10/12/2026
🤖📍 More than half of consumers now use AI to find local businesses!
A new survey from SOCi found that 52% of U.S. consumers used an AI tool like ChatGPT or Gemini to find a local business in the past 30 days. That's up from just 9% last year, nearly 6X in one year.
But here's the catch 👇 81% of people double-check an AI recommendation before they call. They look at reviews, your social media or a regular Google search. And 99% read reviews before choosing.
So what should you do this week?
✅ Make sure your Google Business Profile hours, services and phone number are correct
✅ Reply to your reviews. 72% of consumers prefer businesses that do
✅ Keep your info the same everywhere: website, Facebook, directories
AI might get you recommended, but your reviews and profile get you hired. 💪
Want to know how your business shows up in AI search? Send us a message!
Source: https://searchengineland.com/ai-usage-surges-6x-for-local-search-fragmenting-the-digital-ecosystem-492614
