It’s been a while since my last post. If you’ve been following my work, especially my research on Google AI Overviews and AI’s role in search, you’ve probably noticed I’ve been a bit quiet. That’s not because I’ve run out of things to say. Quite the opposite.
For the past few months, I’ve been hard at work building something I’ve had in mind for a couple of years…a mission to take everything I’ve learned from years of SEO consulting and AI research and put it to work for the businesses that need it most. Small local businesses have always been at the heart of my vision for what great marketing should do: connect real people with real solutions in their own communities.
That “something” is Streetlight Local.
Why I Started Streetlight Local
I’ve worked with global brands, niche SaaS platforms, and large eCommerce companies. But the idea that’s been quietly brewing for years has always been about small businesses. The plumber with one truck. The local bakery competing with national chains. The hardware store that’s been in the same family for decades but is nearly invisible online.
For years, I’ve been advocating for connected marketing strategies in the places I’ve worked, especially around content promotion and digital PR. I’ve seen how much more powerful results can be when SEO, content, and outreach work together instead of in separate silos. Unfortunately, most agencies still treat these disciplines as unrelated projects.
My research into Google AI Overviews and AI-assisted search taught me that visibility now depends on being found in dozens of places, not just one search engine. If this is true for global brands, it’s even more critical for the neighborhood businesses competing with them. Streetlight Local is how I’m making sure those businesses have the same opportunity to be found everywhere.
Small, local businesses give communities their character and they’re also the ones most at risk of being left behind as search changes.
Streetlight Local exists to change that.
A Different Approach to Local Visibility
Look, you know, and I know, search isn’t just “Google and done” anymore. People are finding businesses through AI-powered answers, social feeds, community forums, review platforms, and short-form video recommendations.
That shift has gone beyond us SEOs debating it on LinkedIn. It’s already affecting the way customers choose where to eat, who to hire, and what to buy.
The challenge for small businesses is that competing in all those places usually comes with a big-agency price tag. That is something most local owners simply can’t justify or afford. Marketing budgets are tight. Every dollar has to prove its worth. And too often, that means settling for piecemeal efforts: SEO over here, social media over there, maybe a few ads if there’s leftover budget. Nothing works together, and results fizzle out fast.
Streetlight Local was built to change that. We bring SEO, social, content, and PR into a single, affordable strategy for small businesses that works across platforms.
Why Now
Search is evolving faster than ever. AI-assisted search results, hybrid search engines, platform-driven recommendations, the ways people find businesses are more fragmented than I’ve ever seen. That’s a challenge, but also a massive opportunity for local businesses that get ahead of the curve.
Streetlight Local is my way of putting everything I know, from technical SEO to AI search visibility, into a focused, sustainable framework for local growth.
What Comes Next
This new chapter doesn’t mean I’m stepping away from writing, research, or analyzing how AI shapes search. In fact, you can expect more content than ever before. Streetlight Local is launching with a full editorial calendar, and over the coming months you’ll see:
- Google Business Profile (GBP) Guides – Everything from “What Is a GBP and Why It Matters in 2025” to advanced tips like writing descriptions that convert, crafting review responses that win trust, and understanding the ranking factors that actually move the needle.
- AI Visibility & Search-Everywhere Strategies – Practical ways to show up in AI-generated answers from Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity, plus my latest research on how “search everywhere” behavior is reshaping local marketing.
- Local SEO Best Practices – Step-by-step audits, citation strategies, and service-specific guides for industries like home services, multi-location businesses, and retail.
- Digital PR & Local Authority Building – How to pitch local media, earn “as seen in” trust signals, and leverage PR to build credibility and community awareness without a huge budget.
- Content Marketing for Local Brands – Blogging strategies, repurposing frameworks, and social content ideas that actually drive engagement.
- Social Media Strategy for Local Businesses – Post ideas, platform comparisons, calendar templates, and ways to integrate social with search for maximum impact.
Streetlight Local is more than a new business, it’s a platform for sharing strategies, tools, and proof that small businesses can compete everywhere their customers are searching. Whether you’re here for my AI research, my SEO insights, or to get practical ideas you can use tomorrow, there’s plenty coming your way.
If you’d like to learn more about what Streetlight Local offers, including our full range of services, case studies, and upcoming resources, visit streetlightlocal.com.
