AI search optimisation: what changed in June 2026
AI search optimisation is now the difference between being the business that Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT quote, and the business that quietly disappears from the answer. On 5 June 2026 Google updated its Search Central documentation to formally name AEO and GEO as a service and to confirm that optimising for generative AI search is, in its own words, “still SEO” (covered by Search Engine Journal). For Australian small businesses the takeaway is calm and clear: you do not need a brand-new playbook, you need the fundamentals done properly. Our team has pulled the official guidance into seven practical steps below.
AI search optimisation is not a new dark art. It is solid SEO, aimed at the answer box instead of the blue links.
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Is AI search optimisation just SEO with a new name?
Mostly, yes. Google’s guide to optimising for generative AI features explains that AI Overviews and AI Mode are built on the same ranking and quality systems as ordinary Search. They use retrieval-augmented generation (grounding) and “query fan-out” to pull trustworthy pages from Google’s index, then summarise them. So if a page already earns its place in normal results, it is already a candidate to be cited in an AI answer. That is why we treat AI search optimisation as an extension of the work on our SEO services, not a replacement for it.
- First-hand expertise: AI engines favour genuine, non-commodity content over recycled summaries.
- Clear structure: headings, short sections and direct answers help AI lift the right passage.
- Technical health: a page must be crawlable, indexable and fast to be eligible at all.
- Local trust: a complete Google Business Profile feeds local and map answers.
- Get the technical basics right (indexable and fast).
- Write genuine, first-hand content only you could write.
- Answer real questions with a clear structure.
- Strengthen your local signals and Google Business Profile.
- Earn authentic mentions and reviews.
- Add sensible structured data without overdoing it.
- Measure what AI search actually sends you.
The pressure is real. According to DataReportal’s Digital 2026 Australia report, 64% of Australians have already encountered AI Overviews in their search results, and industry clickstream data shows that searches with an AI Overview now keep most users on the results page rather than clicking through. That is exactly why AI search optimisation matters: if the answer is going to be summarised, you want your business to be the source it summarises. For more on how the recent algorithm shift hit local sites, see our breakdown of the Google May 2026 core update.
If an AI is going to answer the question, be the page it learned the answer from.
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What Google’s new guide actually says
The single most important line is that creating unique, useful content will influence your visibility in AI search “more than any of the other suggestions” Google lists. After that come the usual fundamentals: meet the technical requirements, stay crawlable, give people a good page experience, and reduce duplicate content. None of this is exotic. It is the same checklist that a well-built WordPress site, like the ones our team delivers, already ticks. If you want the deeper reasoning, Google’s “Do you need an SEO?” guide now spells out how to judge an AEO or GEO provider.
What you can safely ignore
Plenty of “AI SEO hacks” are being sold right now, and Google has quietly debunked several of them. You do not need an llms.txt file or special AI-only markup. You do not need to “chunk” your content into tiny fragments. You do not need to rewrite pages purely for machines, and chasing fake “mentions” across the web will not help. If a vendor is charging you for those, that money is better spent on real generative engine optimisation: genuine content, clean technical foundations and authentic local trust.
The 7 steps, in plain English
Here is how we apply AI search optimisation for an Australian small business, in the order that gives the fastest return.
Step 1: Get the technical basics right. A page can only be quoted if it is indexed and loads quickly. Fix slow hosting, render-blocking scripts and broken redirects first. A fast, well-structured WordPress build already clears most of this hurdle.
Step 2: Write what only you can write. Share real prices, real project notes, real mistakes you have seen. Commodity “7 tips” content gets ignored; a first-hand account of how you fixed a specific problem gets cited.
Step 3: Answer the question directly. Lead each section with a one or two sentence answer, then expand. This is how an AI lifts a clean passage from your page, and it is exactly why we structure posts the way you are reading now.
Step 4: Strengthen your local signals. For local and transactional searches, your Google Business Profile, accurate contact details and reviews feed straight into the answer. A search like “best plumber in Parramatta” still produces a map pack and a phone call, and AI search optimisation helps you own it.
Step 5: Earn authentic mentions and reviews. Real coverage, real customer reviews and genuine local citations build the authority AI engines rely on. Do not buy fake mentions; Google says plainly they are not as useful as they look.
Step 6: Add structured data, sensibly. Schema is not required for AI search, but it still helps you qualify for rich results and gives engines clear signals about your business, products and FAQs. Add it where it fits, then stop.
Step 7: Measure what AI search sends you. Watch Search Console for impressions on question-style queries and keep an eye on assisted conversions. If clicks dip but enquiries hold, you are being cited, which is the point.
AEO and GEO myths versus what actually works
This table sums up the noise against the official guidance, so you can spend your budget where it counts.
| The “hack” being sold | What Google says | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Add an llms.txt file | Not needed for AI search | Keep pages crawlable and indexable |
| Chunk content into tiny blocks | No required page length | Write for humans, structured clearly |
| Rewrite pages just for AI | AI understands meaning and synonyms | Write once, write it well |
| Buy “mentions” everywhere | Inauthentic mentions add little | Earn real reviews and coverage |
| Pile on schema everywhere | Structured data is not required | Add schema only where it fits |
If your site is already on a clean, fast platform, you are most of the way there. This is one more reason we keep saying that WordPress is a real advantage for SEO: the fundamentals that AI search rewards are the fundamentals a good WordPress build gives you by default.
Frequently asked questions
What is AI search optimisation?
AI search optimisation is the work of making your website easy for AI search features, like Google AI Overviews, AI Mode, ChatGPT and Perplexity, to find, trust and quote. Google’s June 2026 guidance confirms it is still SEO at its core.
Is AEO or GEO different from SEO?
Not really. Google says “answer engine optimisation” (AEO) and “generative engine optimisation” (GEO) are simply SEO focused on AI search experiences. The same fundamentals apply.
Do I need an llms.txt file to rank in AI search?
No. Google explicitly states you do not need llms.txt, special markup or “chunked” content to appear in generative AI search. Focus on useful content and a healthy site instead.
Will AI Overviews kill my website traffic?
They reduce clicks on purely informational queries, but local and transactional searches still drive calls and enquiries. Being the cited source is how you protect your visibility.
How long does AI search optimisation take to work?
About the same as good SEO. Technical and structure fixes can help within weeks, while content and authority build over a few months.
Want to know whether AI search is already quoting your competitors instead of you? We will run a free website audit and a one-hour consultation, and show you exactly where your AI search optimisation stands. Book your free audit with MyWebs and we will map out the quickest wins for your business.