415: How AI Search Is Changing Local Business, with TJ Todd Artwork

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Welcome to The Best of LKN podcast! Here you’ll find a collection of interviews with the owners of Lake Norman’s favorite businesses. Small business is the heart and soul of a community, and The Best of LKN is here to shine a spotlight on the small businesses that are making the biggest impact here in the Lake Norman region of North Carolina.In addition to featuring exceptional small business owners, we’ll also be interviewing the most influential professionals that serve the LKN community. From bankers and realtors, to teachers and coaches, we look forward to introducing you to the best Lake Norman has to offer!We hope you enjoy these episodes. Thank you for following The Best of LKN!

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The Best of LKN

415: How AI Search Is Changing Local Business, with TJ Todd

August 05, 2026 • Epic Journey Media

0:00 | 41:49

For twenty-five years, getting found online meant chasing blue links on Google. That era is ending fast - and TJ Todd of Studio 490 is back on the show to explain what's replacing it. Jeff opens with a telling stat from his own experience: at a broker luncheon, five or six hands went up when he asked who'd gotten a lead from AI search in 2025. Zero went up for 2024.

TJ breaks down what actually earns you a citation in an AI answer, from answer engine optimization and directory consistency to why Reddit threads and Google reviews now carry real weight. He also makes the case for where to start if you're behind - your own website first, then local SEO and social - and offers a line worth sitting with: hesitation is costing you more than you think.

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