What are Google AI Overviews?

AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of Google search results. Instead of showing a list of links, Google's AI reads through websites, reviews, and business profiles to write a paragraph answering your question directly. These now appear on roughly 40% of all searches.

How do AI Overviews affect local service businesses?

If your Google Business Profile is incomplete or your reviews are outdated, the AI won't have enough information to recommend your business. Customers searching for services like AC repair or plumbing will see AI summaries that mention your competitors instead of you.

Do AI Overviews appear on near me searches?

Currently, only about 7% of location-specific near me searches show AI summaries. High-urgency local searches like emergency plumber near me still primarily show the traditional map pack with local business listings.

📊 2026 LOCAL BUSINESS GUIDE • 1 of 4

AI Is Changing How
Customers Find You

What Orlando service businesses need to know about Google's AI Overviews and the new local search landscape

Google's AI Overviews now appear before business listings on roughly 40% of searches. When someone searches for "best HVAC company in Orlando" or "how much does AC repair cost," they often see an AI-written summary before your listing appears. This fundamentally changes how customers discover and choose local businesses.

40%

of searches show AI Overviews

99%

of businesses are invisible to AI

61%

of searches end without a click

What Changed and Why It Matters

1 AI Writes the First Impression

Google's AI now generates summaries about local businesses using data from your Google Business Profile, reviews, and website. If your information is sparse or outdated, the AI has less to work with and may favor competitors.

2 Zero-Click Is the New Reality

More than half of all searches now end without a click. Users get their answer directly from the AI summary. Your goal isn't just ranking anymore. It's being cited as the source.

🎯 Why This Matters for Me (as a Local Business Owner)

Your competitors might already be adapting. Businesses that optimize for AI visibility now will dominate local search by mid-2026 while others are still figuring it out.
Your phone might be ringing less. If AI summaries are answering customer questions without showing your business, you're losing calls to competitors who show up in those answers.
Your reviews matter more than ever. AI pulls directly from review content. Fresh, detailed reviews mentioning specific services give the AI more to cite.
Your Google Business Profile is your new homepage. Many customers will never visit your website. They'll make decisions based entirely on what they see in AI-generated summaries and your GBP.
The window to act is closing. Early movers have a 3-6 month advantage before this becomes common knowledge. By then, catching up will be much harder.

💡 The Good News for "Near Me" Searches

AI Overviews appear on only 7% of location-specific searches like "electrician near me" or "Orlando AC repair." Traditional local pack rankings still dominate here. But this won't last forever, and the businesses building AI-friendly profiles now will be positioned when it changes.

How Traditional SEO Compares to AI Visibility

Factor	Traditional Local SEO	AI Search Visibility
What matters most	Keywords, backlinks, domain authority	Entity clarity, review content, structured data
How you appear	Blue link in search results	Cited in AI-generated summary
User behavior	Click to visit website	Get answer without clicking
Content strategy	Long-form blog posts, landing pages	FAQ schema, detailed service descriptions
Review importance	Star rating and quantity	Review recency, detail, and keyword mentions

✅ Your AI-Readiness Checklist

Complete every GBP field. Fill out all service descriptions (1,000 characters each), business attributes, service areas, and categories. The AI needs data to work with.

Build review velocity. Focus on getting 2-4 new reviews per week rather than 20 in one month. Recency signals active business engagement to AI systems.

Add FAQ schema to your website. Structured FAQ content gives AI clear, citable answers. Focus on questions customers actually ask.

Ensure NAP consistency. Your business name, address, and phone number must be identical across your website, GBP, and all directory listings.

Post to GBP weekly. Regular posts signal an active, engaged business. Include service-specific content, not just promotions.

Respond to every review within 48 hours. Your responses become part of the content AI can reference. Be helpful and specific.

🚀 Your 30-Day Action Plan

Week 1: Audit your GBP. Fill every empty field. Add all services with full descriptions.

Week 2: Create a review request system. Ask 2-3 happy customers per week.

Week 3: Add FAQ schema to your website's service pages with 5-10 common questions.

Week 4: Set up a GBP posting schedule. Plan content for the next 4 weeks.

"The businesses that dominate AI search in 2026 won't be the ones with the biggest budgets. They'll be the ones who built complete, consistent, and active online presences while their competitors were still treating Google Business Profile as an afterthought."

Want to see how your business appears in AI search?

We'll audit your Google Business Profile and show you exactly where you stand. No sales pitch, just helpful insights.

AI Is Changing HowCustomers Find You