Editor’s Note:
Yesterday, my wife told me she got a lead from Grok … I was like, really?
She mentioned that someone asked Grok about the best lip filler in Frisco (we own a medspa), and she was the first to pop up.
I tested it in ChatGPT, and she was 4th.
The point is: SEO has CHANGED forever.
Here’s what you need to know in a quick read below.
Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to share the feed!
-David
How AI Really Chooses “The Best”
A few years ago, if someone typed “best realtor in Plano, TX” into Google, the battle was fought over keywords, backlinks, and online reviews.
Today, consumers are asking ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and other AI assistants the same questions, and instead of 10 blue links, they often receive just one or two recommendations.
This means the new battleground isn’t just about being seen, it’s about being the answer.
AI recommendations are based on:
Credible, Public Information: AI tools pull from trusted public sources, such as Google Business Profiles, major review platforms (Yelp, Zillow, Redfin), local news, and social media profiles.
Cross-platform Consistency: Your business needs to appear the same way across these sources. Discrepancies in name, branding, and reviews confuse not just people, but also AI.
High-quality, Frequently Updated Reviews: Not only does AI include review signals, but platforms increasingly value recent reviews over years-old history. AI can’t access the actual reviews, just their recency and quantity, i.e., 4.9 Stars and 300 reviews.
Authoritative Content: Being quoted in local news stories, featured in market reports, running your own up-to-date blog, and producing area-specific videos or podcasts all boost authority in AI’s “knowledge graph.”
Structured and Accessible Data: By implementing structured data on your site, including FAQs and precise answers to common questions, you make it easier for AI to surface your business as the go-to answer.
Freshness and Activity: AI values businesses that are active. Recent reviews, updated profiles, and new content all boost visibility. Outdated info or an inactive profile can effectively make you invisible.
Proven Ways to Become an AI Recommendation
Dominate Contemporary Reviews: Proactively gather positive reviews on platforms like Google, Zillow, Yelp, and Facebook. Ensure you have recent, ideally within the past year, 5-star reviews.
Authority Building: Publish regular, original content about your market: blog posts, statistics, commentary, video explainers, and podcasts. Seek media quotes and local news features.
Be Consistent Everywhere: Ensure your business’s name, address, contact info, and specialty are accurate and identical across all platforms. Maintain active, professional LinkedIn, Google, YouTube, and business websites.
Speak AI’s Language: Include common buyer/seller questions on your site (“Who is the best realtor in Plano, TX?”) and provide clear, well-structured answers. AI uses this to match queries to answers.
Prioritize Recency Over Volume: It’s better to have a steady flow of fresh reviews and content than an extensive collection of outdated ones.
The Big Picture
The question today isn’t just “Are you on page one of Google?”
It’s: Will you be the answer when someone asks their AI assistant for the best REALTOR® in your market?
Businesses that master these strategies aren’t just found, they become the only recommendation AI delivers.
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Want help using AI in your real estate business? Hit reply or DM me @YourHandle.
