How Long Does Local SEO Take to Work?
How long does local SEO take to work? A realistic month-by-month timeline for UK businesses, what speeds it up and what slows it down.
How AI Assistants Find Local Businesses
When someone asks “who is a good electrician in Nottingham?”, AI assistants typically look things up rather than answer from memory. They draw on:
| Assistant | Main sources (simplified) |
|---|---|
| Google AI Overviews / AI Mode / Gemini | Google’s search index, Google Business Profiles and Maps data |
| ChatGPT search | Web search results (partly via Bing and other providers), business listings, review sites |
| Microsoft Copilot | Bing search and Bing Places |
| Siri / Apple Intelligence | Apple Maps and Apple Business Connect |
| Perplexity | Its own web index and live search |
So the job is to make sure every one of those sources has accurate, rich and consistent information about you.
The AI Visibility Checklist
1. Make your business data identical everywhere
Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Apple Business Connect, Facebook, Yell and your trade directories should all show the same name, address, phone, website, hours and categories. See the best UK citation sites.
2. Get detailed reviews
AI answers often summarise reviews (“customers praise their quick response for emergency call-outs”). Reviews that mention specific services and towns help AI match you to specific requests.
3. Write answer-ready pages
Start each service page with a short, direct summary of what you do, where and for whom. Add FAQs that answer real questions in two or three sentences. AI assistants quote clear answers.
4. Add structured data
Organization or LocalBusiness schema, Service schema and FAQ schema help machines understand your business. Link your social profiles with sameAs.
5. Do not block AI crawlers
Check your robots.txt does not block the crawlers used by search-based AI tools. An llms.txt file that summarises your business is a simple extra.
6. Earn mentions on trusted local sites
Local news, “best of” lists, associations and community sites. AI tools weigh what others say about you, not just what you say about yourself.
7. Be the obvious expert
Publish genuinely helpful content – cost guides, how-tos, local advice – under a named author with real expertise.
How to Check Your AI Visibility
Ask several assistants the questions your customers would ask – “best [service] in [town]”, “who can [job] near [area]” – from a private browser session. Note whether you are mentioned, what is said and which sources are cited. Repeat monthly; answers vary, so look for trends.
What Does Not Work
- Stuffing pages with “best plumber in X” phrases.
- Fake reviews or fake “best of” lists you created yourself.
- Hidden text aimed at AI crawlers.
AI search rewards the same fundamentals as good local SEO. Our AI search optimisation service builds on our core local SEO services.
A Simple Monthly AI Visibility Routine
- Test five customer-style questions in two or three assistants.
- Note which businesses are mentioned and which sources are cited.
- Fix any wrong details the assistants repeat – usually from an outdated listing.
- Ask happy customers for detailed reviews mentioning the service and area.
- Publish one clear, answer-first piece of content a month.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ChatGPT use Google Business Profile data?
Not directly in the way Google does; ChatGPT relies on web search results, listings and review sites. Consistent data across Bing, Apple and directories helps cover the gaps.
Can I pay to be recommended by ChatGPT?
There is no way to pay for organic recommendations. Visibility comes from strong, consistent information and reputation across the web.
Is AI search replacing Google Maps?
Not replacing, but adding another route. Google Maps and the Map Pack still drive most local actions; AI answers increasingly influence which business people choose.