By EkahiDesign 0 Comments
3 SEO Fixes Small Businesses Can Do Today to Get Found in AI Search

Search is changing fast. AI-driven tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI summaries are rewriting the rules of discoverability. For small businesses, showing up in search is no longer just about keywords — it’s about matching customer intent, building trust, and making your content easy for AI to understand.

Here are three actionable SEO fixes you can implement today.

1. Map Content to Real Customer Intent

AI search doesn’t just look for keywords — it looks for answers. That means understanding the why behind a search.

How to apply it:

  • Rewrite pages to solve real problems (“How to Tell If You Need an Emergency Plumber”) rather than just listing services.
  • Align content with informational, navigational, or transactional intent.
  • Add actionable next steps at the end, like “Call us today for a free quote” or “Order your custom cake online.”

This ensures your content is both useful for humans and clear to AI, increasing the chances it will appear in summaries and recommendations.

2. Strengthen Local E-E-A-T Signals

AI models value credibility. For small businesses, this means reinforcing Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust.

Quick improvements:

  • Add author bios or an “About Us” page with real experience and local ties.
  • Showcase local testimonials, case studies, and reviews.
  • Include links to certifications, media mentions, or partnerships.

Even small touches like highlighting the number of years you’ve served the community tell AI and potential customers that your business is trustworthy.

3. Make Your Content AI-Friendly

AI thrives on structure. Pages that are well-organized and easy to parse are more likely to be featured in AI-generated answers and voice search results.

Easy fixes:

  • Use H2/H3 headers and bullet points to break up content.
  • Add a FAQ section answering common questions.
  • Implement schema markup for Local Business, FAQ, and Reviews.
  • Keep your Google Business Profile updated with photos, hours, and posts.

Structured content helps AI extract your information accurately, giving your business a higher chance of appearing in search summaries.

Final Thought

Small businesses don’t need massive budgets to compete in the new AI-driven search landscape. Focus on matching customer intent, building trust, and structuring your content for AI understanding, and you’ll be ahead of competitors who are still stuck in the old keyword-only mindset.


Implement these three fixes today and start seeing your small business appear in AI search results and not just traditional listings.

Need help optimizing your content? Contact us for a quick SEO audit tailored to small businesses.

ekahidesign.com

Aloha@ekahidesign.com