GEO for local businesses: how to get cited by AI
Local search is moving into AI: 'best coffee near me', 'where to fix a phone in <city>'. To get named, you need accurate business data (NAP), local schema and reviews — what the engine uses to pick local results.
Where you lose AI answers
- AI recommends competitors for 'near me' and 'in town', not you.
- Inconsistent address/phone across the site, maps and directories — the engine gets confused about the entity.
- No reviews or opening hours in the data — nothing to show in the answer.
How people ask AI
GEO checklist for this niche
Same name, address, phone across the site, maps and directories — the key local-entity signal.
Schema with address, geo-coordinates, opening hours and business type.
AggregateRating + real reviews; local choice leans heavily on social proof.
Mention the area/city in the body, not just the footer — the page should be 'about this place'.
Multiple branches → a page per address + a hub.
Want this done for your site — end to end?
FAQ
What matters most for local GEO?
A consistent, accurate NAP (name/address/phone) everywhere + LocalBusiness schema and reviews. Data mismatches are the top reason AI isn't sure about your entity.
Where do I start?
Reconcile NAP across the site and maps, add LocalBusiness schema with hours and geo, gather reviews — and run the page through the GEO checker.