// Workshop recap

AI and Local SEO: what changed, what works in 2026

Local search has entered a new era. In the session at the Madeira Business Workshop (22 May 2026, Tecnopolo, Funchal) I covered the shift from classic Google search to AI-mediated discovery - and the three practical actions any business can take this week.

What we covered

1. The map is changing

In Q1 2026, 26.3% of AI-model answers to local business queries pull data from niche directories, not from the business website itself (SOCi research). Google Maps citations and structured business data have become the primary inputs for ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity when they answer questions like "best accountant near Funchal" or "where to rent a kayak in Madeira."

2. AI search is winner-takes-most

When someone asks an AI about a local service, one or two businesses get cited. The rest are invisible. The primary signal that determines who gets cited: a verified, complete, correctly-categorised Google Business Profile linked to a website with schema markup.

3. What actually works in 2026

• Google Business Profile: primary category precision, consistent NAP, 10+ photos, recent reviews.
• Schema markup: LocalBusiness + FAQPage JSON-LD in the site head - the structured signal AI models read directly.
• Question-answer content: H2 as a question, direct answer in the next paragraph. AI cites this format.
• Directory citations: ACIF, Guia da Cidade, sector directories - cross-validates the GBP entity.
• Wikidata entry: single highest-leverage move for long-term AI-model citation.

3 things you can do this week

1. Audit your GBP - primary category, NAP consistency, photos, description. (15 min)
2. Add schema markup to your site - use the free generator below. (20 min)
3. Submit to 3 local directories - ACIF, Guia da Cidade, one sector directory. (15 min)

Access the full printable version and the interactive tools below.