45% of Consumers Choose Their Local Businesses Thanks to AI: Is Yours Visible?

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Just a year ago, only 6% of consumers used artificial intelligence (AI) to find a local business. Today, that proportion has reached 45%. This is one of the most striking findings from BrightLocal’s Local Consumer Review Survey 2026, a study conducted among 1,002 American consumers. For business owners and marketing and sales directors, this shift is far from a distant trend: it is already transforming how your future customers discover you… or discover your competitors.

A Rapid Adoption

In twelve months, the use of AI tools to get local business recommendations rose from 6% to 45%, already making it the third most-used discovery channel, behind Google and Facebook, but ahead of established platforms like Yelp and TripAdvisor. The phenomenon is especially pronounced among 30- to 44-year-olds: 64% of them use AI for this purpose, compared to only 24% among those 60 and older. In other words, the most active customer segments are also the ones adopting these new search habits the fastest.

ChatGPT Takes the Lead, Google Loses Ground

Among the tools used, ChatGPT ranks first: 31% of consumers have used it to get local recommendations, ahead of Google’s AI mode (23%) and Gemini. At the same time, reliance on Google reviews dropped from 83% to 71% in one year. Google remains essential, but its near-monopoly on local discovery is eroding: your business’s visibility now plays out on several fronts at once.

Real Trust… But Conditional

The study reveals that 63% of AI users trust the recommendations these tools provide, and 64% give them as much credibility as traditional online reviews. Conversely, 53% of non-users remain wary. However, the most important nuance for your business lies elsewhere: 97% of AI users check, at least occasionally, the recommendations they receive by consulting actual customer reviews. Furthermore, 88% of them try to confirm that a review is legitimate (51%) or find out its source (37%). Trust in AI therefore doesn’t replace your online reviews — it relies on them.

AI-Generated Review Summaries

Platforms increasingly display AI-generated review summaries. Half of consumers (50%) trust them, a proportion that rises to 71% among AI users. That said, only 23% rely solely on these summaries: 59% take the time to read full reviews to validate their impression. Every review posted about your business therefore counts twice, since it influences both the human reader and the machine-generated summary.

What This Means for Your Business

This data all points in the same direction: AI tools build their recommendations from public sources, chief among them your online reviews, your Google Business Profile, and your website content. Three priorities stand out. First, actively request recent, detailed reviews, since they feed both the algorithms and the decision-making of the 97% of consumers who verify. Second, ensure consistency of your information (name, address, phone number, hours) across all platforms. Finally, monitor what tools like ChatGPT say about your business: this is the new competitive-monitoring habit.

Conclusion

Local search is undergoing its biggest transformation since the arrival of Google. Businesses that adapt their visibility and review-management strategy now will gain a lasting head start over those who wait for the trend to be confirmed. At 45% adoption after just one year, it already is.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is AI-powered local search?

It means using an assistant like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Google’s AI mode to get recommendations for businesses near you (for example: “What’s the best plumber in Longueuil?”), rather than browsing a traditional list of search results.

Should I abandon Google and online reviews in favor of AI?

No. Google remains the top discovery channel, and 97% of AI users validate the recommendations they receive by reading real reviews. AI adds to your visibility ecosystem; it doesn’t replace it.

How can I get ChatGPT to recommend my business?

AI tools rely on public data: numerous and recent online reviews, a complete Google Business Profile, consistent information across platforms, and clear website content. A solid local SEO strategy remains the best way in.

Are AI-generated review summaries reliable?

They are increasingly consulted — 50% of consumers trust them — but they can smooth over certain nuances. That’s why 59% of consumers also read full reviews before making a decision.

Where should I start?

With an audit of your local presence: the state of your reviews, the accuracy of your listings, and how your business is positioned in AI tool responses. This will show you exactly where to focus your efforts.

Source

BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2026: AI Trust, a survey of 1,002 American consumers, published March 10, 2026. Available at: https://www.brightlocal.com/research/lcrs-ai-trust/

August 29, 2026

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Why User Experience Matters for SME Conversion Rates

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The success of a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) isn’t just about having a great product or service. It’s about offering a memorable, seamless experience that makes users want to engage, interact, and ultimately, convert. In fact, user experience (UX) is becoming increasingly vital for SME conversion rates. Here’s why.

Understanding UX and Conversion Rates

Before we delve deeper, let’s understand what we mean by ‘User Experience’ and ‘Conversion Rates’.

User Experience (UX): UX is all about how a user interacts with, feels about, and experiences your website or app. It involves website design, functionality, navigation ease, and the overall impression that your online presence leaves on the user.

Conversion Rates: This is the percentage of your users who take a desired action on your website or app. It could mean making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, downloading a resource, or anything else that aligns with your business goals.

The Importance of User Experience

Here are some key reasons why a positive UX is crucial for improving conversion rates:

1. First Impressions Matter

  • People typically form an opinion about your website within 50 milliseconds. If your website doesn’t impress them instantly, you risk losing potential customers.

2. Enhanced User Engagement

  • A user-friendly website or app encourages users to stay longer, explore your offerings, and engage with your content. This increased interaction boosts the chances of conversion.

3. User Trust and Credibility

  • A well-designed, functional website fosters trust. Users are more likely to convert if they trust your brand and find your site credible.

4. Reduced Bounce Rates

  • Poor UX increases bounce rates, meaning users leave your site without interacting with it. Good UX keeps users hooked, reducing bounce rates and increasing conversion opportunities.

How to Improve User Experience for Higher Conversion Rates

Boosting your UX doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some simple steps you can take:

1. Make it Mobile-Friendly

  • With more people browsing on mobile devices, ensure your site is mobile-friendly. That means fast loading times, easy navigation, and responsive design.

2. Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

  • Make it easy for users to take the desired action. Clear, compelling CTAs guide users to convert.

3. Simplify the Checkout Process

  • For e-commerce SMEs, a complicated checkout process can lead to cart abandonment. Simplify it by reducing steps, offering various payment options, and ensuring it’s secure.

4. Use Easy-to-Read Content

  • Break your content into short paragraphs, use bullet points, subtitles, and white spaces for better readability. Information should be easy to digest.

5. Implement Feedback

  • Regularly ask your users for feedback and use it to improve. After all, who better to tell you how to improve your UX than the users themselves?

The Bottom Line

As an SME, focusing on UX isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity. When you prioritize user experience, you improve the chances of converting casual browsers into loyal customers. In the end, a great UX equals happy users, and happy users often lead to higher conversion rates. So, if you want to boost your bottom line, start with your user experience. You won’t regret it.

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Amauta Marketing moves to Laval

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As of July 1st, 2023, Amauta Marketing will be moving to brand-new premises in
Laval at 3131, boul. de la Concorde Est, H7E 4W4, suite 512. These new offices
will offer employees and customers workspaces even better adapted to Amauta’s
growth and needs. Surrounded by restaurants, boutiques, etc., and easily
accessible, these state-of-the-art spaces on a human scale are sure to please
employees and customers alike.

Since 2005, Amauta Marketing, Laval’s digital marketing leader, Google Partner
certified and Bing Professional accredited, has been offering its services in
French, English and Spanish. All our specialized services are focused on
measurable results to increase our client’s web visibility and maximize their
return on investment, while enabling them to expand into lucrative new markets.

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