How to Make Sure Your Small BusinessStill Gets Foundin the Age of AI Search
If you’ve noticed your website traffic slowing down this year, you’re not alone. Across industries, small businesses are reporting a crash in Google search traffic—and AI might be the reason.
As AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini take the wheel on search queries, more users are bypassing traditional Google results. Instead of clicking on your SEO-optimised blog post, they’re getting instant answers—often without ever seeing your brand name.
Let’s break down what’s happening, and more importantly—what you can do to stay visible and relevant.
Why Small Business Search Traffic Is Dropping
AI is replacing Google for many queries.
People are asking tools like ChatGPT to recommend local services, products, or solve problems directly—no links, no search result pages.
AI pulls from multiple sources, not just your site.
Tools like Perplexity and Claude don’t rely solely on Google indexing—they scan Reddit threads, reviews, forums, directories, and even your competitors.
Your customers are trusting AI summaries.
AI doesn’t just link to websites—it summarises. So if you’re not mentioned in those summaries, you’re invisible to the end user.
So, How Do You Stay “AI-Findable”?
This isn’t about beating the algorithm anymore. It’s about being part of the AI conversation. Here’s how to do that:
1. Be Everywhere Not Just on Your Website
Make sure your business is listed and active on:
Google Business Profile
Yelp, Yellow Pages, Hotfrog, TrueLocal
Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram
Reddit (yes, really—especially niche or local subreddits)
Product Hunt or G2 (for digital tools or B2B)
🛠️ AI tools are scraping more than just your website—they pull from public listings and reviews.
2. Use Language That Matches Questions
Instead of writing “About Us: Local Plumbing Services Since 1994,”
Write:
“Need a local plumber in Melbourne? We’re available 24/7 for emergency and routine jobs.”
Why?
AI tools extract intent-based language. If your content mimics how people ask for help, you’re more likely to be included in AI summaries.
3. Answer Real Questions in Your Content
Create blog posts or FAQs around actual search queries, like:
“What should I do if my hot water system bursts?”
“Is it worth getting a termite inspection before selling?”
“Best tiles for a small bathroom remodel in Australia”
Then structure them in plain English, with a clear, direct answer.
🪄 AI loves content that solves problems concisely.
4. Make Your Brand Easy to Cite
AI doesn’t just pull content—it pulls reputation. Boost yours by:
Getting positive Google reviews
Publishing guest posts or being interviewed on industry blogs
Getting mentioned in local or industry news
Using structured data (schema markup) on your site to help AI understand your content
5. Start Talking To AI Tools
You don’t just have to wait to be found.
✅ Try typing into ChatGPT:
“Who are some top [your industry] providers in [your city]?”
If you’re not in the answer, you’ve got work to do.
✅ Create your own Custom GPT or AI assistant that customers can engage with.
Tools like Small Biz Prompt Shop’s Custom GPTs can help with this.
The Bottom Line
Google traffic is shifting—but attention hasn’t disappeared. It’s just moved.
To be discoverable in 2025 and beyond, you need to be AI-visible, not just SEO-optimised. That means:
Being active in online spaces, AI scrapes
Writing like a human, answering fundamental questions
Building trust signals, AI tools can recognise
Want help being found by AI?
💡 SBPS has tools, prompts, and training to make your small business AI-ready.
From AI-friendly content writing to visibility checklists—check out our free resources or book a strategy session.
