How to Get Your Maine Business Found in AI Search

AI is changing how customers find local businesses. But before you invest in the latest AI marketing tools, make sure your online presence is doing its job.

If someone asks ChatGPT to recommend a plumber in Biddeford, a therapist in Portland, or a home inspector serving Southern Maine, will your business come up?

That’s a question more small-business owners are asking as AI-powered search becomes part of everyday life.

The good news? You don’t necessarily need an entirely new marketing strategy to improve your chances of being discovered.

Many of the things that help customers find and trust your business on Google also provide a strong foundation for AI visibility.

What New Research Tells Us

BrightLocal’s October 2026 Small Business Marketing Report surveyed 1,002 U.S. small-business owners and uncovered an interesting disconnect.

• 65% say they’re actively working to improve their visibility in AI search.
• Only 35% say they maintain an active Google Business Profile.
• Just 41% keep their website active.
• Only 26% maintain an active presence on other review sites and business directories.

That’s a pretty big gap.

Business owners recognize that AI search matters, but many aren’t consistently maintaining the information that helps search engines, AI tools, and customers understand their businesses.

And here’s another important finding: BrightLocal reports that 71% of consumers use Google at some point when searching for a local business.

The takeaway? Don’t abandon traditional search marketing to chase AI.

Your website, Google Business Profile, reviews, and local listings all need to work together.

5 Ways to Improve Your Local and AI Search Visibility

1. Keep Your Website Current

Your website should clearly explain who you are, what you do, where you work, and how customers can contact you.

If your services have changed, your hours are outdated, or your last update was years ago, it’s time for a refresh.

Make sure your website includes:

• Clear descriptions of your services
• The towns and areas you serve
• Accurate contact information
• Helpful answers to common customer questions
• Easy navigation and a mobile-friendly design

For example, a contractor serving Saco, Biddeford, and Scarborough should make those service areas clear on their website.

Don’t make customers, or AI tools, guess what your business does.

2. Give Your Google Business Profile Some Attention

Your Google Business Profile is one of the most valuable free marketing tools available to local businesses.

It’s what helps customers discover your business through Google Search and Maps.

Make sure your profile has the correct business categories, hours, services, website link, and contact information.

Add genuine business photos and keep everything accurate as your business changes.

You don’t need to post something every day. Consistent, accurate information is more important than posting just to stay busy.

3. Make Customer Reviews Part of Your Routine

Reviews help potential customers decide whether they can trust your business.

BrightLocal’s 2026 research found that 47% of consumers surveyed wouldn’t consider a business with fewer than 20 reviews.

That doesn’t mean every business needs a particular number of reviews to succeed. It does show how important customer feedback has become.

A few simple habits can help:

• Ask satisfied customers for honest reviews.
• Make it easy by sharing a direct review link.
• Respond professionally to feedback.
• Never purchase or manufacture reviews.

A steady collection of authentic reviews can help build credibility wherever customers discover your business.

4. Make Sure Your Business Information Matches Everywhere

Is your business name written the same way on your website, Google listing, Facebook page, and online directories?

Is your phone number correct? Are old addresses still showing up?

Inconsistent information can confuse customers and make it harder for online systems to identify the correct details about your business.

Check the listings that matter for your industry, including Google, Bing Places, Yelp, Facebook, and relevant local or professional directories.

If you’ve moved, changed your business name, or expanded your services, this is especially important.

5. Check What AI Says About Your Business

Here’s an easy experiment.

Open ChatGPT or Google AI search and ask questions a potential customer might actually ask.

For example:

“Can you recommend a reliable home inspector serving Southern Maine?”

Or:

“Who designs websites for small businesses in the Biddeford and Portland area?”

See which businesses appear, what information is provided, and whether the answers are accurate.

Don’t just search for your business by name. Try questions from someone who hasn’t heard of you yet.

Keep in mind that AI results can change between searches. One test won’t tell you everything, and appearing once doesn’t guarantee you’ll appear again.

But checking periodically can help you spot opportunities and understand how your business is being represented.

Your Quick Online Visibility Checkup

How many of these can you confidently check off?

• ☐ My website accurately describes my current services.
• ☐ My website clearly identifies the areas I serve.
• ☐ My Google Business Profile is accurate and complete.
• ☐ My business information is consistent across important directories.
• ☐ I regularly ask customers for honest reviews.
• ☐ My website is easy to use on a phone.
• ☐ I’ve checked how my business appears in AI search results.

If you couldn’t check everything, that’s okay. Now you have a starting point.

You Don’t Need to Figure It All Out Yourself

AI search is evolving, and nobody can promise that your business will appear in every search result or AI recommendation.

But the fundamentals of good online marketing haven’t disappeared.

A helpful website, accurate business information, trustworthy reviews, and consistent updates are still worth investing in.

At Greatson Media, we’ve been helping Maine small businesses build and maintain their online presence since 2003.

We can help you figure out what’s working, what’s missing, and where to focus next, without overwhelming you with technical jargon or services you don’t need.

Want to know how your business is showing up online?

Let’s take a look together.

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Greatson Media.

Contact us to get started.

Research source: BrightLocal, Small Business Marketing Report 2026, published October 21, 2026.

https://www.brightlocal.com/research/smb-report-confident-visibility/