Local Marketing Beat #23 | How To Be Ready for AI Search

In this episode of Local Marketing Beat, host Christian Hustle sits down with Partho Ghosh — VP of Product at Uberall — to explore how AI is transforming the way consumers search and how brands must adapt to stay relevant. With a focus on AI search readiness, Partho shares Uberall’s strategic approach to content, data accuracy, and reputation in the era of generative AI.

▶️ From compressed funnels and shifting trust signals to new priorities for SEO and local visibility, this episode offers a tactical look at what brands need to prioritize now.

Whether you're a location marketer, SEO lead, or digital brand strategist, you’ll walk away with practical steps for navigating AI discoverability, optimizing structured data, and preparing your tech stack for the future of local search.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why AI is compressing the consumer funnel and changing the path to purchase
• How AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini evaluate trust and relevance in brand data
• Why structured, accurate, and consistent local data is critical for discoverability
• How AI search is reshaping SEO best practices — and what still matters most
• Why platforms like Bing, Reddit, and Quora are gaining influence in AI rankings
• How Uberall’s Ubi AI assistant is helping brands scale local marketing efforts
• Why LPO (Location Performance Optimization) is essential in the age of AI
• Where brands should start when preparing for AI search — and what to prioritize now

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction & Partho’s Style Tip
Christian welcomes Partho Ghosh and kicks things off with a fun discussion about his signature anime shirts.

01:35 – AI’s Impact on Search and the Local Funnel
How AI is changing consumer discovery and compressing the path to purchase.

04:30 – What Matters Most to AI Search Engines
Partho explains what LLMs prioritize — from structured data to trust signals and freshness.

06:54 – Trusting AI: Risk vs. Reality
Why consumers blindly trust AI results and how brands can safeguard against hallucinations.

09:00 – New Channels You Shouldn’t Ignore
Reddit, Quora, Bing, and even Wikipedia — unexpected players shaping AI responses.

11:04 – LPO and Uberall’s Strategic Framework
An introduction to Location Performance Optimization and how it goes beyond SEO.

14:06 – What Ubi Is and Why It Matters
How Uberall’s AI assistant helps brands automate and scale location marketing.

17:33 – AI-Powered Content & Review Management
Using Ubi to create content calendars and respond to reviews at scale.

20:17 – Where Marketers Should Start with AI
Partho shares a 3-step plan to get your brand AI-ready, starting with data hygiene.

22:48 – Why Saying "Thank You" to AI Might Help
A fun insight into how treating AI like a conversation can unlock deeper, smarter responses.