Honestly 2026 is much different from before, a lot of things matter more now.
Getting listed properly on Google Business Profile and similar directories still matters a lot, that's often the first thing people check before anything else. Having real reviews helps more than people think, most customers check them before deciding.
Social proof matters more now too, not just posting content but showing real work, real results, even short videos work better than polished ads.
Also worth showing up where AI tools pull answers from now, not just Google search. That means having clear, well-written info on your own website about what you actually do, since AI-based search results pull from that more than flashy ads.
Biggest mistake I see is small businesses trying to be everywhere (every platform) instead of picking 2-3 places their actual customers are and doing those well.
What kind of business is this for, is it mostly local customers or more online-based?
