How To Rank A Local Business From Scratch | SEO On-Air

Think ranking a local business is all about building a website? Think again. As AI search, Google Business Profile, online reviews, and local search algorithms continue to evolve, the businesses that win aren’t just the ones with the best websites they’re the ones that build trust, authority, and visibility everywhere customers are searching. In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe sits down with Eddie Yi (Ditans Group) and Dan Barnes (KD Interactive) to reveal the exact framework they would use to rank a brand-new local business from scratch in today’s AI-driven search landscape. From Google Business Profile optimization and review generation to AI search, Reddit, Yelp, Facebook groups, entity authority, and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), this conversation breaks down the strategies local businesses need to compete in both traditional search and AI-powered discovery. Eddie and Dan share practical insights on why Google Business Profile is still the foundation of local SEO, how reviews influence AI recommendations, why businesses should leverage free authority platforms before spending heavily on marketing, and how agencies are adapting to a future where AI answers are replacing clicks. 🎯 What You’ll Learn • The first five steps to ranking a local business from scratch • Why Google Business Profile is more important than your website • How reviews impact both Google rankings and AI search results • Why Yelp, Facebook, Reddit, and Trustpilot build local authority • How AI is changing customer search behavior • Why question-based content performs better in AI search • The role of structured content and FAQs in local SEO • How to build entity authority beyond your website • Why GEO is becoming the future of local search optimization • How agencies are adapting to AI-powered local search Whether you’re a local business owner, agency owner, marketer, or entrepreneur, this episode provides actionable strategies for building local visibility, authority, and long-term growth in an AI-first world. Because local SEO isn’t just about ranking on Google anymore. It’s about becoming the business AI and your customers trust enough to recommend. ⸻ ⏱️ Key Timestamps 00:01:31 – Meet Eddie Yi & Dan Barnes 00:05:05 – Is Local SEO Still Relevant in the Age of AI? 00:12:07 – How AI Search Chooses Local Businesses to Recommend 00:16:46 – Why Authority Still Matters for Local SEO 00:19:26 – Creating Helpful Content Instead of AI Spam 00:26:08 – The First Five Steps to Ranking a Local Business 00:30:17 – Why Google Business Profile Comes Before Your Website 00:34:05 – Building Entity Authority Through Reviews & Trust 00:40:27 – How to Choose the Right Marketing Agency 00:47:43 – The Future of Local SEO, GEO & AI Search ⸻ Learn More About Us: https://www.stanventures.com/ Follow us on socials for more insights: YouTube ►    / stanventures   Facebook ►   / stanventures   Twitter ►   / stanventures   Instagram ►   / stanventures   LinkedIn ►   / stanventures   #LocalSEO #GoogleBusinessProfile #GoogleMapsSEO #AISEO #AISearch #LocalMarketing #SmallBusinessMarketing #GEO #DigitalMarketing #SEOOnAir