The way homeowners search for HVAC, plumbing, and home service companies is changing fast. And most contractors are completely unprepared for it.
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett sits down with Phil Risher from Phlash Consulting to discuss the massive shift from traditional Google SEO to AI-powered search and what it means for home service businesses.
Phil explains why AI search is changing how customers find contractors, why conversational search matters more than keywords, and how tools like ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews are disrupting traditional marketing strategies.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
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Why old-school SEO is no longer enough
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How AI search actually works
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Why Google is moving toward "agentic search" and booking
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How to optimize your website for AI visibility
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Why pricing pages and online scheduling matter more than ever
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How contractors should use call transcripts to create content
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Why AI-generated "slop content" can hurt your rankings
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How local backlinks and authority still matter
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What contractors should be doing right now to stay ahead
If you want your company to stay visible in the next generation of search, this episode is a must-listen.
Timestamps
00:00 Impact of AI on search queries
06:14 Shift in local search habits
09:00 Navigating AI for presentations
12:38 Debating the relevance of SEO
16:13 Using AI for customer insights
18:58 Importance of local backlinks
20:58 Building partner referral networks
24:15 Optimizing for AI search ranking
27:51 Importance of online recognition
32:29 Creating a searchable business database
33:34 Initial struggles with Notebook LM
39:10 Comparing Google and LLM relationships
42:35 Measuring AI visibility metrics
44:37 Navigating the AI search landscape
46:21 Dealing with AI memory glitches
Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Phil Risher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philrisher/
Connect with Us
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Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
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