When was the last time you used Google? Fifteen minutes ago, that was a shopper’s primary resource for locating your business and products but today, your customers are turning to AI millions of times a minute.
AI, like the search engines of recent memory, favors those listed first. The closer your company appears at the top of the list, the more likely you are to attract customers. Unlike printed directories, you no longer have to name your company AAA Repair Service; you can be found based on your ability to solve the customer’s problem.
Moving up your placement in search-engine results (SER) isn’t something you can achieve overnight, but it can be done. Here are ten projects you can do on your own that will positively affect your rankings.
1. Share regular content across channels
Keep your audience informed and engaged by sharing news, updates, and insights consistently — both on your website and through social media. Announce product launches, events, or campaigns, and mix in helpful tips and stories. Press-release services can expand your reach, but don’t underestimate the power of posting directly to LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube. Every update creates fresh content and new links that signal activity and relevance to both search engines and AI systems.
2. Optimize your meta data and snippets
Meta descriptions and page titles still matter. Make sure every page has a clear, compelling description and naturally includes your primary keywords. Search engines no longer rely on meta keywords, but they still use your titles and descriptions to understand context and to display text in search results or AI-generated previews.
3. Create and maintain a sitemap
A sitemap tells search engines (and AI crawlers) what pages exist on your site, helping them index your content quickly and accurately. Most content management systems, including WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace, generate this automatically. Double-check your sitemap is current and submitted to Google Search Console.
4. Contribute content to authoritative sites
Showcase your expertise by writing articles or guest posts for respected industry blogs, publications, or community platforms such as Medium or LinkedIn Articles. Always include a short bio and a link to your website. Backlinks from reputable sources strengthen your authority and visibility.
5. Maintain an active blog or resource center
If you haven’t already, add a blog to your site — or revive an old one. Frequent, high-value updates help search engines view your site as active and relevant. Include posts that answer your customers’ questions, share insights, or highlight trends in your field.
6. Register with review platforms and ask for reviews
If your business serves customers directly, claim your listings on Google Business Profile, Yelp, or other relevant platforms. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and share their experiences. Positive reviews influence both search rankings and AI-generated recommendations.
7. Engage thoughtfully in online discussions
Comment on articles, blog posts, or social threads in your industry. Add genuine insights and include a link back to your site only when it adds value. Quality engagement attracts new readers, builds credibility, and increases backlinks naturally.
8. Share customer testimonials — written and video
Testimonials still matter. Collect feedback from happy customers and feature it prominently on your site. Video testimonials are especially effective. Post them on YouTube, embed them on your site, and link them in your social channels. (YouTube videos also help boost your search footprint.)
9. Partner with complementary brands
Find partners whose services align with yours and exchange backlinks or co-create content. A joint blog post, podcast, or downloadable guide is far more valuable than a simple link swap. Always link using meaningful anchor text, not click here.
10. Use structured data and schema markup
Structured data is the behind-the-scenes code that describes your content to search engines and helps them (and AI assistants) understand your pages more accurately. Adding schema markup for things like products, events, reviews, or FAQs can make your listings more prominent and clickable. Most site platforms have plugins or tools that make this easy to implement.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared several years ago, back when SEO meant keywords, backlinks, and crossing your fingers that Google noticed. The fundamentals still hold, but in 2025, the playing field has expanded to include AI-driven discovery and voice search. I’ve refreshed this piece to reflect the new tools, trends, and realities — while keeping the same hands-on, no-nonsense approach that’s worked since the beginning.
AI disclosure: This content was originally written by me and later updated with assistance from OpenAI’s GPT-5 for editing, fact-checking, and modernization. Every word has been reviewed and approved by a human — specifically, me — before publication.
You no longer have to name your company AAA Repair Service to show up first in search results.