Do It With You Marketing

05/31/2026

PART 1 OF 3: The AI Wake-Up Call

This isn't a trend.

It's a fundamental shift in how people find information, businesses, services, nonprofits, and even local government resources.

AI search is no longer "coming soon." It's already here.

Google's AI Overviews reached more than 1.5 billion monthly users in 2025 and have continued expanding globally. ChatGPT surpassed 800 million weekly active users in late 2025 and has continued growing. Perplexity processed roughly 780 million queries in a single month during 2025, with rapid growth continuing into 2026. (The Verge)

Here's the problem:

Most business owners, nonprofits, chambers of commerce, and government organizations are still operating as if the internet works the same way it did five years ago.

It doesn't.

I see two dangerous groups right now:

1️⃣ Those who think they understand AI because they've used ChatGPT a few times.

2️⃣ Those who haven't engaged with AI at all.

Both groups are falling behind.

Let's talk about websites.

For years, businesses were told that a clean, minimalist website was enough.

Today, a beautiful website with very little content can become a liability.

AI systems need information to cite, summarize, and reference. If your website contains only a handful of pages and very little educational content, you're giving AI almost nothing to work with.

Meanwhile, businesses publishing helpful articles, answering customer questions, and building topic authority are creating the content AI systems can actually use.

This doesn't mean you need hundreds of blog posts tomorrow.

But it does mean that content is no longer optional.

The organizations building authority today are positioning themselves to be found tomorrow.

The organizations waiting for "AI to settle down" are already losing ground.

And here's the part many people don't realize:

You cannot buy your way into most AI-generated answers.

You earn visibility through authority, trust, relevance, and useful content.

In Part 2, we'll talk about exactly how much content businesses should be creating and what AI systems appear to favor when selecting sources.

If you're a business owner, nonprofit leader, chamber executive, city official, or marketing director, now is the time to pay attention.

The rules of visibility are changing.

Fast.

Steve Garner

Do It With You Marketing

Google's Gemini AI update just transformed local search. DIWYM's Digital Marketing Bundle aligns your website, Google Business Profile, social, reviews, and citations — everything North Alabama small businesses need to stay visible in AI search.

05/30/2026

"Near me" searches have changed.

Five years ago, "plumber near me" returned a list of businesses sorted by proximity and reviews. That's still true — but there's now a layer on top of it.

Google's AI overview often appears before the map pack, summarizing which type of business to look for and sometimes naming specific options.

Businesses that show up in that AI overview aren't paying for placement. They've earned it by having profiles that Google trusts enough to recommend.

What makes Google trust your profile?
✔️ Accurate, complete business information
✔️ Services that match what people are actually searching
✔️ Active engagement (posts, responses, new photos)
✔️ Consistent information across the web

The businesses that set this up now will own the next wave of local search.

Read the full guide 👇
https://www.doitwithyoumarketing.com/post/how-google-s-gemini-ai-reads-and-ranks-your-business-profile

In 2026, your Google Business Profile isn't just a listing — it's a document Google's Gemini AI reads, analyzes, and uses to power local recommendations. Gemini reads 6 data layers: structured profile data, your service descriptions, your full review corpus, your photos, your Q&A, and your recent ...

05/28/2026

A 1-star review just came in. Now what?

Most business owners either panic and ignore it, or fire back with a defensive response. Both are mistakes.

Here's what actually works:

1. Respond within 24 hours
2. Thank them by name (if possible)
3. Acknowledge the specific issue — don't be vague
4. Offer to make it right offline ("Please reach out at [email/phone]")
5. Keep it under 3 sentences

You're not writing to the person who left the review. You're writing to every future customer who will read it.

A calm, professional response to a negative review often does more to build trust than 10 five-star reviews ever could.

Get the full guide to building a 5-star review system 👇
https://www.doitwithyoumarketing.com/post/google-reviews-the-new-word-of-mouth-and-how-to-get-5-stars

Google reviews are digital word-of-mouth — with one advantage the traditional kind doesn't have: scale. A 5-star review, visible forever, reaches every customer who ever searches for your business. In 2026, reviews are a top-3 local ranking factor, and a business with 200 reviews at 4.6 stars will...

05/26/2026

One change that can dramatically improve your Google Maps ranking takes about 5 minutes: pick the right primary category.

Most businesses choose something broad like "Contractor" or "Restaurant." But Google uses your primary category to decide what searches you're eligible to appear in.

The more specific, the better.

"Plumber" vs. "Emergency Plumber"
"Restaurant" vs. "Thai Restaurant"
"Dentist" vs. "Cosmetic Dentist"

Your primary category should match exactly what your best customers search for — not what sounds most professional.

Bonus: you can also add secondary categories for every major service you offer. Most businesses leave these blank.

Read the full 2026 Google Maps ranking guide 👇
https://www.doitwithyoumarketing.com/post/google-maps-ranking-factors-2026-complete-guide

Google Maps is where local business is won or lost — and in 2026, the ranking algorithm is more complex than ever. Relevance, Distance, and Prominence each have critical sub-factors, and Gemini AI has added a new layer: data richness. This complete guide breaks down every Google Maps ranking facto...

05/25/2026

Freedom comes with sacrifice, and today we remember those who gave everything for our country. From our family to yours, we hope you have a meaningful Memorial Day as we honor the fallen heroes of our nation. 🇺🇸

05/25/2026

Google just changed search in a way we haven’t seen in over 25 years… and it’s a big deal for businesses.

Search is moving from typing a few keywords into a box… to having actual conversations with AI.

The new AI-powered Google Search can now:
• Answer detailed questions in plain language
• Understand photos, videos, and files
• Pull information from open Chrome tabs
• Give AI-generated summaries with follow-up questions
• Help users complete tasks instead of just showing links

In simple terms?
People may stop “searching” the way they always have.

Instead of typing:
“best roofing company Decatur AL”

Someone might ask:
“Who’s the best roofing company near me that has good reviews, answers quickly, and works with insurance claims?”

That changes digital marketing in a major way.

Businesses with strong local SEO, updated Google profiles, helpful content, real reviews, and active online presence are likely going to benefit the most.

This is another reminder that your online presence matters more than ever. AI is starting to decide what information people see first.

If your business hasn’t focused on Google, reviews, local SEO, or consistent content yet… now is probably the time.

The rollout begins May 26, and it’ll be interesting to watch how quickly people adapt.

What do you think — helpful upgrade or the beginning of information overload?

05/24/2026

The most effective review ask we've found? Dead simple:

"Hey [Name], I'm so glad we could help with [specific thing]. If you have a minute, an honest Google review would mean the world to us — it helps other [homeowners/business owners/families] find us when they need help too."

That's it.

No long email. No QR code buried in a newsletter. Just a personal, specific ask at the right moment.

The key is timing: ask within 24 hours of a completed job, while the experience is still fresh. Response rates drop dramatically after 48 hours.

Also: always respond to reviews you receive — good and bad. It shows Google (and future customers) that you're attentive and professional.

Want the full system for generating consistent 5-star reviews?

Read the guide 👇
https://www.doitwithyoumarketing.com/post/google-reviews-the-new-word-of-mouth-and-how-to-get-5-stars

Google reviews are digital word-of-mouth — with one advantage the traditional kind doesn't have: scale. A 5-star review, visible forever, reaches every customer who ever searches for your business. In 2026, reviews are a top-3 local ranking factor, and a business with 200 reviews at 4.6 stars will...

05/22/2026

Traditional Google search is declining. Analysts project search volume drops 25% by 2026 as AI tools take over.

But here's what that actually means for local businesses:

When someone asks Google "who should I hire for X in [city]?" — they're not getting 10 blue links anymore. They're getting an AI answer. And that answer comes from Google Maps data.

The businesses showing up in those AI answers right now share a few things:

✔️ Complete, detailed profiles
✔️ Consistent NAP (name, address, phone) across the web
✔️ Regular review activity with owner responses
✔️ Posts and updates within the last 30 days

The shift is happening. The question is whether your profile is ready.

Read the full Google Maps ranking guide 👇
https://www.doitwithyoumarketing.com/post/google-maps-ranking-factors-2026-complete-guide

Google Maps is where local business is won or lost — and in 2026, the ranking algorithm is more complex than ever. Relevance, Distance, and Prominence each have critical sub-factors, and Gemini AI has added a new layer: data richness. This complete guide breaks down every Google Maps ranking facto...

05/20/2026

Gemini AI gives every business an informal "confidence score" — and most businesses don't know they're failing it.

Here's what that means:

When someone searches "best [service] near [city]," Gemini doesn't just look at your star rating. It reads your entire Google Business Profile and asks: "How confident am I that this business will meet this person's needs?"

High confidence = you show up in AI-generated recommendations.
Low confidence = you're invisible, no matter how many reviews you have.

The businesses winning this right now have profiles that read like a knowledgeable answer to a question, not just a listing.

Want to know exactly what to write?

Read the full breakdown 👇
https://www.doitwithyoumarketing.com/post/how-google-s-gemini-ai-reads-and-ranks-your-business-profile

In 2026, your Google Business Profile isn't just a listing — it's a document Google's Gemini AI reads, analyzes, and uses to power local recommendations. Gemini reads 6 data layers: structured profile data, your service descriptions, your full review corpus, your photos, your Q&A, and your recent ...

05/17/2026

Here's the Google review flywheel most businesses never build — and it's costing them customers every week.

It works like this:
1️⃣ You provide a great experience
2️⃣ You ask for a review (at the right moment)
3️⃣ You respond to every review — good and bad
4️⃣ Your rating climbs
5️⃣ More people find you, choose you, and leave reviews

Most businesses stop at step 2. Or skip step 3 entirely.

Responding to reviews isn't just good manners — Google treats it as a trust signal. It shows you're active, engaged, and worth recommending.

Want the full breakdown on building your review system?

Read the guide 👇
https://www.doitwithyoumarketing.com/post/google-reviews-the-new-word-of-mouth-and-how-to-get-5-stars

Google reviews are digital word-of-mouth — with one advantage the traditional kind doesn't have: scale. A 5-star review, visible forever, reaches every customer who ever searches for your business. In 2026, reviews are a top-3 local ranking factor, and a business with 200 reviews at 4.6 stars will...