The Local Biz Show

Unleash AI Power: Master Google's Ask for Me & Rank Genius for Ultimate Local SEO Success!

• Local Biz Domination • Season 1 • Episode 23

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Speaker 1:

Hey everyone. Google's got this new thing rolling out and I think you're going to want to hear about it. It's called Ask for Me and it could really change how you get customers. I've got an expert here with me so we can dive into how it works.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's really interesting how this is going to work. It uses AI to connect customers to businesses, you know Like. Imagine someone searching for a plumber or maybe a hair salon.

Speaker 1:

Well now, instead of them having to call all those businesses directly and ask questions, Google's going to do the calling for them. Wait, so are you saying Google's AI is literally going to call a business, like on behalf of the customer? It'll ask questions and everything and then just tell the customer what the business said?

Speaker 2:

Exactly. It's kind of like a virtual assistant, so someone searching for a restaurant could use ask for me to be like hey, do you have gluten free options? Restaurant could use ask for me to be like, hey, do you have gluten free options? And Google will call the restaurant, ask and then tell the person searching what they said.

Speaker 1:

That's pretty wild, especially for people who hate talking on the phone or just want a quick answer. But how does this benefit businesses, especially local businesses that need those calls?

Speaker 2:

OK, so Google's keeping track of all these AI interactions. They see it as engagement and that's super important for how you rank in searches. To them, these AI calls mean a business is active and relevant and responding to customers.

Speaker 1:

So the more people are using ask for me with my business, the higher I'll show up in search results.

Speaker 2:

That's the idea and that's a big deal. We know. Showing up higher in searches gets you more customers, but there's a catch. It all comes back to your Google business profile, or GBP as we call it.

Speaker 1:

For those who aren't as familiar, could you explain what a GBP is and why it's so important for local businesses?

Speaker 2:

Sure, Think of it like your online storefront. It's that box that pops up when someone searches for you on Google. It's got your name, address, phone number, website hours, even reviews.

Speaker 1:

It's like a digital snapshot of the business for customers.

Speaker 2:

And with Ask For Me, your GBP becomes even more important because Google is using the info on it to answer those customer questions. So if your GBP is missing stuff or is outdated, the AI might give wrong or incomplete answers and you could lose customers because of that.

Speaker 1:

So it's not enough to just have a GBP. You really got to make sure it's got all the info Google's AI needs.

Speaker 2:

You got it With Ask. For Me, a good GBP isn't just a good idea, it's a must have for any local business that wants to stay competitive.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so Ask For Me is going to change things up for local businesses, and having a great GBP is super important, but what can businesses actually do to get their GBP ready? We're going to dive into that right after this.

Speaker 2:

All right, so let's talk about how to actually optimize your GBP for ask. For me, the key is to make sure Google has all the info about your business and that it's easy for the AI to understand and it looks good to customers.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so where should we start? What are the most important things?

Speaker 2:

First things first, make sure all your business info is accurate and up to date. I'm talking everything you know hours, phone number, address, website.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that makes sense. If that info is wrong, it's going to be frustrating for customers.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Especially if they're using Google's AI to get those details.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, and Google doesn't like it either. It makes your business look unreliable, you know. So, beyond those basics, you also want to have really good descriptions of your services.

Speaker 1:

So not just what I offer, but what makes my services special and the benefits.

Speaker 2:

Right, you want to use the same keywords that customers use when they search for your services. Think about what problems you solve and how you can explain that to people.

Speaker 1:

OK, so Google needs to know what I offer to match me with the right searches. Yeah, but it's also about getting customers interested and choosing me over the competition.

Speaker 2:

Exactly Now. Another really important thing is customer reviews. They're like proof that people like your business and they build trust. Google loves to see businesses with lots of good reviews.

Speaker 1:

Reviews are important for local SEO, right? Do they actually make a difference?

Speaker 2:

Oh, absolutely Think about it yourself when you're looking for a business online. Do you trust the ones with a bunch of good reviews or the ones without any?

Speaker 1:

The ones with good reviews. Of course, it shows other people like them.

Speaker 2:

Exactly. And reviews don't just influence customers. They also matter a lot for how Google ranks your business. So encourage those happy customers to leave good reviews, talking about their experiences.

Speaker 1:

All right. So accurate business info, good descriptions and lots of reviews. What else can we do to optimize our GBP?

Speaker 2:

Don't forget the Q&A section on your GBP. It's a chance to answer common customer questions before they even ask.

Speaker 1:

So I'm like anticipating what people might be wondering and giving them answers.

Speaker 2:

Yep, when you answer questions in the Q&A, you're giving customers helpful info, but you're also showing Google that you're engaged and responsive.

Speaker 1:

Okay, all this is great advice.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

But managing a GBP can be a lot of risk, especially for busy business owners.

Speaker 2:

I know what you mean. That's where Rank Genius comes in. It takes a lot of the work out of managing your GBP and automates a lot of what we've talked about.

Speaker 1:

Now, you're the expert when it comes to Rank Genius, so tell us more about how it can help businesses, especially with this ask for me stuff.

Speaker 2:

Well Ranked Genius is like having someone manage your GBP 24-7. It keeps your info updated, optimizes your descriptions and even helps with reviews.

Speaker 1:

That sounds super helpful, but I'm curious how does it help with the whole ask for me thing specifically?

Speaker 2:

Well Ranked Genius is all about getting you ranked higher in searches and that's important for getting more of those AI calls.

Speaker 1:

So it's not just about optimizing my GBP, it's about showing up in searches for my services.

Speaker 2:

That's right. Rank Genius does this in a couple ways. First, it makes sure your GBP has everything Google's AI needs and second, it optimizes your website and your whole online presence for local SEO.

Speaker 1:

So it's like a multi-pronged attack to boost my ranking. Can you tell us a little more about how it handles the local SEO stuff?

Speaker 2:

Sure Rank Genius helps you get those good backlinks, it helps you create content for your local area and it makes sure you're listed in all the right online directories. All of that matters for how Google ranks you.

Speaker 1:

It sounds like Rank Genius takes care of a lot of the hard work for local SEO, so business owners can focus on other things.

Speaker 2:

Exactly. We know local businesses are busy and they might not have the time or know how to do all this GBP and local SEO stuff themselves. So Rank Genius makes it easier and gets results.

Speaker 1:

This is all great info, but I'm thinking about one more thing with Ask For Me, the human element. You know AI can handle those first questions, but eventually there's got to be a real person involved. So how can businesses make that transition from AI to human interaction smooth?

Speaker 2:

You're right Even with the AI doing some of the work, that human touch is still so important. You want to build trust and make sure customers actually buy something, so your team needs to be ready to take over from the AI and give that personal experience.

Speaker 1:

So how do I get my staff ready for those calls that come from ask for me?

Speaker 2:

Training is key. You got to make sure they understand ask for me and how it works. They should be able to tell when a call is coming from Google's AI and they need to have the info ready so they can answer questions accurately and quickly.

Speaker 1:

So it's not just about being friendly, but actually knowing the stuff and being prepared.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, the AI is just making the first connection and getting the basic info, but your team's got to take it to the next level, give that personal touch, answer any other questions they might have and ultimately help that customer buy something or book an appointment.

Speaker 1:

So it's all about that seamless experience, whether they're talking to AI or a real person. But some businesses might be worried that AI is going to replace human interaction altogether. What would you say to that?

Speaker 2:

I get that, but I think it's actually the opposite. Tools like Ask For Me are here to help human interaction, not replace it. By handling those basic questions, AI frees up your team for the more important conversations. You know the ones that need empathy and problem solving and building those relationships.

Speaker 1:

So it's not AI versus humans, it's AI and humans working together.

Speaker 2:

That's it. It's all about working together to create a great customer experience that helps your business grow.

Speaker 1:

We've covered so much today. It's been awesome. We talked about how Ask For Me works, how to get your GBP ready and tools like Ranked Genius. Any final thoughts for local businesses trying to succeed with this whole AI thing?

Speaker 2:

Embrace the change. Ai is here to stay. It's going to keep changing how customers find you. Don't be scared to try new things, experiment with tools and strategies and always be looking for ways to improve how you look online. It's about staying ahead of the curve and using all this to your advantage Exactly. And remember we're here to help, whether it's resources like this podcast or tools like Rank Genius. We want to give you the knowledge and tools you need to succeed in this ever-changing world of local search.

Speaker 1:

Awesome advice. Thanks for joining us today and sharing all your knowledge and to everyone listening out there, stay tuned for more tips and tricks on how to crush local search and grow your business.