SEO vs AEO: Google Rankings Are Not Enough in 2026
For the last decade, every marketing agency in Brisbane has sold you the same dream: “We’ll get you to number one on Google.” It was the gold standard. If you were at the top of the list, the phone rang. Simple.
But you’ve probably noticed things are wonky lately. You search for a plumber or a cafe, and half the screen is an AI summary, not a list of websites.
Your customers are asking ChatGPT or Gemini for recommendations directly. If your strategy is still purely about keywords and backlinks, you are fighting a war that ended two years ago.
What is AEO?
AI Engine Optimisation (AEO) sounds like another buzzword, but it’s actually just common sense for 2026. Traditional SEO was about convincing an algorithm to list you. AEO is about convincing an AI that you are the fact.
How to Adapt Without Going Crazy
You don’t need to rebuild your entire website. You just need to shift how you talk about your business. We are moving away from “keyword stuffing” and towards “natural authority.”
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Fix Your Q&A: Write content that looks like a conversation. Literally write out the question “How much does website design cost in Brisbane?” and answer it clearly in the next sentence.
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Get Verified: Ensure your business details (NAP – Name, Address, Phone) are identical everywhere. Confusion makes AI trust you less.
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Be Human: AI can spot AI content. If you use ChatGPT to write your blogs without editing, the search engines will flag it as low quality. Write from experience.
This doesn’t mean Google is dead. It just means the goalposts have moved. The focus in 2026 is on being the most credible, authoritative source in your niche.
If you focus on answering your customer’s problems genuinely, you will win on Google and the AI bots. It’s less about gaming the system and more about being the best business in the pile.
Not sure if your website is readable by the new AI engines? Click below. We’ll take a look under the hood and see if you’re invisible to the robots.
