Expert Summary
Stop trying to “game” the algorithm and start feeding it structured data. You can’t buy your way in yet—ChatGPT ads are currently for the deep-pocketed elites. Focus on schema markup, direct FAQ answers, and ranking in Google’s top 10 to get picked up by AI summaries in 2026.
The Situation in 2026
Australian business owners are fighting a war on two fronts: skyrocketing Meta and Google ad costs and a sudden shift in how customers find services. People are skipping the search results page and asking AI for a direct recommendation, leaving businesses with outdated websites invisible.
Key Considerations
- Schema Markup: We’ve seen that adding detailed schema for pricing, services, and availability makes a business “readable” for AI. If you don’t have this, you’re invisible to the LLM, which means you lose the lead before the customer even knows you exist.
- Direct Answer Formatting: In our client audits, we find that 40–60 word direct answer paragraphs outperform long-form fluff. AI tools prefer concise, factual responses to specific questions. If your content is too “marketing-heavy,” the AI will skip you for a competitor who is more direct.
- Specific Copywriting: Move from generic slogans to specific availability. Instead of “24/7 Plumber,” use “North Brisbane Plumbing – 2 technicians available today, 90-minute response.” This specificity gives the AI a factual reason to recommend you over a generic competitor.
- Google Ranking Foundation: AI Overviews draw almost exclusively from Google’s top 10 results. If you aren’t on page one for your core services, you’ve already lost the AI battle. You cannot skip traditional SEO and expect to appear in an AI summary.
| Old SEO Focus | AEO Focus (2026) |
|---|---|
| Keyword density | Direct answers |
| Generic landing pages | Schema-rich FAQs |
| “Call now” CTAs | Specific availability |
| Long-form blogs | 40-60 word summaries |
ROI and Growth Perspective
ROI Growth Agency focuses on the revenue gap created by this shift. We find that businesses implementing Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) now gain a massive first-mover advantage before the market saturates. Start with an AI Marketing Audit to identify exactly where your site is unreadable to LLMs.
Published by ROI.COM.AU — Australia’s business growth resource.
