SEO

AI + SEO Insights: What Local Businesses Need to Know in 2025

AI is everywhere. It writes emails, creates graphics, answers questions, and if you believe the hype, it’s about to “kill SEO.”

Spoiler alert: SEO isn’t dead. It’s just evolving. (Honestly, SEO has been declared dead more times than disco, and both are still alive and kicking.)

In this article, let’s break down what’s actually changing in search, why SEO matters more than ever, and how businesses should adapt to thrive in the age of AI.

How AI is Changing Search

Search engines are rolling out AI-powered tools like Google AI Overviews (AIO). Instead of just showing a list of links, Google is experimenting with AI-generated summaries that answer a user’s query directly.

That means:

People may see fewer traditional blue links.
AI pulls information from the best sites to form its answer.
Businesses that don’t provide clear, quality, trustworthy content risk being left out of the summary box entirely.

Think of it like this: in the past, you needed to get on Page 1 of Google. Now, you want to get into AI’s answer box.

Why SEO Matters More Than Ever

AI doesn’t create information out of thin air. It pulls from existing websites. If your site isn’t producing high-quality content, there’s nothing for AI to grab.

Here’s why SEO is still critical:

Authority is everything. Google and AI look for sources they can trust. If your business isn’t seen as credible, you won’t show up.
Local SEO is still king. AI summaries often highlight local businesses. If your Google Business Profile and location pages aren’t dialed in, you’re invisible.
Content quality > quantity. AI can spot keyword stuffing a mile away. The winners are businesses that publish helpful, relevant content.

Humor check: Think of AI as a picky eater. It only wants the best stuff on the table. If your content is soggy fries, it’s not getting picked.

How Businesses Should Adapt

Here are four practical steps to stay ahead:

1. Invest in Quality Content

Stop churning out fluff. Focus on answering real customer questions, providing unique insights, and showing your expertise.

2. Use Structured Data (Schema)

This helps AI understand your content better. It’s like giving the algorithm a cheat sheet so it knows exactly what your page is about.

3. Double Down on Local SEO

Update your Google Business Profile, get reviews, and create location-specific pages. AI tools want to serve answers that are relevant to where the user is searching.

4. Experiment With AI — But Don’t Rely on It

Use AI for brainstorming, outlines, or data crunching, but don’t let it write generic content that sounds like a toaster manual. Keep the human creativity front and center.

Mini Case Study: The Local Business Advantage

We recently tested how AI Overviews treated a Wilmington-based service page. Guess what? The AI pulled from businesses that had:

Clear, structured service descriptions
Updated, active websites
Verified Google Business profiles

Meanwhile, businesses still clinging to keyword stuffing or outdated sites? They didn’t show up at all.

Moral of the story: AI favors businesses that invest in real SEO.

The Big Picture

AI is changing the way search looks, but it isn’t replacing SEO. It’s making good SEO even more important.

The businesses that win in this new era will:

Provide real, high-quality content
Think local, but act like national brands
Blend human creativity with smart AI tools

✨ The takeaway: AI isn’t your SEO enemy — it’s just a new referee with a different whistle. Play smart, and you’ll still win the game.

Final Thought

At Wahha Design, we’re already helping local and franchise businesses adapt to the AI + SEO shift. If you want your business to be the one AI chooses when building its answers, let’s talk.

Because when it comes to digital marketing, impressions are nice, but ROI pays the bills.