Local SEO has been the cornerstone of small business marketing for fifteen years. AI SEO is the new layer on top - and the two work very differently.
Local SEO Optimizes For
- Google Maps rankings
- Local pack visibility
- Organic search traffic
- Click-through rate
AI SEO Optimizes For
- Citations inside AI answers
- Schema and structured data
- Topical authority
- Reputation density across the web
Where They Overlap
Reviews. NAP consistency. Google Business Profile. Quality content. Both layers reward the same foundational work.
Where They Differ
Local SEO chases clicks. AI SEO accepts that many searches end inside the answer. The mindset shift is the hardest part.