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7 Online Visibility Trends Every Small Business Should Know in 2026

7 Online Visibility Trends Every Small Business Should Know in 2026

If keeping up with marketing trends feels like adding yet another thing to your long to-do list, you’re not alone. Most small business owners wear a lot of hats, and staying visible online can be hard, especially as things keep changing.

But here’s the good news. You don’t need to chase every shiny new platform or become an AI expert to show up for the people looking for what you do. You just need to understand a few key shifts happening now. I’ll share 7 simple, practical actions that even the busiest business owner can integrate into their marketing.

Let’s take a quick look at what’s changing and why it matters.

1. AI Is Changing How People Search

You might have seen that Google now puts AI-generated answers at the top of search results, or that voice assistants like Siri give you direct answers. This is part of a bigger trend called Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and it’s starting to change how people find local businesses.

4 Lessons From a “Simple” Project That Prove Content Strategy Matters

Side-by-side graphic showing messy client feedback on the left and a clean content strategy checklist on the right, highlighting audience, key messages, goals, voice, call to action, and visuals.

Sometimes a “simple” project turns out to be anything but. These four lessons reveal why content strategy is still your most valuable marketing tool.

The Vibe Was Off. So Was the Strategy.

You’ve probably heard it before: “It’s just a simple landing page.” Or maybe, “Can’t AI do this now?”

But behind that “simple” request is often a mix of unclear messaging, scattered ideas, and last-minute demands. I came across a Reddit post that captured this perfectly. A freelancer was hired for what sounded like a quick website task, only to end up decoding vague whispered voice notes, calming chaotic energy, and rewriting a document that read like a mix of horoscope predictions and WhatsApp rants.

It’s funny until it happens to you or your business. You might be thinking that this seems like a freelancer problem, but it’s really a strategy problem.

Let’s look at what we can learn from this and why even small business owners who handle their own marketing benefit from having a clear content strategy.

3 Quick Fixes to Help Your Local Business Show Up on Google | CGL Marketing

3 Quick Fixes to Help Your Local Business Show Up on Google

Your customers are searching, here’s how to make sure they actually find you.

If you’ve ever wondered why your business isn’t showing up when someone searches “services near me,” you’re not alone. One of the most common frustrations I hear from small, service-based business owners is:

“We’re doing great work, but we’re invisible online.”

The good news? You don’t need a big budget or a background in tech to start showing up more consistently, just a few focused steps to help Google connect your business with the people already searching for what you offer.

Here are three practical fixes you can make today to improve your visibility in local search results.

Small Business Marketing Checklist: Make the Most of the Content You Already Have

Woman holding a smartphone with the screen labeled ‘Original Video,’ with arrows leading to Facebook and Instagram icons to illustrate content repurposing. The blog title appears on the image.

Small Business Marketing Checklist: Make the Most of the Content You Already Have

If you’ve ever thought, “I should be doing more with my marketing, but I have no idea where to start,” you’re not alone. Perhaps you filmed a video for your website or recorded a reel for Instagram, but never considered its potential beyond that initial use. What if you could plan for repurposing before you hit record, or go back and pull fresh value from content you already have?

The good news? You don’t need more content; you just need a better system to reuse what you already have.

Here’s a simple, non-techy checklist to help you turn one piece of content, especially video, into consistent, confidence-building marketing across multiple channels.

SEO vs. AEO: What Small Businesses Need to Know to Get Found Online

Split image of SEO vs AEO. What small businesses need to know.

SEO vs. AEO: What Small Businesses Need to Know to Get Found Online

If you’re a small business owner trying to get found online, you’ve probably heard the phrase “use the right keywords.” Sounds simple, right? But in reality, showing up in search results takes more than dropping a few phrases into your website. Between SEO, AEO, and ever-changing algorithms, it can feel like you’re shouting into the void while bigger brands dominate the spotlight.

The good news? You don’t need a massive budget or a team of tech wizards to improve your visibility. You just need to understand how the search game works today—and how you can play it smart.