How to Stay Top of Google as Search Changes

The New Way Google Works (And Why It Matters to Your Wallet)

If you’ve searched for anything on Google lately, you’ve probably noticed something different. Instead of just a list of websites, Google is now often showing a big, coloured box at the top of the page that answers your question directly.

This is what the industry calls "AI Overviews." For you, the business owner, it’s basically a digital concierge that tries to give the customer an answer without them ever having to click on a website.

I’ve spoken to plenty of business owners from Chermside to Logan who are worried about this. They ask: "If Google is giving the answer away, will anyone ever visit my site again?"

Here’s the blunt truth: If your website just provides basic facts that a robot can summarise, you’re going to lose visitors. But, if you position your business as the local expert that people actually want to talk to, this change is a massive opportunity to leapfrog your competitors.

In this guide, I’m going to break down how to make sure your business stays front and centre so the phone keeps ringing.

What is this "AI Search" anyway?

Think of the old Google like a library index. You typed in "best plumber in Brisbane," and it gave you a list of books (websites) to go look at.

The new Google is more like a helpful (but sometimes slightly wrong) assistant. It reads all those websites for the user and says, "Here is the summary of what you need to know."

For a customer, this is great. It saves them time. For a business owner, it means the "prime real estate" on the screen has moved. If you aren't mentioned in that AI summary, you’re basically invisible on a mobile phone screen because that box takes up the whole view.

To stay relevant, you need to understand modern search basics to ensure Google even knows your business exists in the first place.

Will this make me money or cost me money?

It depends on how you react.

If you ignore it, it will cost you. I’ve seen some Brisbane businesses see their website visitors drop because they were relying on "information" searches—things like "how to fix a leaky tap." If Google answers that in the AI box, the user doesn't click your link.

However, if you are a service-based business—an electrician, a lawyer, a dentist, or a landscaper—people still need to hire a human. Google’s AI can explain how to fix a tap, but it can't actually get under the sink and fix it.

Your goal is to make sure Google’s AI points to YOU as the person to do the work. When you do this right, the leads you get are actually better because the customer has already been "educated" by the AI and is ready to book.

5 Practical Steps to Win in the Age of AI

Most of what you read online about this is rubbish written by tech geeks. Here is what actually works for a real business in the real world.

1. Be the Local Authority

If you’re a builder in Coorparoo, don't just have a website that says "We build decks." You need content that explains the specific challenges of building decks in South East Queensland—the humidity, the soil types, the council permits required in Brisbane.

When you provide specific, local advice, Google sees you as a reliable source. It’s far more likely to include your business in its summary if you have up-to-date information that proves you are active and knowledgeable.

2. Answer the Questions Your Customers Actually Ask

Write these questions down and put the answers on your website. Use plain English. Don't try to sound like a textbook. Talk like you’re talking to a mate over a coffee at your local cafe.

Google’s AI looks for these "Question and Answer" patterns. If you have the best answer to a specific local question, you’ll get the shout-out in the AI box.

3. Make Your Website Fast and Easy on Phones

If Google’s AI recommends you, but your website takes ten seconds to load on a phone, that customer is gone. They will click the back button faster than you can blink.

Google values "user experience." In plain English: your site needs to load fast, the buttons need to be big enough to hit with a thumb, and your phone number should be right at the top.

4. Reviews are Your Secret Weapon

I’ve seen dozens of businesses move into the top spots simply because they had a better reputation than their competitors. Don't be shy—ask your happy customers for a Google review. It’s free and it’s one of the most powerful things you can do for your business right now.

5. Use Clear, Real Photos

Take photos of your actual team, your actual van, and your actual work in Brisbane suburbs. This builds trust with the customer and shows Google that you are a real, physical business operating in the area.

What’s a Waste of Money?

Don't let some "marketing guru" sell you on expensive software that claims to "optimise for AI." Most of it is a scam.

You also don't need to rewrite your whole website every month. Focus on quality over quantity. One really good article about "How to choose a renovation builder in Brisbane" is worth 50 cheap, AI-generated blog posts that don't say anything useful.

If you find your enquiries have dropped recently, it might not be the AI—it might be that your competitors are just doing the basics better than you are.

How Long Until You See Results?

This isn't an overnight fix. Google takes time to "crawl" your site and understand the changes you've made.

Usually, if you start improving your content and getting better reviews today, you’ll start seeing a difference in your phone call volume in about 3 to 6 months. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but the businesses that start now are the ones who will own the Brisbane market in a year's time.

Summary: Your To-Do List

If you’re busy (and I know you are), just do these three things this week: 1. Check your Google Business Profile: Make sure your hours are right and your service area is correct. 2. Get two new reviews: Call a couple of happy clients from last week and ask for a quick favour. 3. Add one "FAQ" to your site: Take the most common question you get asked and write a 300-word answer to it on your website.

Need a Hand Getting it Done?

Look, I get it. You’re a plumber, a lawyer, or a shop owner. You didn't start your business to spend your weekends worrying about what Google is doing.

At Local Marketing Group, we help Brisbane businesses handle all of this. We don't use fancy jargon or try to confuse you with data. We focus on one thing: making sure your phone rings with customers who want to spend money with you.

If you want to make sure your business isn't left behind as Google changes, let’s have a chat. We’ll look at your site and tell you exactly what’s working and what’s a waste of time.

Ready to grow? Contact us at Local Marketing Group and let's get to work.