Have you noticed your website analytics looking a little…quieter lately? 👀

You’re not imagining it!! Many businesses are seeing website traffic drop even when they’re still ranking well on Google, and it’s not necessarily because your SEO has stopped working. The way people search is genuinely changing, and it’s changing fast!!

So what’s actually going on?

Instead of clicking through to websites, people are now getting answers directly from Google’s AI summaries. They’re searching on TikTok and Instagram. They’re using ChatGPT and other AI tools to research products, services and businesses before they ever land on your site.

For a growing number of users, social media has become the new search engine. Wild, right?!

Enter AEO (and no, we didn’t make that up!!)

SEO isn’t going away, it’s evolving!! Say hello to AEO: Answer Engine Optimisation.

Instead of only optimising for traditional search engines, you now need to be optimising for AI-powered answer engines too. The goal isn’t just to rank anymore: it’s to become the source that AI actually chooses to reference. Big difference!!

SEO vs AEO: what’s the difference?

SEO is about getting your website to show up in search results. AEO is about making sure your content is the answer that AI tools serve up when someone asks a question. Both matter. Neither is going away!!

How should marketers adapt?

The good news is that a few simple shifts can make a huge difference:

Treat your social content as searchable content and write captions with your brand keywords in mind. Create content that actually answers real questions your audience is asking. Make sure your profiles and bios are properly optimised. And start thinking about AEO alongside your traditional SEO strategy.

The bottom line!!

Your website still matters. SEO still matters. But visibility is no longer just about ranking on Google, it’s about showing up wherever people are searching, whether that’s Google, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram or ChatGPT!! The businesses that adapt now are the ones that will stay visible. Don’t get left behind!!

If you want help navigating all of this, we’d love to chat!! Or if you want to chat to a Mentor, MINT would be more than happy to help!