AI-Forward Content Strategies for Economic Developers: How to Promote Your Community in 2026

By Bethany Quinn, President, Golden Shovel Agency

As economic developers look for new ways to promote their communities online, adapting to an AI-driven search landscape has become essential. At Golden Shovel Agency, we’re helping organizations rethink their 2026 content strategies to ensure their communities stand out—both to people and to artificial intelligence.

Economic Developers Must Adapt to the New Search Landscape

Search behavior is changing fast. AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot are now directly answering questions on search pages—reducing the number of clicks to traditional websites. To stay visible, your content must not only engage human readers but also be structured so AI can read, understand, and recommend it (download our Guide to Harnessing AI for more information).

Our content team, led by Director of Content, Chuck Friedbauer, has redesigned Golden Shovel’s approach for 2026 to make your marketing AI-forward. That means writing not with AI, but for AI—ensuring algorithms recognize your expertise, authority, and community value when generating results for site selectors, business owners, and workforce prospects.

Economic Developers Should Focus on Questions and Answers

One of the most important changes is creating question-based content. Instead of relying only on keywords like “available sites” or “business incentives,” Golden Shovel is helping communities identify the specific questions their target audiences ask online. This may seem intuitive, but it’s not. We recommend developing an economic development marketing strategy to flush out what your target audience cares about and how your community can meet their needs, then effectively communicate it!

For instance:

• “What industrial properties are available with strong water capacity?”
• “Why is [Your Community Name] a good place to expand manufacturing?”
• “What workforce programs are available in our region?”

By incorporating these questions and clear, data-driven answers into your web pages and articles, we ensure AI—and search engines—see your site as a trusted resource. This approach increases visibility for economic development marketing, community promotion, and regional growth content - watch our webinar “How AI Is Changing the Game” for more information.

Deep Dive Content: From 101 to Expert Level

AI algorithms increasingly prioritize depth and expertise. In 2026, our focus is shifting from surface-level summaries to long-form, research-driven articles that showcase your thought leadership. We appreciate that Economic Development Directors are increasingly wearing more hats (and far too busy to conduct interviews and do the research required to create these articles) - that’s where our content team’s economic development expertise comes in handy. We are industry experts and our Lead Copywriters attend economic development conferences so we can speak to industry trends.

Think of deep dive content like moving from an “EconDev 101” course to a graduate seminar. Our writers and strategists will collaborate with you to:

• Conduct interviews with local experts and partners.
• Integrate relevant data and regional success stories.
• Provide actionable insights that reflect your community’s competitive advantages.

This kind of in-depth storytelling not only performs better with AI-powered search engines but also builds trust and credibility among site selectors and investors.

Building an Economic Development Content Plan That Reflects Your Community

Every community has unique strengths—whether it’s a Midwestern industrial park, a Southern workforce pipeline, or a rural innovation corridor. Our team will help you:

• Define your target audiences (e.g., manufacturers, tech startups, workforce talent).
• Identify their pain points and questions.
• Develop custom content that answers those questions while highlighting your local advantages.

The goal is simple: make your community discoverable, credible, and compelling to both search engines and decision-makers. Contact us for more information on Golden Shovel’s marketing strategy and content writing services, or request a quote here.