AI Search and SEO: What Every Vancouver Service-Based Business Needs to Know
You’ve probably noticed that people really aren’t saying “just Google it” anymore.
Times are a’changin’, more and more people are using to AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity or Gemini to ask things like “Who’s the best branding coach in Vancouver?” or “Which spas in Kitsilano are most recommended?”
That change is really starting to reshape how people search and find businesses online.
Instead of scrolling through pages of Google results, they’re getting quick, conversational AI overview answers based on a few trusted sources that AI tools pull from automatically.
The new challenge is making it easy for these AI tools to discover who you are, what you do and why you’re a trusted choice for someone search for services that you provide.
If you’re a wellness or service-based business owner wondering what that means for your SEO, I’m pretty sure this guide will help you understand the changes and what to focus on to get in AI’s good books.
What Exactly Is AI Search (and Why It’s Different From Google)?
When someone searches on Google for “best massage therapist in Vancouver,” they still see a list of links, maps and review snippets.
Now, you might also see an AI-generated summary, but it doesn’t always recommend specific businesses.
When someone asks an AI tool the same question, like ChatGPT, the experience works a little differently.
AI tools recommend specific businesses and include short summaries about them.
They scan information from trusted sources (they were even pulling from Reddit for awhile!) like websites, Google Business Profiles and directories, then generate a conversational answer, often without the user needing to click anywhere.
So while Google Search shows options, AI Search focuses on giving direct answers.
If your business information isn’t clear, consistent and credible across those trusted sources, AI tools might overlook you completely.
If you haven’t updated your website or Google Business Profile in eons, you probably won’t come up all in AI search.
This isn’t about stuffing in more keywords. It’s about helping AI recognize your business as trustworthy enough to include in its recommendations. Bascially, it’s about answering the questions a potential client might ask in order to find a business like yours.
SEO Isn’t Dead — It’s Evolving
SEO still matters. A lot. In fact, in order to be found through AI search, it’s the UTMOST importance that your technical SEO is top-notch.
Keywords, backlinks and clear, relevant helpful content are still the foundation of how your business gets found.
The difference now is that AI tools are using your SEO efforts to understand and summarize your business.
AI search doesn’t replace SEO, I’d actually say - it relies on it.
If your website and profiles are optimized and easy to read, AI tools have better context to include you in their answers.
So think of SEO as the language and AI as the interpreter.
If your website and Google Business Profile is optimized, it helps AI figure out who you are, what you do and whether you’re a trusted option worth recommending.
Here’s what I’d suggest to focus on:
✅ Clarity: Write in plain, natural language that your ideal client would use, that answers their real questions.
✅ Consistency: Keep your business info and branding aligned everywhere.
✅ Credibility: Collect reviews, testimonials and real proof of your expertise.
Together, SEO and AI will create a more complete picture of your business online, one that both humans and AI can easily trust.
3 Ways Vancouver Businesses Can Be Found Through AI Search
Let’s make this super duper simple.
1. Be Discoverable Everywhere
AI pulls from multiple sources - not just your website.
Yes, it’s cross-referencing - and it wants to see consistency. So don’t have your personal address on your website and your business address on your Google Business Profile.
Keep your Google Business Profile, website, and social media consistent with your:
Business name
Services and offers
Location details (city, region, or service area)
Contact info (email, phone number, links)
Brand visuals and tone
This consistency helps AI tools and search engines connect the dots between all your platforms giving you extra trustworthy brownie points.
2. Create Content That Answers Your Client’s Questions
Think like your ideal client. What would they actually type or say out loud? The easiest way to do this is note when a potential client asks you a question.
Examples:
“What are the benefits of seeing a naturopath?”
“How can a life coach help me with figuring out my career path?”
“Who’s the best ADHD therapist in Yaletown?”
When you create blog posts or service page sections that directly answer those questions, AI tools are more likely to feature your insights.
3. Keep Your Online Presence Fresh
Make a habit of small, consistent updates:
Post a new blog once a month (if you can do more, cool - but I would do this as a minimum)
Add new case studies or testimonials whenever you finish a client project.
Refresh your homepage, service pages, or FAQs every few months.
Update your Google Business Profile weekly (or monthly) with posts or Q&As.
These small updates send powerful signals to both AI and potential clients that you’re still active and trustworthy.
Feeling Invisible on Google? It’s Not Your Fault.
If it feels harder to get found lately… I totally get it. AI IS changing the game.
AI tools are narrowing in on a smaller pool of “trusted” sources, and most service-based business owners haven’t been shown how to get on AI’s radar.
But you don’t need to do anything too wild or complicated.
Just focus on the SEO foundations: clear messaging, consistent details across platforms, and credibility through reviews and helpful content.
That’s what helps both people and AI recognize your business as one worth recommending.
Want to Go Deeper with AI and Local SEO?
If you haven’t read it yet, check out my other related blog:
It covers specific local SEO updates (like crawlability, schema, and Google Business tweaks) you can do right now.
This new post is your strategy piece — that one’s your action checklist.
Let’s Make Sure AI Knows Who You Are
AI search is here to stay. So we need to adapt with it.
If you want to know how your site’s really performing, grab my Free Website & SEO Audit. It’s going to find simple SEO fixes that’ll help you get found faster by both Google and AI tools.
And if you’d rather hand it off?
My Marketing Packages take care of both your traditional SEO and your AI search visibility, so you can get back to focusing on your business.
talk soon
