Digital Optimus has announced the launch of The Local SEO Company, a new specialist division dedicated to helping local businesses across the Thames Valley improve their visibility in search, at a moment when the rules of “being found” online are changing faster than ever.
Why now: search is being rewritten by AI.
For twenty years, ranking on Google was the main game in town. That’s no longer the whole picture. A growing share of consumers now start their search for local products and services in tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Google’s AI Overviews rather than a traditional search results page, and the data suggests most local businesses simply aren’t showing up when they do.
Recent research analysing 1,700 businesses found that 88% failed to appear in ChatGPT’s recommendations, with only around 12% achieving genuine visibility. Strikingly, even businesses that rank on page one of Google aren’t safe: 77% of first-page Google performers were found to be completely invisible in ChatGPT, with only 23% appearing consistently in both systems. Separate research shows that 44% of consumers now say they prefer AI tools when researching buying decisions, and 80% rely on AI-generated results for a significant share of their searches. For a local business, that’s a growing number of potential customers who never see them at all.
A dedicated division for local visibility
The Local SEO Company has been created to close that gap. The team works exclusively with local, independent and multi-location businesses to build visibility across traditional search, Google’s local results (Maps and the “local pack”), and the newer AI-driven search and answer engines — helping more of the right customers discover them, click through, and walk through the door.
Services available through the new division include:
* Google Business Profile optimisation and management
* Local citations and directory listings to strengthen trust and consistency
* On-page and technical local SEO
* AI and answer engine optimisation (AEO/GEO), helping businesses appear in ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Overviews as well as Google
* Review generation and reputation management
* Local content strategy and local link building
* Ongoing reporting so businesses can see exactly what’s working
Why local SEO still matters: the numbers
The case for investing in local search remains as strong as ever. Some 99% of consumers have used the internet to research a local business in the past year, and 72% use Google specifically to find products and services near them. Nearly half of consumers (46%) regularly include “near me” in their searches, and of those who search on a smartphone, 88% go on to visit or call that business within 24 hours. With 84% of local searches now happening on mobile, and 98% of consumers reading online reviews before choosing a local business, getting the fundamentals of local SEO right has a direct and measurable impact on footfall, enquiries and leads.
“Local businesses are being caught between two shifts at once, customers researching on their phones and, increasingly, customers asking AI tools to recommend a business for them,” said [Name], [Job Title] at Digital Optimus. “We built The Local SEO Company because generic SEO no longer cuts it for a local business. You need a strategy built specifically around your area, your customers, and the platforms, including AI search (where they’re actually looking).”
A risk-free way to get started
To mark the launch, every new SEO package includes a free SEO strategy and set-up worth £250. All packages are pay-as-you-go with no long-term contract, so local businesses can get started without commitment and see the impact for themselves.
For more information, or to book a free local SEO strategy session, visit https://www.thelocalseocompany.co.uk or contact mark@thelocalseocompany.co.uk or call 01793 380788
About Digital Optimus
Digital Optimus is a web design and app building agency supporting businesses with digital strategy and online growth. The Local SEO Company is its dedicated division for local and multi-location businesses, helping them gain visibility on Google, Google Maps and the growing range of AI-powered search tools that customers now use to find and choose whom to buy from.
