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.
How to find the right keywords for Australia?
Finding relevant keywords for the Australian market involves utilising tools that analyse search data, and Google’s Keyword Planner, integrated within Google Ads, is a primary
Is SEO dead in 2026?
No, SEO is not dead in 2026, but its mechanisms have evolved significantly; it’s more accurately described as having undergone a fundamental shift driven by
What’s the best SEO tool for Australia 2026?
Determining a single “best” SEO tool for Australia in 2026 is complex, however, Semrush currently operates as a comprehensive platform offering a broad suite of
How to optimise images for SEO in 2026?
Optimising images for SEO in 2026 continues to rely on conveying image content to search engines through multiple signals, with Google’s Multimodal Search increasingly prioritising
Why did my rankings drop in Australia?
Rankings fluctuations in Australia, as of December 2025, are frequently linked to Google’s ongoing refinement of its Search Generative Experience (SGE) and its increasing emphasis
Can I rank without backlinks in 2026?
Ranking without traditional backlinks is increasingly possible in 2026, primarily due to Google’s continued development of its AI-powered understanding of content relevance, and the growing
What’s local SEO in Australia?
Local SEO in Australia focuses on optimising your online presence to appear in local search results on Google, primarily through Google Business Profile (GBP) and
How often should I update my website in 2026?
Determining website update frequency in 2026 is increasingly linked to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) performance, specifically how Google’s ranking systems interpret ‘website freshness’. Google’s systems,
Should I focus on one strong keyword or target multiple related keywords?
Currently, Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) and other platforms like Bing AI, as of December 2025, are designed to understand user intent beyond single keywords,
Can I rank without backlinks or is that mandatory in 2026?
As of December 2025, ranking in Google search results without *any* backlinks is increasingly difficult, but not entirely impossible, and is unlikely to become mandatory
How many blog posts do I need to rank on page 1 of Google?
There’s no fixed number of blog posts required to rank on page 1 of Google; ranking depends on a complex interplay of factors, primarily content
I’m blogging every week but getting zero traffic – what am I missing?
You’re likely missing effective content distribution and discovery mechanisms; simply publishing doesn’t guarantee readership. Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), now a significant factor in search
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, directly impacting your search ranking as
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 implemented by Google as of December 2025, means the mobile version of a website is used as the primary basis for indexing
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