The Independent asked Chris Raulf and BrightLocal CEO Myles Anderson how small businesses can improve Google visibility without an in-house SEO team.
DENVER, Colorado – August 18, 2026 – International AI SEO expert Chris Raulf was featured in a July 2026 Independent article exploring how local businesses can rank on Google without being SEO experts, appearing alongside BrightLocal CEO and co-founder Myles Anderson.
Raulf, founder of Boulder SEO Marketing, Colorado’s leading local SEO company, and host of the AI SEO Insighter Podcast, was tapped for the piece to translate hands-on local SEO work into steps small business owners can apply without a dedicated marketing team or agency retainer.
The article, titled “How local companies can rank on Google without being SEO experts,” covers the fundamentals: a complete Google Business Profile, a steady flow of customer reviews, consistent name, address, and phone details across the web, and website content that answers real customer questions rather than simply listing services.
“You don’t need to be an SEO expert to get the fundamentals right,” said Raulf. “You need to be consistent and patient, because this is a months-long effort, not a weekend one.”
Raulf told the publication that most business owners set up their Google Business Profile and never touch it again. The businesses that show up consistently treat the profile as something living, regularly updating photos, hours, and services rather than leaving it static after launch.
He also pointed to case studies, testimonials, and before-and-after photos as signals that build the credibility Google rewards, noting that showing finished projects or results builds visitor confidence and helps conversion, not just rankings. “There’s no secret,” Raulf said. “There’s just doing the basics well, consistently and longer than the other guy is willing to.”
The Independent also quoted Anderson on how reviews and consistent business information shape whether AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity recommend a business, reinforcing that the same fundamentals now serve both Google rankings and AI-driven search.
As part of his mission to educate marketers, Raulf points readers to microSEO, an AI SEO platform built on these same fundamentals-first, consistency-driven approach to local and AI search visibility for small and mid-sized businesses.
Raulf continues to share fundamentals-first SEO guidance for local businesses navigating an increasingly AI-driven search landscape.
About Chris Raulf AI SEO Expert
Chris Raulf is an international AI, SEO, and GEO expert, consultant, and speaker with nearly three decades of experience improving organic visibility for global brands through human insight and AI-powered execution. He is the founder of Boulder SEO Marketing, regularly shares advanced SEO insights in his AI & SEO newsletter, and teaches businesses how to thrive in the age of AI.