Mack Media Group says AI search is reshaping local visibility

Mack Media Group reviewed nearly 2 million AI citations from local search and found that business websites, Google Business Profiles and third-party listings all influence what AI recommends. The St. Petersburg agency says local businesses now need to optimize for both traditional rankings and AI systems that verify information across multiple sources.

Why it matters: - Local businesses are no longer competing only for search rankings. - AI systems are increasingly pulling recommendations from websites, Google Business Profile data, reviews and directory listings. - Clear, consistent and independently supported business information can affect whether AI tools surface a company at all.

What happened: - Mack Media Group, an AI digital marketing agency in St. Petersburg, Florida, analyzed recent local AI-search research focused on nearly 2 million citations. - The agency reviewed how ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Google AI Overviews source information for local business recommendations. - The analysis was framed around local businesses such as roofers, dentists, attorneys, restaurants and marketing agencies.

The details: - A September 2026 BrightLocal study covered 200,085 localized searches across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Google AI Overviews. - The study produced 1,967,762 citations across about 1,300 business locations. - About 93% of the unique domains cited were individual business websites. - Business websites accounted for roughly 42% of all citations analyzed. - Mack Media Group says that means websites remain a source for AI-generated answers, not just customer destinations. - The agency’s AI search guidance recommends that businesses state services, coverage area and other key details plainly on their websites. - Mack Media Group also says eligibility for ChatGPT Search is not the same as guaranteed visibility. - Google accounted for more than 563,000 citations in the BrightLocal analysis, or about 28.6% of all citations studied. - Google Business Profile remains a major part of the local information environment. - Mack Media Group’s local SEO services include Google Business Profile optimization, including accurate business information, relevant categories, high-quality images and ongoing updates. - The agency pairs profile work with citation management to keep name, address and phone details consistent. - BrightLocal’s research also found substantial citation activity from third-party platforms. - Yelp generated 187,599 citations. - Facebook generated 43,876 citations. - Tripadvisor generated 35,246 citations. - OpenTable generated 23,237 citations. - Mack Media Group recommends tracking AI-specific signals such as brand mentions in prompts, cited URLs, competitors appearing in results, accuracy of service descriptions, website citation frequency, third-party support, AI referral traffic, calls, forms, chats and qualified leads. - The agency warns against treating one successful AI answer as proof of lasting visibility because outputs vary by prompt, location and time. - Mack Media Group says citations, referral visits and qualified leads are different outcomes and should be measured separately.

Between the lines: - The data suggests AI visibility builds on local SEO rather than replacing it. - Strong websites, current profiles, reviews and consistent business data help AI systems understand a business’s services, location and identity. - Mack Media Group describes this as improving entity clarity and the broader information environment around a business. - The shift also changes the core question for local marketers from “How do we rank higher?” to whether AI can clearly understand and verify the business.

What's next: - Mack Media Group says St. Petersburg businesses preparing for 2027 should make their websites a clear first-party source. - Businesses should keep Google Business Profiles current whenever details change. - Companies should identify relevant third-party sources in their search category. - Businesses should test customer prompts across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and similar tools. - Companies should measure AI visibility and traditional search visibility separately. - Mack Media Group says businesses cannot guarantee AI citations or recommendations, but they can make their information clearer, more current and easier to verify.