The SEO Juice: Gemini, Map Takeover & Your First AI SEO Moves

Danielle Kudis

Summary

Grab your glass—it’s time for another pour of The SEO Juice! This month’s episode brought some seriously juicy insights: we unpacked real benchmark data from 2024, busted AI panic myths with practical first steps, and dropped a heads-up for franchise brands about a sneaky Google Business Profile issue that could mess with your visibility.

Whether you’re revamping your AI strategy or just trying to stay afloat in Google’s ever-shifting local search game, this one’s worth the squeeze. 🍊

Industry Updates and Fresh-Squeezed Insights

1. 2025’s Shift to Maps-First Behavior

Our team’s new benchmark data is in:
⬆️ Map impressions are up 22%
⬇️ Search impressions are down 10%

Yep, it’s official—Google Maps is quietly taking over. Between interface changes, fewer local packs, and new “Search on Maps” buttons, customers are bypassing the traditional SERP and going straight to maps-based discovery.

✅ What to Do: Treat Maps like your digital storefront. Keep your service areas, categories, and photos squeaky clean and regularly updated.

2. Google Posts Aren’t Dead (They’re Evolving)

Despite rumors, Google is not retiring Posts. They’re getting more visibility in knowledge panels, maps, and even alongside review snippets.

✅ What to Do: Keep posting. It’s free visibility, and it might just push you into the “Nearby Offers” carousel.

Active, linked social profiles on your GBP are officially a ranking signal. Posts from platforms like Instagram are now surfacing in mobile carousels, Finder search, and even “Nearby Offers.”

✅ What to Do: Link your verified social accounts and keep content fresh—Google appears to favor posts from the last 3–4 weeks.

4. GBP Verification Got Pickier (Especially for Franchise Brands)

✅ What to Do:

Make GBP ownership transfer part of your franchise agreements
Optimize before making category updates
Avoid pushing too many changes at once

5. Review Cleanup for Schools

Google is removing reviews for general education schools (K–12), including many private institutions. If your listing uses a general education category, your ratings could disappear.

✅ What to Do: Update your GBP category before April 30 if another fits. Once reviews are gone, they’re not coming back.

Maximize Your Local SEO Strategy

5 Tips for Getting Started with AI Search Optimization

Local AI search is here (hello, Gemini), but don’t panic. What works for SEO still works for AI. The key is clarity, structure, and showing up in the right places.

Here’s your AI-ready checklist:

Don’t Panic—Good SEO Still Works
If you’re investing in local pages, you’re ahead of the curve. Gemini visibility often correlates with local pack rankings. Keep going.
Google’s Still King (For Now)
87% of local market share still flows through Google. Even AI tools like ChatGPT often pull data (including reviews!) from Google sources.
Local Pages Are the New MVP
ChatGPT and other AI tools favor structured, content-rich local landing pages. Make sure yours answers customer questions and contains target keywords.
Technical SEO Still Matters
Schema markup, page titles, and header tags = AI gold. If Google and Gemini can’t parse your content, you’re not in the game.
Be Your Own Customer
Search like a customer. If you’re not showing up, look at who is—and why. What sites are being cited? What content stands out?

Pro Tip: Mention what you want to rank for. If you’re an eco-friendly car wash, say so—on your website, your GBP, and in your reviews. AI can’t read your mind, but it can read your markup.

Caught in the Wild: Fun New Features

Here’s what we spotted this month:

“Ask for Me” expands in Search Labs – Google’s AI phone assistant now covers more categories like pet grooming, phone repair, and car detailing. It calls businesses directly to get answers for users. (Yes, really.)
Review removals for K–12 schools – Google is scrubbing reviews from general education listings. If your primary GBP category says “school,” expect your ratings to vanish unless you update it.
Social media content is everywhere – Posts from Instagram and others are now showing up in Finder search results and mobile carousels. Bonus: verified GBP links increase this visibility.