AI tools are increasingly where people start their search for a service provider. “Who’s the best Shopify developer in Sydney?” is now as likely to be asked in ChatGPT as in Google.
The difference matters. Google returns ten options and lets the searcher choose. AI returns two or three recommendations and an explanation of why. If you’re not among them, you’re not in the consideration set at all.
For Australian businesses this is a genuine strategic opportunity, but mainly for those who move while the field is still open.
The Current State of AI Search in Australia
Searches through ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews are growing quickly. In most Australian B2B service categories, very few local businesses have taken deliberate steps to appear in AI recommendations.
That’s the opportunity. Once recommendation patterns settle in a category, the businesses already being named benefit from a reinforcing loop — they get cited, which generates mentions, which makes them more likely to be cited again.
SEO, GEO and AEO — The Difference
| SEO | GEO | AEO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goal | Rank on page one | Be cited in AI answers | Be recommended by AI |
| Query type | All | Research questions | “Who should I use?” |
| Main lever | Keywords, links, technical health | Citable authority content | Positioning, FAQs, proof |
| Lead intent | Mixed | Early stage | Purchase ready |
AEO targets the highest-intent query of the three. Someone asking an AI who to hire has already decided to buy. Our complete 2026 search marketing guide covers how the three channels work together.
Why AI Recommends Certain Businesses
AI tools don’t rank websites the way search engines do. They synthesise information from across the web, which means they favour businesses that are easy to describe confidently.
Clear, specific positioning. “Shopify development for Australian retailers” is recommendable. “Full-service digital solutions” is not, because it gives the model nothing specific to match a question against.
Consistent mentions across trusted sources. Your website, Google Business Profile, LinkedIn, the Shopify Partner Directory, industry media. Inconsistencies between these reduce confidence.
FAQ content answering purchase-intent questions. Question-and-answer formatting is the structure AI tools quote most readily, because it maps directly onto how people ask.
Verifiable proof. Specific case studies with numbers, named reviews, certifications that can be checked against a public directory.
The AEO Action Plan
Week 1 — Baseline. Search your category in ChatGPT and Perplexity as a customer would. Record who gets named. Then audit your business name, address and phone number across every platform and make them identical.
Month 1 — FAQ content. Build or rewrite your FAQ page around the questions buyers actually ask before choosing a provider: what it costs, how long it takes, what happens if it goes wrong, how you compare to the alternative. Apply FAQ schema markup.
Months 2–3 — Proof. Publish case studies with specific, verifiable results. Build authority content on LinkedIn. Start actively requesting Google reviews that use full names and mention the specific service.
Ongoing. Re-run the category search monthly and track brand-name searches in Google Search Console — a rise there often indicates AI tools are surfacing your name.
What Not to Bother With
Some AEO advice circulating at the moment isn’t worth your time. Stuffing pages with AI-related keywords does nothing. Nor does adding hidden text aimed at language models, which risks a search penalty for no return.
The underlying work is unglamorous: be specific about what you do, be consistent everywhere, and be able to prove your results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AEO replacing SEO?
No. Traditional search still drives the majority of discovery for most Australian businesses. AEO is an additional channel, and much of the work — authority content, structured data, consistent details — improves both.
How do I know if it’s working?
Ask the AI tools directly each month and record whether you appear. Also watch for a rise in brand-name searches and in enquiries that mention having seen you “recommended” without a clear referral source.
Does my business need to be large to be recommended?
No. Specificity beats size. A small business clearly positioned in one niche and one city is easier for an AI to recommend confidently than a large generalist agency.
How long does it take?
Businesses starting with consistent details and existing reviews often see movement within two to three months. Starting from scratch usually takes six.
Do Google reviews really affect AI recommendations?
They appear to carry weight, particularly reviews with full names that describe the specific service delivered. They’re also verifiable, which is exactly the kind of signal these tools rely on.
Related Reading
- What Is AEO? How to Get ChatGPT to Recommend Your Business
- What Is GEO? The New Search Optimisation Every Australian Business Needs to Know
- SEO, GEO and AEO: The Complete 2026 Search Marketing Guide
HHP Design’s integrated SEO, GEO and AEO service covers all three channels with one coordinated strategy. Get in touch for a free visibility assessment.