If have your own website or you’ve been hanging around the SEO world lately, you’ve probably noticed the goalposts haven’t just moved, they’ve been replaced by a swarm of intelligent robots.
Knock knock, who’s there? 🤖 Robots, apparently. According to the stats from WP Engine, automated traffic now accounts for 51% of all web activity [SOURCE]
Back in the day, “Search Engine Optimisation” was about convincing Google to put your blue link at the top of a page. But in 2026, the game is about convincing an AI to speak your name. Welcome to the era of GEO, AEO and AISEO. If those sound like obscure NASA projects, don’t worry. At DCOED, we’re all about stripping away the waffle and getting to the results. Here is what they actually mean and how you can use them to stay ahead of the curve.
This is about being the “Final Answer.” When you ask Siri or Alexa a question, or when Google shows an “AI Overview” or “Featured Snippet” at the very top, that’s an Answer Engine. AEO is the art of structuring your content so it’s the easiest, clearest answer for the machine to grab.
This is the new kid on the block. It’s optimising for generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. GEO isn’t just about ranking; it’s about being sourced. You want the AI to say, “According to [Your Brand Name]…”
This is the umbrella term. It’s the shift from traditional keyword-stuffing to a strategy that understands how AI algorithms think. It’s about feeding the machine high-quality, structured data so it understands exactly who you are and what you do.
Because the way people find you has changed. Users aren’t just scrolling through ten links anymore; they’re asking a chatbot for a recommendation or looking for a direct answer on their lock screen. If your website isn’t optimised for these “Generative Engines” you’re essentially invisible to a huge chunk of your audience.
How do you make an AI fall in love with your website? It’s not about tricks; it’s about performance and structure.
AI likes clarity. If you’re writing a blog post about “The Best WordPress Plugins for SEO,” don’t bury the lead.
The Tip: Use a clear H2 heading with the question and follow it immediately with a concise 40-60 word answer. AI engines love to “scrape” these bite-sized nuggets.
This is where the web development geeks (that’s us) really shine. Schema is a piece of code that tells search engines exactly what they’re looking at. Is it a product? An event? A recipe? A Bristol Web Designer?
The Tip: Ensure your technical SEO is rock-solid. If your site’s code is messy, or worse has errors in, the AI will get confused and move on to your competitor.
Check our guide on how to use schema for more details.
GEO relies heavily on credibility. AI models are trained to look for “trusted sources.”
The Tip: Don’t just post content; back it up with data, external links to reputable sources and a strong “About” page that proves you know your stuff (Google calls this E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness).
People don’t search like robots; they search like humans. Instead of “Web Design Bristol” they ask “Who is the best independent web designer in Bristol for a custom WordPress project?”
The Tip: Write content that answers these specific, conversational questions. Use tools like Answer The Public or Google Trends to see what people are actually asking.
The machines are getting smarter, but we’re not living in the Matrix just yet. The secret to winning is still the same: Quality. A fast, well-coded, well-designed, custom WordPress site is the best foundation you can have for GEO and AEO. Why? Because when a site is built with zero fluff the AI can see your value instantly. No bloat, no confusing templates, just high-performance results that search engines (and humans) love.
Is your site ready for the AI shift? Would you like me to run a quick audit on your current site’s Schema markup to see if the robots can actually understand your business? Come say hi.
No, not if the migration is handled correctly. In fact, a redesign often improves rankings by fixing technical errors and improving page speed.
However, the risk exists if URLs change without a plan. At DCOED, we mitigate this by creating a comprehensive 301 redirect map before launch. This ensures that any old page (e.g., /old-service-page) automatically forwards users and Google to the new equivalent. We also transfer all meta data and submit a new sitemap to Google Search Console immediately upon launch to preserve your hard-earned SEO authority.
Plan a safe SEO migrationYes when built properly. WordPress gives you full control over the technical SEO foundations, page speed, mobile responsiveness and structured content. Paired with a smart strategy, it can outrank most platforms.
See our WordPress SEO resultsSEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation and it’s a series of approaches, such as keyword choice, that improve your visibility and how people find your content on search engines like Google.
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