Local SEO for small businesses is evolving faster than ever, driven by major AI upgrades in Google Search, Maps, and voice assistants. In the USA, consumer search behavior has shifted dramatically toward “near me” queries, mobile-first browsing, and AI-generated local answers. Google’s AI Overviews (AEO) and advanced geo-search algorithms now decide which small businesses appear in Maps, Local Pack, and zero-click results. For USA small businesses—plumbers, dental clinics, re