Google now shows AI-generated summaries at the top of many searches. For local businesses, this changes everything, because AI Overviews don't just summarize websites. They cite specific businesses.
What are AI Overviews?
When you search for something on Google, you might see a box at the very top with an AI-written summary. This is an AI Overview. It pulls information from multiple sources and presents it in a conversational format.
For searches like "best coffee shop in Long Beach," the AI Overview might say: "Based on reviews and local data, The Coffee Cup and Recreational Coffee are highly rated options."
The problem for local businesses
Right now, AI Overviews tend to cite chains more than local businesses. Not because chains are better, but because they have better structured data.
If your website doesn't have schema markup, if your Google Business Profile is incomplete, or if your business info is inconsistent across the web, Google's AI doesn't know how to cite you.
How to get cited in AI Overviews
Getting your business cited requires structured data. Specifically:
- LocalBusiness schema on your website
- Complete Google Business Profile with regular updates
- Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across all platforms
- Quality reviews that mention your services
- Authoritative local content (blog posts, city pages, etc.)
Why this matters now
AI Overviews are rolling out to more and more searches. Eventually, they'll be everywhere. The businesses that invest in proper structured data now will be the ones Google's AI cites later.
We help local businesses implement the same structured data systems that enterprise companies use, so when AI search becomes the default, you're already positioned to compete.