How AI Search Is Changing the Way Customers Discover Small Businesses
How AI Search Is Changing the Way Customers Discover Small Businesses Imagine a customer looking for a new dentist. A few years ago, the journey might have started with a Google search for dentist near me . The customer would scan businesses in Google Maps, visit a few websites, read reviews, compare options, and then call or book an appointment. The same basic pattern applied to finding a plumber, attorney, restaurant, hair salon, auto repair shop, accountant, or other local service provider. Google was never the only way customers discovered businesses. Referrals, social media, online directories, reviews, and advertising have long influenced customer discovery. Still, digital discovery followed a familiar pattern: customers searched, search engines returned results, and customers reviewed links, listings, and business information before deciding which businesses deserved further consideration. AI search and AI assistants are adding a new path to that journey. Customers can now do mo...