How Brick And Mortar Businesses Should Be Using AI For Growth

In this episode of The NET Digital Show, host Nicole Thompson breaks down how AI is reshaping the business landscape—especially for brick-and-mortar businesses. From automation and content creation to AI search engines and emerging ad platforms, Nicole shares practical strategies to help businesses stay competitive, visible, and profitable in an AI-driven world. 🔑 Key Takeaways 1. AI Won't Replace Humans—But It Will Change How We Work AI is a powerful tool, not a full replacement for human connection Emotional connection (ROE: Return on Emotion) remains a key differentiator for brands Businesses that combine AI efficiency with human authenticity will win 2. Use AI to Streamline Operations AI can function as a powerful assistant to: Plan, create, and schedule social media content Automate emails, cold outreach, and meeting coordination Handle administrative tasks and improve efficiency Even create AI avatars or clones for content production Bottom line: AI can save time, reduce costs, and scale your marketing efforts. 3. GEO is the New SEO SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Optimizing your website for traditional search engines like Google GEO (Generative Engine Optimization): Optimizing your business to appear in AI-generated search results AI search engines now: Summarize information instead of listing links Pull from multiple sources to create a "top recommendations" overview Provide personalized, conversational search results Why it matters: Your business must show up not just in Google search—but in AI-generated answers from platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and others. 4. AI Search is Changing Customer Behavior Users are asking more detailed, conversational questions AI delivers curated, summarized recommendations instantly Visibility now depends on being included in AI-generated responses Example: Instead of searching "sushi restaurants in Los Angeles," users might ask for a highly specific dining experience—AI then filters and recommends accordingly. 5. Advertising is Moving Into AI Platforms Google Ads are increasingly AI-powered YouTube (owned by Google) is following the same trend AI platforms like ChatGPT are beginning to test ads Key Insight: Paid placements may influence AI-generated recommendations Businesses that invest early in AI advertising will gain a competitive edge "If you're not first, you're last" in AI-driven search visibility 🚀 Action Steps for Brick-and-Mortar Businesses Leverage AI Internally Automate marketing, admin tasks, and content creation Optimize for GEO (AI Search) Ensure your business appears in AI-generated results Continue investing in traditional SEO as well Adopt AI-Powered Advertising Stay ahead of trends in Google Ads and emerging AI ad platforms Position your business to appear at the top of recommendations AI is not something to fear—it's something to leverage. Businesses that adapt, stay flexible, and embrace new technology will continue to thrive. Those that resist change risk being left behind. Interested in growing your business with AI, SEO, and GEO strategies? 👉 Free consultations are available: www.netdigitalco.com Email us: [email protected]