As artificial intelligence changes the world of digital marketing, local SEO strategies are changing faster than ever before. We talked to Alex Bazooka, an SEO expert with more than ten years of experience in search engine optimization and digital marketing, to learn more about these changes and what will happen next.
Alex started and owns the popular SEO blog seo-bazooka.com, where he shares the latest strategies, algorithm changes, and industry news with a growing group of digital marketers and business owners. As a contributing writer for MetaPress.com, he shares his knowledge with a wider audience, focusing on SEO solutions that work in the real world.
Alex has learned a lot about different parts of SEO over the course of his career. These include technical optimization, content strategy, link building, and local search optimization. He has helped businesses of all sizes, from small local startups to large corporations, improve their search visibility and organic traffic. His biggest strength is that he can turn complicated SEO ideas into plans that businesses can use right away.
People in the industry know Alex for his data-driven approach to SEO. He often does original research and case studies that have been cited by industry publications. He stays up to date on changes to search engine algorithms and is known for his insights into how AI and machine learning are changing search results. His analytical mind and years of hands-on experience make him a trusted voice in the fast-changing field of search engine optimization.
MetaPress: Thanks for coming today, Alex. Let’s look at the big picture first: how will AI change local SEO in the long run, starting in 2024?
Alex Bazooka: AI is changing the way search engines understand and respond to local intent in a big way. Google’s AI systems can now understand more complicated local searches and connect them with the businesses that are most relevant to them. We’re seeing better entity recognition, a better understanding of the local context, and results that are more tailored to each user based on their behavior patterns. Local businesses can’t just stuff keywords anymore; they need to make sure their content is useful and helpful to the people in their area.
MetaPress: Speaking of Google’s AI, how are AI Overviews changing the way people search for things in their area, and what do local businesses need to know about them?
Alex Bazooka: AI Overviews are a big deal for local search. For local questions like “best plumber near me” or “where to get authentic Italian food in downtown,” they’re gathering information from many sources to make full answers. For local businesses, the most important thing is to make sure that their content is well-organized, trustworthy, and directly answers common questions from customers. Businesses that optimize for featured snippets and give clear, factual information about their services, hours, and unique selling points are more likely to be included in these AI-generated summaries.
MetaPress: What specific trends in local SEO do you think will be most important in 2025?
Alex Bazooka: I see three big trends starting to take shape. First, hyper-localization: AI will get even better at understanding very small contexts, so businesses need to focus on keywords and events that are specific to their neighborhood. Second, conversational search optimization. Businesses need to make sure their websites are easy to find when people use voice search or AI chatbots. Third, real-time optimization—AI systems will use more and more real-time data, like current inventory, wait times, and live reviews, to decide how to rank things. Companies that can dynamically give and update this information will have a big edge.
MetaPress: What changes should local businesses make to their content strategy in this AI-driven world?
Alex Bazooka: Content needs to be more thorough and focused on the user than ever before. Instead of making separate pages for each keyword variation, businesses should make pillar content that goes into great detail about the things their customers are interested in. A local HVAC company shouldn’t just have a page for “furnace repair.” Instead, they should make full guides on how to heat your home, how to keep it in good shape during the winter, and how to save energy. AI values depth and expertise, so companies need to make sure they are seen as reliable sources in their local market.
MetaPress: What about things to think about for technical SEO? Should local businesses focus on new technical issues?
Yes, Alex Bazooka. Schema markup is more important than ever, especially for LocalBusiness, FAQ, and review schemas. Structured data is very important for Google’s AI to understand and sort local businesses. Core Web Vitals are still important, but I’m noticing that AI systems are putting more weight on user engagement metrics. Page load speed, mobile responsiveness, and user experience signals are becoming more important for ranking. Local businesses also need to make sure their Google Business Profile is fully optimized and kept up to date, since this affects AI-powered local search results directly.
MetaPress: You just wrote an article about the best SEO experts to follow in 2025. Who would you suggest local business owners follow to stay up to date on these trends that are changing quickly?
Alex Bazooka: That’s a great question! I just put out a full guide on this subject at seo-bazooka.com. It’s called “Top 20 SEO Experts to Follow in 2025“. Following the right thought leaders is very important because the SEO landscape changes so quickly. I would especially suggest following experts who are actively testing and documenting how AI affects search results, those who share real case studies instead of just theory, and those who know both technical SEO and the subtleties of local search. The article explains why each expert is on the list and what special knowledge they have to offer. Following these experts can help you stay ahead of algorithm changes and use proven strategies instead of trying to keep up with every new trend, especially for local businesses.
MetaPress: Do you have any last words of advice for local businesses that want to stay competitive in this changing market?
Alex Bazooka: Instead of trying to game the system, focus on really helping your community. AI is getting better at finding real, useful content. Read and respond to customer reviews, go to local events, make content that meets real local needs, and make sure your online presence is a true reflection of your offline business. The businesses that will do well are the ones that use AI tools to help their customers, not just to change the order of search results. Keep in mind that the goal of local SEO is to connect local businesses with local customers. AI just makes that connection more complex and accurate.
To learn more about the latest trends in SEO and digital marketing, go to seo-bazooka.com and read our most recent articles here at MetaPress.com.