It’s 2026. Many customers find local businesses through TikTok, ChatGPT or map-search – so does your business really need a website anymore?

In this insightful episode of The Marketing Podcast for Local Businesses, hosts Adam (founder of Website Designers London) and Josh (founder of Improve My Search Ranking.com) explore the changing role of the website.

They break down the case for and against having one, explain how it’s evolved from centre-stage to credibility hub, and give you practical advice on how to make it work (or decide if you can lean more on socials and AI presence instead).

💥 Exclusive Listener Offer: Get 20% off Website Design or SEO services when you quote ‘PODCAST20’.

Adam (Web Design): hello@websitedesigners.london | www.websitedesigners.london
Josh (SEO): hello@improvemysearchranking.com | www.improvemysearchranking.com

Expanded Keywords for Search:
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Staring at your content calendar wondering what to post?
You’re not alone — and you’re probably wasting hours writing content that doesn’t move the needle in Google or AI search.

In this episode, Adam and Josh reveal the 15–20 essential content types that Google, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity are prioritising in 2026.

This is your SEO & AI Content Menu — the exact pages every local business needs to rank, build trust, and appear inside AI-generated recommendations.

You’ll discover:

🍽️ The Core Business Pages your site must have (service pages, locations, niche pages, refreshed foundational pages)
🏆 Authority Builders that AI loves — case studies, “Best Of” lists, “How To” guides, “Alternative To…” pages
🔐 Trust Builders that remove customer objections and boost conversions
♻️ Freshness & Brand Pages that tell Google your business is alive and active
❤️ Emotion & Story Content that AI uses to measure authenticity and reputation
🤖 Why diverse content massively increases your chances of being selected as the top AI answer

Whether you're a local service provider, e-commerce shop, tradesperson, clinic, or agency — this framework shows you exactly what to publish to dominate both Google and AI’s new search ecosystem.

By the end of the episode, you’ll walk away with a complete, structured content plan that doesn’t just rank — it sells.

______________

💥 Exclusive Listener Offer

Get 20% off Website Design or SEO services when you quote ‘PODCAST20’

Adam (Web Design)
📩 hello@websitedesigners.london
🌐 www.websitedesigners.london

Josh (SEO)
📩 hello@improvemysearchranking.com
🌐 www.improvemysearchranking.com

______________

🔑 Keywords

SEO content strategy 2026, AI search optimisation, ChatGPT SEO, local SEO content types, Google ranking factors, Gemini AI search, Perplexity for business, content menu for SEO, service pages SEO, authority content examples, trust-building content, E-E-A-T optimisation, how to rank in AI search, local business marketing UK, content ideas for small businesses, SEO content blueprint 2026.

It’s the most profitable time of the year… if you know how to use it.

In this Christmas Special, Adam and Josh unwrap 12 proven festive marketing strategies that local businesses can implement immediately to boost bookings, sales, footfall, and customer loyalty throughout December.

From the evergreen Christmas Tree Strategy, to capitalising on gift-intent searches, festive homepage upgrades, irresistible upsells, PR hooks, and even pre-selling January — this episode gives you the complete blueprint for a thriving Christmas trading season.

Whether you’re running a café, salon, car wash, gym, trades business, shop, or online service — these tactics will help you stand out during the busiest (and noisiest) shopping month of the year.

🎁 In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why seasonal URLs should live forever — and the SEO power they build each year

• How to target “last-minute gift” shoppers in your town

• The simple homepage festive banner that instantly boosts conversions

• How to remove friction in the holiday buyer journey (and increase impulse purchases)

• How to run a “12 Days of Deals” campaign that customers come back for daily

• Why emotional festive branding works ridiculously well in December

• How to collect more reviews this month than you did all year

• The strategy for selling out January before New Year’s Day arrives

If you want to finish the year strong - this is the episode to play before doing anything else.

💥 Exclusive Listener Offer:
Get 20% off Website Design or SEO services when you quote ‘PODCAST20’

• Adam (Web Design): hello@websitedesigners.london | www.websitedesigners.london

• Josh (SEO): hello@improvemysearchranking.com | www.improvemysearchranking.com
  

🔍 Keywords:
Christmas marketing tips, festive marketing ideas, small business Christmas strategies, local business marketing December, holiday marketing UK, Christmas SEO tips, local SEO Christmas, gift voucher marketing, seasonal SEO strategy, Christmas sales ideas, 12 days of Christmas marketing, small business growth December, marketing for cafés salons gyms, local business podcast UK, Improve My Search Ranking, Website Designers London.

🎧 Hit Follow so you never miss an episode — and share this with a business owner who could use a little Christmas marketing magic. 🎅🏻✨

🔥 Running a small business can feel like juggling with one hand while the other’s on fire.

One week you’ve got customers lined up, the next, you’re chasing invoices or wondering where the leads went.

In this episode of The Marketing Podcast for Local Businesses, Adam Niazi & Josh Hamit reveal the 10 biggest reasons small businesses fail, and the practical fixes you can start applying today.

Here’s what you’ll learn 👇

📉 1. Not Enough Leads: why word-of-mouth alone isn’t enough and how to use SEO, Google Maps, and reviews to generate consistent enquiries.
📊 2. Not Tracking Data: the Peter Drucker principle: “what’s measured gets managed.” Learn how CRMs and analytics turn chaos into clarity.
🎯 3. No Clear Marketing Strategy: how to set goals, track leads, and reverse-engineer your growth targets.
🧢 4. Wearing Too Many Hats: how to delegate, automate, and reclaim your time (yes, AI can help).
💸 5. Inconsistent Cash Flow: why 61% of small UK businesses struggle with late payments — and how to build financial breathing room.
🌐 6. Poor Online Visibility: easy fixes to get your business found on Google Maps, reviews, and local directories.
🎨 7. Weak Branding : how consistency builds instant trust and authority, without a big budget.
👥 8. Hiring & Retaining Great Staff: why culture beats pay and how to keep your best people.
🤖 9. Struggling With Technology: tools and automations that actually save time (without overwhelming you).
💌 10. Poor Customer Retention: why keeping customers is 5–7x cheaper than finding new ones, and how to turn buyers into loyal fans.

💡 Packed with stats, stories, and real examples from UK businesses, this episode is your crash course in fixing what’s really holding your business back.

🎯 Because success isn’t about avoiding problems, it’s about solving them faster than your competitors.

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💥 Exclusive Listener Offer:
Get 20% off Website Design or SEO services when you quote ‘PODCAST20’

• Adam (Web Design): hello@websitedesigners.london | www.websitedesigners.london

• Josh (SEO): hello@improvemysearchranking.com | www.improvemysearchranking.com

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Keywords: small business growth UK, top reasons businesses fail, SME marketing strategy, cash flow management, Google Business Profile, branding consistency, customer retention, automation tools for small business, marketing podcast UK, local business tips.

ChatGPT is growing fast — but Google still handles 17 billion searches a day. Here’s what that really means for your business.

In this episode of The Marketing Podcast for Local Businesses, Adam Niazi & Josh Hamit break down the real data behind the AI vs Google debate — and what it means for your business in 2026 and beyond.

Here’s what you’ll learn 👇

🔍 AI Search vs Google Search — ChatGPT handles around 2.5 billion daily prompts, but Google still dominates with 17 billion searches every day, and 46% of those have local intent.

💰 Why Google Still Matters — 76% of people who search locally visit a business within 24 hours. Google remains the #1 place where customers make buying decisions.

🤖 How AI Is Changing the Edges (Not the Core) — Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini & Perplexity are reshaping research, but Google still owns the buying moment.

🧭 How to Dominate Google in the AI Era:

1️⃣ Optimise your Google Business Profile — real photos, weekly posts, keyword-rich descriptions.
2️⃣ Get more (and better) reviews — they’re the strongest trust signal for humans and algorithms.
3️⃣ Optimise for “near me” searches — embed maps, list service areas, and create hyperlocal pages.
4️⃣ Use AI to enhance SEO — generate ideas, content outlines, and insights, but keep the human touch.
5️⃣ Build backlinks & local authority — directories, suppliers, press mentions, and partnerships all count.
6️⃣ Create local content that sells — target each service + area combination to dominate regional results.

💡 The Future: It’s not Google or AI — it’s Google + AI. As Gemini integrates directly into Google Search, the businesses ranking well today will be the first AI recommends tomorrow.

🎯 If you run a local business, this episode is your roadmap for staying visible — now and in the next wave of AI-powered search.

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💥 Exclusive Listener Offer:
Get 20% off Website Design or SEO services when you quote ‘PODCAST20’

• Adam (Web Design): hello@websitedesigners.london | www.websitedesigners.london

• Josh (SEO): hello@improvemysearchranking.com | www.improvemysearchranking.com

  
  

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Keywords: Google SEO 2026, AI search optimisation, ChatGPT vs Google, local SEO UK, Google Business Profile tips, Gemini AI search, Perplexity AI, near-me optimisation, reviews for SEO, small-business marketing podcast UK.

💡 Ever launched something thinking customers would flood in, only to realise no one’s watching?

That was Adam when he launched Start Smarter, a side project that began with a uni friend, nearly failed, and later sold for five figures.

In this behind-the-scenes episode of The Marketing Podcast for Local Businesses, Josh flips the script and interviews Adam about the full journey, from £50 shares to a five-figure sale.

🎙️ They unpack:

🚀 The Early Days: launching Start Smarter at university, juggling studies, and learning the hard way that “build it and they will come” is a myth.

📉 The Struggle Years: long nights, failed plans, and the brutal gap between a business plan and reality.

🤝 The Split: buying out a 50% stake for £50 when we all thought it was over.

💡 The Turning Point: how content, systems, and persistence quietly turned the business profitable.

💰 The Exit: selling for five figures and what that moment taught Adam about patience, purpose, and value.

🎯 This episode isn’t about overnight success, it’s about the long game.Persistence, small wins, and knowing when to hold your nerve.

If you’ve ever built something that didn’t go as planned, this one will hit home.

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💥 Exclusive Listener Offer:Get 20% off Website Design or SEO services when you quote ‘PODCAST20’.

• Adam (Web Design): hello@websitedesigners.london | www.websitedesigners.london

• Josh (SEO): hello@improvemysearchranking.com | www.improvemysearchranking.com

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Keywords: business journey, startup lessons, side hustle to sale, selling a business UK, university startup story, small business exit, Start Smarter case study, entrepreneurship lessons, local business podcast, UK marketing podcast.

👁️‍🗨️ What do God and getting found in AI have in common?
Both decide who gets seen and who stays invisible.

In this thought-provoking episode of The Marketing Podcast for Local Businesses, Adam Niazi & Josh Hamit unpack the new reality of AI search, where algorithm, not humans, decide which products, services, and businesses are “chosen.”

When someone asks ChatGPT, “What’s the best protein powder under £30?” it won’t show ten blue links. It’ll give one answer. The question is: will it be your product, or your competitor’s?

Adam and Josh reveal how Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), also called AI Optimization or Generative SEO, is becoming the new frontier of visibility.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

🧠 What GEO really is; how ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity are reshaping how customers discover products.

⚙️ How to make AI choose you;
• Structure your data with schema and clean product attributes.
• Pair listings with buyer guides, FAQs, and context-rich content.
• Strengthen authority through verified reviews and credible mentions.
• Go omnichannel; AI pulls from Shopify, TikTok Shop, Amazon, and beyond.

🌍 Why local businesses can win early; smart structure and trust signals can help small brands outrank global giants in AI-generated answers.

🎯 This episode will make you rethink everything you know about SEO.

The future of search isn’t about ranking on Google; it’s about being chosen by AI.

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💥 Exclusive Listener Offer:
Get 20% off Website Design or SEO services when you quote ‘PODCAST20’.

• Adam (Web Design): hello@websitedesigners.london | www.websitedesigners.london

• Josh (SEO): hello@improvemysearchranking.com | www.improvemysearchranking.com

  
  

Keywords: generative engine optimization, AI search visibility, ChatGPT SEO, Google Gemini, Perplexity AI search, ecommerce SEO, structured data schema, omnichannel optimization, AI for small business, AIO vs GEO, marketing podcast UK.

📚 Part 2 of 10 Must-Read Books to Supercharge Your Local Business Growth picks up right where Part 1 left off.

In this follow-up episode, Adam & Josh dive into the remaining six essential titles — plus a bonus one from Adam himself — that will transform the way you think, lead, and scale your business. If Part 1 gave you the foundation, this episode is about putting strategy, leadership, and mindset into motion.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

💪 The Obstacle Is the Way – Ryan Holiday: Turn challenges into opportunities with stoic mindset principles.

🤝 The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni: Build trust and alignment inside your business team.

🏗️ The E-Myth Revisited – Michael E. Gerber: Stop working in your business and start working on it.

📈 High Output Management – Andy Grove: Boost efficiency through systems, leverage, and performance tracking.

🎯 The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing – Al Ries & Jack Trout: Position your business to win by focusing on what truly matters.

🏆 Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell: Understand the real drivers of success — opportunity, timing, and persistence.

📘 BONUS: Becoming A Strategic Business Leader: The Ultimate All-In-One Guide - Adam Niazi – A strategic guide written from real-world experience helping hundreds of UK businesses scale.

🎯 Adam and Josh connect each book to real examples from cafés, agencies, and service firms, showing exactly how to apply these principles for measurable growth. Together, Parts 1 & 2 form a complete roadmap — from building habits and offers to mastering mindset, leadership, and marketing.

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💥 Exclusive Listener Offer:Get 20% off Website Design or SEO services when you quote ‘PODCAST20’.

• Adam (Web Design): hello@websitedesigners.london | www.websitedesigners.london

• Josh (SEO): hello@improvemysearchranking.com | www.improvemysearchranking.com

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Expanded Keywords for search: business books for entrepreneurs 2025, small business growth UK, E-Myth systems, marketing positioning strategy, team leadership, stoic mindset entrepreneurs, High Output Management productivity, Outliers success factors, Patrick Lencioni teamwork, Ryan Holiday business mindset, UK entrepreneur podcast, Adam Niazi Becoming a Strategic Business Leader