Search “best physiotherapist in Jodhpur” on Google today and you might get a map pack, a list of ten blue links, or an AI-generated paragraph that names three businesses and explains why each one fits. Ask the same question to ChatGPT or Gemini and you get a paragraph, not a list. For local businesses across India, the shift from map-pack discovery to AI-recommended answers is already happening, and it changes what you need to do to be found.
The core insight is simple: businesses that get named in AI answers have done their local SEO basics thoroughly, and then made themselves quotable. Here is what that means in practice.
How ‘Best X in [City]’ Queries Are Changing
Local search used to be a map pack plus organic results. Now it is also an AI-generated summary that names specific businesses, cites sources, and sometimes answers the question without sending the user to any website at all. According to research from zeevron.com published in October 2026, queries like “best physiotherapist in Jodhpur” are now being asked in chat interfaces as often as they are typed into Maps.
This does not mean Maps and organic results are dead. It means there is a new layer on top, and the businesses that appear in that layer get a visibility advantage that did not exist two years ago.
What Google Says About Local Ranking
Google has been consistent about the three factors that drive local ranking: relevance (how well your Business Profile matches the search), distance (how far you are from the searcher), and prominence (how well-known your business is, including reviews and ratings). Google is explicit that there is no way to request or pay for a better local ranking.
AI answers add a layer on top of these factors. When an AI assistant decides which businesses to name, it draws from the same signals but also looks at how quotable your information is. A business with a generic one-line description is harder for an AI to cite than one with specific, useful detail.
The Local Foundation: Still Non-Negotiable
Before you think about AI optimization, the basics have to be solid. Here is the checklist we use with every local client:
- Verify your Google Business Profile and complete every field: categories, services, hours including holidays, area served, and photos.
- Ask every happy customer for a review, and reply to all of them, especially the negative ones.
- Keep your name, address, and phone number identical on your site, Business Profile, JustDial-style directories, and social pages.
- Post updates and photos regularly. An active profile signals an active business.
If any of these are incomplete, fix them first. No amount of AI optimization will help if your Business Profile is half-filled and your reviews go unanswered.
Making Your Business Quotable for AI
This is where most local businesses stop. They do the basics and wait. The businesses that get named in AI answers go further: they make themselves quotable. Here is what that looks like:
- One page per service per city. Not the same page with the city name swapped. Real detail: which neighbourhoods you serve, what it costs, how long it takes, who does it. A page that says “We offer dental implants in Mohali” tells an AI very little. A page that explains the implant process, typical costs in Mohali, recovery time, and insurance options gives an AI something specific to cite.
- Answer local questions directly. “Do you accept insurance?”, “Is parking available?”, “Do you see walk-ins?” These are the questions people ask assistants, and the answers should be on your pages in plain language.
- LocalBusiness structured data. Add schema markup with your address, hours, and geo coordinates, matching your Business Profile exactly. This helps search engines and AI systems understand your business consistently.
- Earn local mentions. City news sites, association directories, local “best of” lists, and community pages. These mentions signal to AI systems that your business is known and trusted in your area.
Check What AI Assistants Actually Say About You
Here is a simple monthly habit that takes 15 minutes and tells you more than most paid tools: open ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity in fresh sessions. Ask “best [your service] in [your city]” and “[your service] near [your neighbourhood]”. Note which businesses get named and which sources are cited. If a competitor is being mentioned and you are not, find out where that AI is getting its information and get yourself onto those sources.
For businesses serving Indian-language customers, this matters even more. If your customers search in Hindi or another regional language, add that language to your Business Profile description and your site. A significant share of local queries in India happen in languages other than English, and AI assistants are increasingly answering in those languages too.
Why This Matters for Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula Businesses
The tricity area has a dense concentration of small businesses competing for the same local searches. Whether someone searches “best CA in Chandigarh” or “AC repair in Mohali”, the businesses that get named in AI answers will capture attention that used to go to whoever ranked first in the map pack. The advantage compounds: being cited by AI builds familiarity, which leads to more searches for your business by name, which further strengthens your visibility.
If you want a structured approach to getting your business recommended by AI search, our AEO and GEO services are designed for this. We also offer broader SEO services and related services for local businesses looking to improve their overall search presence. Ready to talk? Book a meeting with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my business recommended by AI for ‘best X in my city’?
Complete and verify your Google Business Profile, collect and reply to reviews, keep your details consistent everywhere, publish specific service-and-city pages with real detail, and earn local mentions from directories and community sites. Then check what AI assistants actually say about your category and city each month.
What decides Google local ranking?
Google says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance, and prominence. More reviews and positive ratings can improve prominence. There is no way to pay Google for a better local ranking.
Is the map pack still important for local SEO?
Yes. The map pack, now called the Local Pack, still draws a large share of clicks for transactional local searches. AI Overviews add another layer but do not replace it. You need to perform well in both.
Do I need content in Indian languages for AI search?
If your customers search in Hindi or another regional language, yes. Add that language to your Business Profile description and your website. AI assistants are increasingly answering local queries in Indian languages, and businesses with content in those languages are more likely to be cited.
How is AI search different from regular SEO for local businesses?
The fundamentals are the same: a complete Business Profile, reviews, consistent citations, and useful content. AI search adds the need to be quotable. Your pages should answer specific questions in plain language so an AI summarizer can extract and cite your information.