Ep 43. Listed Isn't the Same as Discoverable — What 2,000 Businesses Get Wrong About Getting Found

With hosts David Altena & Rob Bull | Guest: Elise Balsillie, Head of Thryv Australia & New ZealandThree-quarters of NZ business owners think their online presence is strong. Only about half their own customers agree. Elise Balsillie draws on Thryv's 2025 Business Index — 2,000+ SME decision-makers and customers across Australia and NZ — to unpack that gap, and what it now takes to get found when customers are asking AI, not just Google, who to trust.In this episode:The confidence gap: why owners rate their own online presence far higher than customers actually experience itGEO vs SEO in plain English — what changes now that AI tools do the "searching" on a customer's behalfWhat ChatGPT or Google's AI Overview actually looks at when it recommends a plumber, accountant, or bookkeeperWhy reviews and response speed matter more than a flashy website redesignThe one hour a week that moves the needle further than a full rebrandA simple starting point: 15 minutes a week Googling your own business and three competitors, from your phoneKey quote: "Being listed is not the same as being discoverable." — David Altena🔗 Thryv — Small Business Marketing Software: www.thryv.com📊 Benchmark your own business with PerformIQ: www.thebettersmb.com/nz-manufacturer-signup/🌐 The Better SMB: www.thebettersmb.com🎙️ The Better SMB Podcast: open.spotify.com/show/0VmzaRqeU5g94kzfPRKQlqProudly sponsored by Setseed — www.setseed.com#BetterSMB #Thryv #GEO #SEO #SMBMarketing #NZBusiness