structured data is your shortcut to being included in the conversation. While AI tools are not perfect, they rely heavily on signals of trust, clarity, and structure. If your site has clean schema markup, it becomes part of the digital foundation AI search engines are built on. Conclusion: Make Your Content AI-Friendly Structured data is not a technical luxury anymore. It’s a critical part of SEO, especially if you want your business to be discoverable in AI-powered search. If you’re not using schema markup yet, you’re likely invisible to the next generation of search tools. Need Help Adding Structured Data or Optimizing for AI Search? At Next Level Marketing Agency, we help Central Florida businesses get found across Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other AI search tools. From adding structured data to building AI-ready content, we’ll make sure your brand stands out where it matters most.

How AI Is Changing Local SEO and What You Can Do About It

October 24, 2025October 6, 2025 by Jonathan Deleon

Search is evolving fast. Not long ago, local SEO meant ranking on Google’s 10 blue links and making sure your business showed up in the map pack. Today, artificial intelligence is reshaping how people find local businesses, ask questions, and make decisions. If you want your business to stay visible, it’s time to understand how AI is changing local SEO and what you can do to stay ahead. This guide breaks it down in plain English: what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and what steps you can take right now to prepare your local business for the AI-driven search era. What Is Local SEO and Why It’s Changing Local SEO is the practice of optimizing your business so it shows up when people in your area search for services like yours. For example, when someone searches for “plumber near me” or “best pizza in Lake Mary,” local SEO determines whether your business appears. Traditionally, this has involved: These things still matter. But AI is changing how search engines deliver answers. How AI Search Tools Are Reshaping Local Discovery AI search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) don’t work like traditional search engines. Instead of showing a list of links, they generate an answer to your question using data from across the web. This means: For local businesses, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. If you are one of the few local providers that AI tools can clearly understand and trust, you have a better shot at being included in those high-visibility responses. AI Search Is More Conversational Instead of typing “Orlando pest control,” users now ask, “Who are the top-rated pest control companies near me that offer eco-friendly services?” AI tools like ChatGPT understand the full context of these longer, more detailed queries. If your website and listings don’t answer these kinds of questions, you may be skipped in favor of a competitor who does. Your Google Business Profile Still Matters, but It’s Not Enough Your GBP is still one of the most important local SEO assets you own. But AI search platforms are not limited to Google’s ecosystem. They pull data from multiple sources including Yelp, TripAdvisor, Apple Maps, Bing, and business websites. That means your GBP should be fully optimized, but you also need to focus on: Content Is Still King, but It Needs Structure AI search tools prefer content that is: This is where schema markup comes in. Structured data helps AI tools understand what your business does, where it’s located, what services it offers, and what others are saying about it. For example, tagging your service areas and reviews with the right schema can help AI match your business with queries like: Reviews Now Influence More Than Just Rankings AI platforms are scanning review content to summarize sentiment. So it’s not just about your star rating anymore. What people say in your reviews matters, especially when it comes to: Encouraging customers to leave thoughtful, detailed reviews helps build trust with both humans and AI. AI Is Creating New Search Entry Points Search no longer starts and ends on Google. People are using voice assistants, smart devices, and AI chat tools to find local businesses. That means you need to think beyond traditional SEO and ask: The more sources that reference your business in a clear, consistent way, the more likely you are to show up in AI-driven responses. What You Can Do Now to Optimize for AI-Driven Local SEO 1. Add Structured Data to Your Website Implement schema markup for your business. Use types like LocalBusiness, Service, Review, and FAQPage. This makes your site easier for AI to crawl and understand. 2. Keep Your Listings Consistent Across the Web Make sure your name, address, phone number, and service descriptions match everywhere you appear online. This includes Google, Yelp, Facebook, Apple Maps, and local directories. 3. Update and Optimize Your Google Business Profile Add complete business information, upload photos, answer questions, and encourage reviews. Include keywords in your service descriptions and Q&A section. 4. Write Locally Relevant Content Create pages and blog posts that answer real questions from your community. Example: “What’s the average cost for AC repair in Lake Mary?” 5. Build Topical Authority Add FAQs, how-to guides, service breakdowns, and location-based blog posts. This helps AI recognize you as a trusted local expert. 6. Encourage Specific Reviews Ask your happy customers to mention what service they used, how it helped them, and where they’re located. These reviews help feed AI with context-rich content. 7. Get Listed on Review and Citation Sites AI search tools pull from sources like Yelp, BBB, Angi, and even industry-specific directories. Don’t rely on Google alone. 8. Create Q&A and FAQ Content Answer common customer questions on your website using FAQ schema. This makes it more likely your answers will be included in AI summaries. What the Future Looks Like Local SEO will never be exactly the same again. As AI continues to change how people search, businesses must evolve with it. The good news is, most of your competitors are not moving fast enough. That gives you a chance to lead. AI search rewards accuracy, trustworthiness, and clear information. If you take the time to align your website and listings with these values, your business will stay visible no matter how the search landscape shifts. Need Help Getting Your Business Ready for AI Search? At Next Level Marketing Agency, we help local businesses across Central Florida adapt to the latest changes in SEO, AI, and online visibility. Whether you need structured data, GBP optimization, or a full website strategy built for the future, we’ve got you covered. Reach out today for a free strategy session and let’s put your business in front of the right people.