SEO On-Air

How AI Is Changing Local SEO In 2026

Is AI rewriting the rules of Local SEO or reinforcing the fundamentals?

In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe sits down with Jim Liberi (AdLeverage), Dominick Trippie (B2 Ads), and Gage Mooney (Non-Stuffy Attorneys) to discuss how AI is transforming Local SEO and what businesses need to do to stay competitive in 2026.

The conversation explores why consistency remains the foundation of successful Local SEO, even as Google AI Overviews and AI-powered search continue to evolve. From Google Business Profile optimization and localized content strategies to reviews, topical authority, and service pages, the panel shares practical strategies that help local businesses build lasting visibility.

They also discuss why AI should enhance not replace human expertise, how businesses can create authentic local content, why Google Business Profile activity still matters, and how agencies can simplify SEO for business owners while delivering measurable results.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• How AI is changing Local SEO in 2026
• Why consistency is still the biggest Local SEO ranking factor
• The role of Google Business Profile in AI-powered search
• Why reviews and customer engagement improve local visibility
• How localized service pages build topical authority
• Why AI-generated content needs a human touch
• How to avoid common Local SEO mistakes
• Why content remains the foundation of local rankings
• What businesses should look for when hiring an SEO agency
• Practical strategies to improve Local SEO in the AI era

Whether you're a local business owner, SEO professional, marketer, or agency leader, this episode provides actionable insights into building stronger local visibility, attracting more qualified customers, and adapting your Local SEO strategy for the future of AI-powered search.

🎧 Tune in to discover why the fundamentals of Local SEO still matter, how AI is reshaping local search, and what your business can do today to stay ahead of the competition.

How AI Decides Which Brands To Cite

Why do AI search engines recommend some brands while completely ignoring others?

In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe sits down with Olivia Mungal (Lead to Conversion), Lisa Wendland (Blue Wheel Media), and Belinda DiGiambattista (Good2bSocial) to explore how AI-powered search is changing brand visibility and what it takes to become a trusted source that AI platforms choose to cite.

The conversation dives into how ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and other large language models evaluate authority, expertise, and trust when generating answers. From person schema and authoritative content to AI visibility, brand reputation, and the growing importance of authentic expertise, the panel explains why businesses must focus on quality over quantity to stand out in an AI-first search landscape.

They also discuss the risks of over-automating content creation, why generic AI-generated content struggles to earn visibility, how agencies should balance AI with human expertise, and what brands can do today to improve their chances of being cited by AI search engines.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• How AI decides which brands to cite in search results
• Why authority, expertise, and trust matter more than ever
• The role of person schema and structured data in AI visibility
• Why authentic, expert-written content outperforms AI-generated content
• How AI search is changing SEO and content strategy
• Why brand reputation influences AI recommendations
• The dangers of relying entirely on AI-generated content
• How agencies are balancing automation with human expertise
• Why creativity and original thinking are becoming competitive advantages
• What businesses should do today to improve AI search visibility

Whether you're an SEO professional, agency owner, marketer, or business leader, this episode offers practical insights into building a brand that AI platforms recognize, trust, and recommend.

🎧 Tune in to discover how AI evaluates authority, why trust has become the new ranking factor, and what your business can do to earn citations across the next generation of search.

Where Is SEO Power Going In 2026?

Is SEO losing its power, or is it simply evolving?

In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe sits down with David Caha (Lutyca), Tina Winslow (Art of Strategy Consulting), and Ridge Anderson (Salt Marketing Cooperative) to discuss one of the biggest questions facing marketers today: where is SEO headed as AI continues to reshape search?

The conversation explores how AI-powered search, Google AI Overviews, and large language models are shifting the balance from traditional rankings to brand authority, expertise, trust, and content that genuinely helps users. David, Tina, and Ridge share their perspectives on why branding, content marketing, analytics, and human creativity are becoming more valuable than ever, and how agencies can adapt to succeed in the next era of search.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Where SEO power is shifting in 2026
• Why brand authority matters more than backlinks
• How AI is changing content marketing and search behavior
• The growing importance of expertise and topical authority
• Why generic SEO content is losing effectiveness
• How agencies should balance traditional SEO and AI optimization
• The role of analytics and first-party data in modern marketing
• Why authenticity is becoming a competitive advantage
• How businesses should prioritize marketing with limited budgets
• What successful agencies are doing to prepare for the future of AI search

Whether you're an SEO professional, agency owner, marketer, or business leader, this episode offers practical insights into the future of search and the strategies that will help brands remain visible, trusted, and competitive.

🎧 Tune in to discover where SEO power is really going in 2026 and how your business can stay ahead as AI transforms the way people search, discover, and trust brands.

How To Automate Link Building Prospecting In 2026

Can AI automate link building without sacrificing quality?

In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe sits down with Maria Harutyunyan (Loopex Digital) and Vahan Poghosyan (Loopex Digital) to discuss how AI and automation are transforming SEO agencies, from link building prospecting and content creation to technical SEO and client onboarding.

The conversation explores how agencies can automate repetitive SEO tasks while keeping strategy, creativity, and brand expertise in human hands. Maria and Vahan share how their agency has built AI-powered workflows to streamline backlink prospecting, improve content quality through branded knowledge bases, and scale operations without compromising results.

They also discuss why backlinks remain a critical ranking factor, how AI should support rather than replace SEO professionals, and why agencies that embrace automation today will be better positioned for the future of AI-powered search.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• How to automate link building prospecting with AI
• Why backlink quality still matters in 2026
• How custom AI workflows improve SEO efficiency
• The role of branded knowledge bases in AI content creation
• Why human strategy is still essential for SEO success
• How agencies are using AI to reduce repetitive work
• Why automation helps teams focus on creativity and growth
• How AI is changing technical SEO and content production
• The future of SEO agency operations in an AI-first world
• What agencies should automate today to stay competitive tomorrow

Whether you're an SEO professional, agency owner, marketer, or business leader, this episode offers practical insights into using AI to build smarter workflows, scale SEO operations, and create better outcomes for clients.

🎧 Tune in to learn how leading agencies are automating link building prospecting, enhancing productivity with AI, and preparing for the next generation of SEO.

How FAQ Schema Helps You Rank In AI

What role does FAQ Schema really play in AI search?

As Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other AI-powered search experiences reshape how people find information, structured content has become more important than ever.

In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe sits down with Andy Halko (Insivia), James Kaatz (Illumination Marketing), Wesley Gehman (Wes Web), and Randy Rohde (38 Digital Market) to discuss how FAQ Schema, conversational content, brand authority, and structured data help businesses earn visibility in AI-powered search.

The conversation explores why traditional SEO principles still matter, how FAQ Schema improves AI visibility, why AI search engines reward direct answers, and how brands can optimize for Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and other LLM-powered platforms. The panel also shares insights on trust, authority, GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), content depth, reviews, Reddit, video, and the future of AI search.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Why FAQ Schema helps AI understand your content
• How AI Overviews choose which websites to cite
• Why conversational content performs better in AI search
• The role of structured data in SEO and GEO
• Why brand authority matters more than rankings
• How AI is changing the customer buying journey
• The importance of reviews, PR, and third-party trust signals
• Why businesses should optimize beyond Google Search
• How video and authentic content influence AI visibility
• What the future of SEO looks like in an AI-first world

Whether you're an SEO professional, agency owner, marketer, or business leader, this episode provides actionable insights into building content that AI search engines understand, trust, and recommend.

🎧 Tune in to discover why FAQ Schema isn't just a technical SEO feature anymore. It's becoming one of the most effective ways to improve AI search visibility and future-proof your SEO strategy.

Why Most Local Business Websites Still Fail at SEO

Most local business websites look good on the surface.
But behind the scenes, they’re still missing the SEO fundamentals that actually drive visibility, trust, and conversions.

In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe is joined by Adam Allen (LeaseMyMarketing), Zac Jackson (RankRealm), and Morgan Barnhardt (Red Egg Marketing) for a live SEO website review and breakdown of why many local businesses continue to struggle with rankings despite investing in SEO.

Using a real physical therapy website as the case study, the panel explores how technical SEO, local optimization, content structure, reviews, schema markup, user experience, and AI search visibility all play a role in whether a local business succeeds online.

The discussion dives into the hidden gaps many agencies overlook including poor internal linking, weak location targeting, missing structured data, under-optimized Google Business Profiles, lack of EEAT signals, and generic AI-driven content that fails to build trust.

They also unpack how local SEO is evolving in the AI era and why businesses now need more than just traffic. They need credibility, proof, and conversion-focused SEO strategies.

🎯 What you’ll learn:

• Why many local business websites still struggle to rank
• The role of technical SEO in local search visibility
• How schema markup impacts Google and AI search results
• Why internal linking and content structure matter
• The importance of Google Business Profile optimization
• How reviews influence trust, rankings, and conversions
• Why AI-generated content alone is no longer enough
• How EEAT impacts healthcare and local SEO websites
• The value of proof-based content and real customer signals
• Why localized SEO strategy matters more than generic traffic
• Common mistakes agencies make with local SEO campaigns
• What businesses should expect from an SEO agency today

This episode is essential for local business owners, SEO professionals, agencies, and marketers trying to understand why some websites continue to struggle despite ongoing SEO efforts.

Because modern local SEO is no longer just about ranking.
It’s about building trust, relevance, and real visibility where customers actually search.

What does it really take to rank a local business in today's search landscape?

In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe sits down with Eddie Yi (Dytons Group) and Dan Barnes (KD Interactive) to discuss the foundations of local SEO and how businesses can build visibility from the ground up in an era increasingly influenced by AI search, Google Business Profiles, reviews, and entity authority.

The conversation explores the essential steps every local business should take before investing heavily in marketing, from optimizing Google Business Profiles and building review strategies to leveraging Yelp, Facebook, Reddit, and other platforms that help establish trust and credibility online.

Eddie and Dan share practical insights on review generation, local authority building, customer trust signals, content optimization, GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), and how AI is changing the way consumers discover local businesses. They also discuss why solving customer problems, creating authentic content, and building a strong digital presence across multiple platforms are becoming more important than traditional rankings alone.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• The first steps to ranking a local business from scratch
• Why Google Business Profile is critical for local visibility
• How reviews influence local SEO and AI search results
• The role of Yelp, Facebook, and Reddit in local authority building
• How to generate more customer reviews effectively
• Why trust and social proof matter more than ever
• The impact of AI on local SEO strategies
• How GEO is changing local search optimization
• Why businesses should focus on solving customer problems
• What local SEO success looks like in 2026

Whether you're a local business owner, marketer, agency professional, or entrepreneur launching a new business, this episode provides actionable strategies for building visibility, authority, and trust in both traditional search engines and AI-powered search experiences.

🎧 Tune in to learn how successful local businesses are adapting to the future of search and building a foundation that drives long-term growth.

Why YouTube Backlinks Beat Websites For AI Search

As AI search continues to evolve, traditional SEO signals are no longer the only factors influencing visibility. Platforms like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Claude, and Perplexity are changing how information is discovered, cited, and recommended.

In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe sits down with Jon Cheney (Gen AIPI) and Marc Reifenrath (Spinutech) to discuss why YouTube, social media, personal branding, and content distribution are becoming increasingly important for AI search visibility.

The conversation explores how AI search engines evaluate authority, why YouTube backlinks often outperform traditional website links, and how businesses can build trust across multiple platforms to improve both SEO and AI-driven discoverability.

Jon and Marc share insights on Search Everywhere Optimization, content repurposing, LinkedIn thought leadership, GEO, AI-powered content workflows, authenticity in content creation, and why brands need to think beyond websites if they want to stay visible in the future of search.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Why YouTube backlinks are becoming powerful AI search signals
• How ChatGPT and AI search engines evaluate authority
• The rise of Search Everywhere Optimization
• Why social media impacts SEO more than ever
• How LinkedIn helps build AI search visibility
• The importance of authenticity in content marketing
• Why AI-generated content alone isn't enough
• How content repurposing increases reach and authority
• The future of SEO, GEO, and AI search optimization
• What businesses can do today to improve AI visibility

Whether you're an SEO professional, marketer, agency owner, content creator, or business leader, this episode provides valuable insights into how search is evolving beyond websites and what it takes to build authority in the AI era.

🎧 Tune in to learn why YouTube, social media, and authentic content may be the biggest drivers of AI search visibility in the years ahead.

The New SEO KPIs Every Agency Should Track

SEO is changing fast, and many of the metrics agencies have relied on for years are no longer telling the full story.

In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe sits down with Ryan Hill (Glacial Multimedia) and Jordan Koene (PreVisible) to discuss how agencies should measure success in a world shaped by AI search, Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, changing user behavior, and evolving search journeys.

The conversation explores why rankings and organic traffic are becoming incomplete indicators of performance, how AI is reshaping visibility, and what agencies should be tracking instead. Ryan and Jordan share their perspectives on brand authority, engagement signals, conversions, AI citations, attribution challenges, and the growing importance of measuring business impact rather than vanity metrics.

They also discuss how agencies can better communicate value to clients, adapt reporting frameworks for AI search, and identify the KPIs that will matter most as SEO continues to evolve beyond traditional rankings.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• Why rankings alone no longer define SEO success
• The impact of AI search on reporting and attribution
• How to measure visibility beyond traditional SERPs
• Why brand authority is becoming a critical KPI
• The role of engagement and conversion metrics in SEO
• How AI citations may become a new performance indicator
• The challenges of tracking customer journeys across platforms
• Why agencies must rethink client reporting in 2026
• How AI Overviews are changing organic search performance
• The future of SEO measurement and business impact

Whether you're an agency owner, SEO professional, marketer, or business leader, this episode provides practical insights into the metrics that matter most in today's rapidly changing search landscape.

🎧 Tune in to discover the new SEO KPIs agencies should be tracking to demonstrate value, improve performance, and stay ahead as search evolves beyond rankings and clicks.

How Smart Agencies Are Adapting to ChatGPT and AI Search

As AI-powered search continues to evolve, agencies are facing a new challenge: how do you stay visible when users are getting answers directly from ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and other AI platforms?

In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe sits down with Brenton Thomas, Founder of Twibi Agency, and Kevin McGrew, Founder & CEO of Everzocial, to discuss how agencies are adapting their SEO strategies for the age of AI search.

The conversation explores the shift from traditional SEO to GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) and AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), the growing importance of schema markup, authority building, AI visibility, and why agencies must rethink how they create and structure content for both users and AI systems.

Brenton and Kevin also share their perspectives on AI-generated content, human expertise, content quality, AI visibility tools, and how businesses can improve their chances of being cited and recommended by AI-powered search engines.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

• How ChatGPT and AI search are changing SEO
• Why agencies are rethinking content strategies
• The role of schema markup and structured content
• How AI visibility differs from traditional rankings
• Why citations are becoming more important than clicks
• The impact of AI Overviews on website traffic
• How agencies are balancing AI and human expertise
• Tools and frameworks for AI search optimization
• Why authority and trust matter more than ever
• What the future of SEO looks like in an AI-first world

Whether you're an agency owner, SEO professional, marketer, or business leader, this episode provides valuable insights into navigating the future of search and staying competitive as AI continues to reshape digital marketing.

🎧 Tune in to learn how smart agencies are adapting to ChatGPT, AI search, and the next generation of online visibility.