Monument Business Alliance

03/11/2026

Your competitors with 200+ five-star reviews didn't get there by accident. They built a system.
Here's what most local businesses don't realize: AI tools like ChatGPT and Google's AI search are now recommending businesses based on your online reputation — across Google, Yelp, Reddit, industry directories, and more.
45% of consumers now use AI to find local businesses. That number was 6% just a year ago.
If your reviews are thin, old, or only on one platform, you're invisible to a growing slice of your market.
I wrote about what's changed, what the data says, and what a real review strategy looks like in 2026.

Your Google reviews are now your AI search résumé. Learn why ratings matter more than ever — and how to build a strategy that gets you found and chosen.

03/10/2026

I gave my first presentation to my local business community on AI in May of 2023. In an attempt to impress upon my fellow business owners, I created these 2 slides. In the span of human civilization, the advances in AI these last few years is the bend in the hocky stick of our existence. This is not hyperbole. As I read the first paragraph of this OpenAI article, it made me think about these slides.

Take a look at this article and follow the links at the end to see how AI is impacting the world around us.

From OpenAI: Introducing the Intelligence Age

OpenAI aired our first-ever television ad during the Super Bowl to pique people’s curiosity and help us all realize how AI can open up new possibilities for us, create more fulfillment in our lives, and make us more productive, just as all the tools that came before AI did for those who came before us. 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀! 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄! https://www.rfr.bz/f10ea8c

03/05/2026

🌟 Heartland Connect – March Networking Event

Looking to grow your business and expand your professional circle?

Join us for the next Heartland Connect After-Hours Networking Event on Tuesday, March 10th at 5:30 PM at Overdrive Raceway in Colorado Springs.

Heartland Connect is more than just networking—it’s a community of professionals who believe in building real relationships and supporting each other’s success.

✔ Meet local business owners and professionals
✔ Build valuable connections and referral partnerships
✔ Enjoy a relaxed and welcoming networking environment

🎁 Bring a door prize if you'd like 30 seconds to introduce your business to the group!

We’d love to see you there.

Sign up to receive invites W2lmc28gaWQ9IjIzMjI2Il0= Fill out the form below to receive personalized invites to the upcoming Heartland Connect events. Note that this website and its services are for

03/04/2026

You may start hearing people talk about ads coming to ChatGPT.

OpenAI recently announced they’re beginning to test advertising inside the platform.

Whenever something like this happens, the first reaction is usually:

“Wait… does that mean the answers are going to be biased now?”

That’s a fair question.

The reality is that running AI tools like ChatGPT requires enormous computing infrastructure. As more people use AI every day, the cost to operate these systems keeps growing. Advertising is one way companies can help support that cost while keeping the tools accessible to everyone.

The key issue is trust.

If AI answers started favoring advertisers instead of giving honest information, people would stop using it very quickly. So the long-term success of platforms like ChatGPT actually depends on keeping a clear separation between answers and ads.

In other words, the incentive is to protect the quality and integrity of the responses.

What I’m seeing right now is that we’re entering the next phase of AI adoption. Businesses are starting to move beyond curiosity and into practical use — using AI to improve marketing, customer communication, operations, and productivity.

If you're curious about how AI tools can actually help your business (without the hype or confusion), I’m happy to walk through what I’m seeing work in the real world.

Feel free to grab a time for a quick 1:1 conversation:
https://www.rfr.bz/fed8d77

Or just catch me at the next networking event and we can talk about it.

AI is moving fast — but used the right way, it can be a huge advantage for small businesses.

Book a meeting with Dave at WSI Peak Digital Strategy.

02/26/2026

Get a free digital presence audit here:

Get Your Free Digital Presence Audit Here Enter your business information here In minutes you'll receive your audit via email!

02/06/2026

Networking Tip:

Relationships take time—and trust builds through repetition. When you consistently show up at events like Heartland Connect, people begin to recognize your face, remember your name, and think of your business when opportunities arise.