Search has changed significantly again. Ranking number one on Google used to be the number goal of SEO.

Today AI answers rank first on Google. So the new goal for most clients is to be mentioned in those AI answers.

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that AI is starting to take over the world. Or at least it seems that way.

More people are getting their information from AI, whether that be from ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Microsoft’s Copilot. People are using the AI platforms on a daily basis, asking questions they used to ask Google.

So with this new shift in the digital world, SEO experts have learnt to adapt. The latest trend in the world of SEO is Answer Engine Optimisation or also known as AEO.

Here at SEO Perth Experts, we understand how quickly things shift online. We are used to constant algorithm updates and are here to help you through it too.

Many of our clients used to only care about how far up they rank on Google and for what keywords. Nowadays they ask us questions like “How can I make sure my business is included in the answer generated by AI?”

Nowadays its about making your business the source of truth for these AI systems.

What AEO Really Means in 2026

AEO is a strategy surrounding creating content that AI thinks is the most reliable and valuable source of information.

AEO isn’t just about keywords, it’s about reliability. Traditional SEO was a race to the top of the rankings, but AEO is a race to be mentioned in that answer at the top.

If an AI system uses information from your site in the AI generated answer that pops up after a user searches something up, this means the AI views your site as the most reputable and reliable source of information for that specific topic.

Honestly a business in Dalkeith has completely different search needs than a tradie out in Joondalup, and the AI is starting to pick up on those nuances.

SEO professionals used to try to rank at the top of search results page. Now they are creating and optimising content to be used in those AI responses.

Users are no longer scrolling through pages and pages of search results. Today users ask questions and they expect immediate answers.

This is exactly what businesses are competing towards today, to be the primary source of information included within the single, authoritative response generated by AI.

Why Old School SEO Will Never Die

Some people say SEO is dead. Honestly? They’ve been saying that for 20 years.

Some professionals in marketing believe that SEO has died. But this is far from the truth.

SEO isn’t dead, it’s simply evolved into something new. And if you’ve worked in the SEO industry for a while, you know this is nothing new.

SEO evolves constantly. What worked a few months ago probably won’t work still. Staying on top of different algorithm updates and changing internet trends is what we do best.

And the latest trend taking over the internet? It’s AI.

But the thing is, AI doesn’t just make up their answers out of thin air, they use search engines to create their responses. They crawl and anaylse information from thousands of websites.

So if your website has good fundamental SEO then you’re halfway to getting AI to recognise your website as a reliable source and use you in their answers.

How ChatGPT and Gemini Are Influencing Search Behaviour

Users are asking more comprehensive questions. They want explanations, comparisons and recommendations.

For example if someone was to ask: “What is the best local SEO strategy for small businesses in Perth in 2026?”

An AI engine is unlikely to just list top SEO firms now.

Instead, AI may summarise what SEO strategies work well, offer examples of businesses that use these strategies and recommend companies that produce content on the topic of local SEO.

At SEO Perth experts, we help businesses to develop a content ecosystem that includes content that answers questions clearly.

Nowadays, being helpful and useful is the key to success.

It’s not just about the CBD anymore, AI is looking at how you serve the community from Fremantle to the Hills.

What Smart Businesses Are Doing Right Now

Smart businesses are taking advantage of AEO and so should you. Here’s what you need to do now.

Create In-Depth Articles With Real Authority

If you want to stay ahead, you need to change your approach to content.

In our 20 years of experience here at SEO Perth Experts, we know that if your site doesn’t represent authority, you’re basically invisible.

Google’s AI doesn’t just look for the exact keywords, it looks for an authority of the subject matter, the quality of the information.

Instead of creating 10 short articles about loosely related topics, write a smaller number of high-quality articles that show that you know your stuff, your expertise.

Strengthen Your E-E-A-T Signals

Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness & Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) isn’t just a metric for Google anymore, it’s the way that AI decides if you’re credible or not.

You need to demonstrate why you are better than your competitors at what you do.

If you want to stay ahead, you need to change your approach to content. Instead of churning out ten shallow articles, focus on a few high quality pieces that prove your expertise.

Add an author bio, link to reliable sources, improve your site security and update the information, images and content on your site often.

You also need to treat Schema Markup as your secret weapon. It’s the behind the scenes code that helps AI understand your site’s context. Our developers and SEO specialists work together to implement this, which makes sure that your FAQs and service details are readable by the AI.

Write Like You’re Having a Coffee

AI loves human writing. It may sounds strange but the best way to please AI is to write like a human.

Search engines are also evolving, which means they are getting better and better at detecting forced keyword stuffing and overly optimised text.

What search engines want is informative writing that has a natural flow and sounds like it was written by a human being who actually understands what they’re talking about.

Search engines are now experts at spotting forced keyword stuffing, so write naturally and informally. They want writing that flows naturally, the kind of explanation you’d give a client over a coffee in Cottesloe.

Natural, flowing content is your best bet.

Keep Your Content New And Relevant

It needs to be informative, authentic, and updated regularly. Fresh data is exactly what AI craves.

Make sure your site has active links to other credible sources.

Simply updating your article every few months, even just to refresh some examples and statistics. This confirms that your business is still up and running.

The reality is that Google’s AI doesn’t care about your innovative solutions if you can’t prove you’ve actually done the work. Uploading images and case studies is a great way to prove to Google you are legitimate.

How SEO Perth Experts Is Helping Clients Optimise for AI Search

At SEO Perth Experts, we know how fast the game changes and we have always been quick to adapt.

AEO isn’t a quick fix that happens overnight, it takes a great deal of time, effort and commitment.

AEO is the art of proving to an AI that your website is the most credible source available.

Our SEO team no longer only focuses on keyword performance, we also analyse how AI interprets and references your website’s content.

We test prompts, we track mentions and we determine which types of content are most likely to be pulled into AI generated responses.

We conduct comprehensive content audits to see how AI-friendly your site is and then rewrite and expand existing pages based on those results.

We also add schema markup that improves AI’s understanding of your website.

We can help provide training to your content teams on how to write for conversational discovery.

And of course, we stay on top of all algorithm updates and search trend, adjusting your campaign strategy accordingly.

Where To Begin

If you’re still confused by the concept of AEO, that’s okay. We are here to help!

We are no longer optimising for clicks, we are now optimising for answers.

At the end of the day, Google wants to be a helpful assistant and our job is to make sure you’re the person that assistant calls on.

Businesses that will be successful in the era of AI aren’t going to be those that shout the loudest, but instead those who provide useful information.

Being a reliable source that your users return to is far more important than establishing yourself as a company that gatekeeps all their information.

At SEO Perth Experts, we help our clients provide quality, dependable and useful information. The future of search is not about being found, it is about being referenced.

Is it more work? Absolutely. But is it worth it when you see your business being quoted as the top authority in Perth? You bet it is.

Do you need assistance in adjusting your website to work with AI-driven searches?

Contact SEO Perth Experts today and let’s make sure that your business becomes one of the many that the machines that matter most talk about.