SEO
SEO Questions From The Field – Answered By Experts With 20+ Years In Australia
Two Decades of Australian SEO Experience
Search engine optimisation in Australia has distinct characteristics that separate it from other markets. These answers are based on over 20 years of SEO implementation across Australian businesses, from local service providers to national brands operating across multiple cities.
Addressing Real Australian Business Challenges
The questions here reflect actual challenges faced by Australian companies. Local search dynamics in Sydney differ from Melbourne, Brisbane, or Perth. National businesses face different optimisation requirements than location-specific operations. Industry sectors from professional services to retail, hospitality to trades each present unique SEO considerations.
These responses address those specific scenarios based on proven results across hundreds of Australian websites and campaigns.
Strategic and Technical Depth
The content covers both strategic SEO direction and technical implementation. Questions range from fundamental ranking factors through to complex technical issues, local search optimisation for specific Australian markets, competitive analysis, algorithm update impacts, and industry-specific strategies.
Each answer is written for business owners, marketing managers, and decision-makers who need to understand what will actually move their search rankings and drive qualified traffic. The focus is on strategies that have demonstrated results in the Australian market, not theoretical approaches or overseas case studies with limited local relevance.
This is professional SEO guidance from practitioners who have optimised Australian websites since before Google dominated the market.
I’m blogging every week but getting zero traffic – what am I missing?
You’re likely missing effective content distribution and discoverability mechanisms; simply publishing doesn’t guarantee readership. Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), now widely available in Australia as
My competitor copies all my content but ranks higher – how is this fair?
It appears unfair when a competitor replicates your content yet achieves higher search rankings, but Google’s ranking systems, as of December 2025, evaluate hundreds of
How do I fix a website that looks terrible on mobile phones?
A website displaying poorly on mobile phones generally indicates a lack of ‘responsive design’, meaning the website’s layout doesn’t automatically adjust to different screen sizes.
I got a “Mobile Usability” error in Search Console – how urgent is this?
A “Mobile Usability” error in Google Search Console indicates Google’s systems have detected issues preventing smartphones and tablets from properly displaying and interacting with your
What are Core Web Vitals and why is Google punishing my site for them?
Core Web Vitals are a set of specific factors that Google uses to measure user experience on a webpage, and as of December 2025, they
My website is slow on mobile – how much is this killing my rankings?
A slow mobile website significantly impacts your Google Search rankings, as Google’s ranking algorithms heavily favour sites offering a good user experience, and mobile speed
Mobile-first SEO: Why is it non-negotiable in 2025-2026?
Mobile-first indexing, fully rolled out by Google as of December 2025, means Google predominantly uses the mobile version of a website for indexing and ranking.
What’s the best way to optimize for Australian mobile search in 2026?
Optimising for Australian mobile search in 2026 increasingly relies on Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), which uses AI to provide more conversational and visually rich
How do I use GBP reviews and QR codes to turbocharge my local SEO?
Google Business Profile (GBP) reviews and QR codes work together to enhance local SEO by increasing visibility, driving customer interaction, and signalling relevance to Google’s
Can I rank in Sydney if my business is based in Melbourne?
Yes, you can rank in Sydney even with a Melbourne-based business, but it relies on demonstrating relevance to Sydney-based searchers through Google’s understanding of your
How do I compete with Yelp, True Local, and Product Review in Australian search?
Competing with established review platforms in Australian search results requires leveraging Google’s Business Profile (GBP) and its integration with the Google Knowledge Graph. The core
My Google Business Profile isn’t showing in local search – what’s wrong?
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) may not be appearing in local search results because Google’s local ranking system, powered by the broader Google Search algorithm,
How do I rank for “near me” searches across multiple Australian cities?
Ranking for “near me” searches across multiple Australian cities relies heavily on optimising your Google Business Profile (GBP) and leveraging Google’s Local Services Ads (LSA)
Do I need a .com.au domain to rank in Google Australia or will .com work?
You do not *need* a .com.au domain to rank in Google Australia, however, Google uses country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) like .com.au as a strong
How can I get my .com.au website on first page of Google search?
Achieving a first-page ranking on Google for Australian searches relies heavily on demonstrating relevance and authority to Google’s search algorithms, and currently, Google’s Search Generative
Should I invest in SEO or pivot to AI platform optimization for 2026?
As of December 2025, both Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and AI platform optimisation are distinct approaches to improving online visibility, but their mechanisms are diverging
How will Google’s AI Overviews affect my website traffic in 2026?
Google’s AI Overviews, as of December 2025, function by directly answering search queries within the Google Search Results Page (SERP) using generative AI, potentially reducing
What SEO tactics from 2025 will stop working in 2026?
Keyword stuffing and exact-match anchor text, while still yielding *some* results as of December 2025, will significantly decrease in effectiveness in 2026 due to Google’s
Is traditional SEO dying or evolving in 2026?
Traditional SEO isn’t dying, but it’s fundamentally evolving in 2026 as search engines increasingly rely on semantic understanding and AI-powered ranking factors, shifting focus from
How do I optimize for ChatGPT Search and AI answer engines in 2026?
Optimizing for ChatGPT Search and other AI answer engines in 2026 centres on structured data markup and comprehensive knowledge graphs, allowing these engines to directly