AI summaries sit above the links. Being the source they quote is the new first position.
Search results increasingly open with an AI-written answer that pulls from several websites. Many people read it and go no further. For businesses that relied on ranking first, the rules have shifted.
What gets quoted
AI answers favour pages that state things clearly: a direct answer near the top, specific facts, prices, steps and comparisons. Vague pages written to fill space are skipped. So are sites with no evidence of real experience.
What to do
Write the page a customer would want. Answer the question in the first paragraph. Add the detail only you know: your process, your service area, your real photos, your reviews. Keep your Google Business Profile complete, since local answers lean on it heavily.
Do not abandon the basics. A fast, well-structured site with proper headings and schema is still what makes a page readable to both search engines and AI systems.
A quick page rewrite test
- Read the first paragraph aloud. Does it answer the page title in two or three sentences?
- Underline every claim that has no number, name or example behind it, and add one.
- Add a short FAQ with the real questions customers ask you on calls and WhatsApp.
- Check that your business name, address and phone number match your Google Business Profile.
Pages that pass this test are easier for people to trust and for AI systems to quote, which is why the same edits help both.
Where local businesses fit
For searches like a clinic, salon or repair shop near me, AI answers draw on Google Business Profile details, reviews and photos. A complete profile with recent reviews and accurate services gives these answers real material to quote about your business.
The takeaway
Fewer clicks will come from simple questions. The clicks that remain are from people ready to act, and they go to the businesses the answer named. For the full method, read our guide to generative engine optimization.