What is AI Optimisation (AIO) the evolution of SEO? - a guide for small businesses
Here’s a simplified article about AIO that I have written in the hope it provides some answers and practical steps to help small businesses to not only show up online but get discovered!
With so many changes and so much noise, it’s hard to know where to turn. I’m not a fan of jargon, but AIO is something you’re going to be hearing more and more so I hope this helps you!
Let’s start at the beginning…
What is AI Optimisation or AIO?
AI Optimisation (AIO) is a way to describe working with the various Artificial Intelligence programs used by all the digital marketing and search platforms to boost your online presence so your business stands out more. It’s a bit like SEO, but not really…
Unlike old-school SEO practices that mainly focus on using the right keywords and phrases, AIO uses artificial intelligence to understand how people interact with your content, making sure it's more relevant and personal for your audience.
For small businesses, focusing on AIO is becoming essential because it helps improve your visibility on search engines and social media. With search engines all now using AI to get better at showing results that match what users are looking for, it’s necessary to go beyond traditional SEO methods.
How has AIO evolved from SEO?
AIO is all about making your website and social media more visible using smart technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. While traditional SEO focuses on using the right words and getting links to your site, AIO takes it a step further by learning from how people interact with your content. This means AI can help you tailor your online presence in ways that are more engaging and relevant to your audience.
AI has changed the way search engines work by making them smarter. These advanced systems don’t just look at keywords anymore; they try to understand what users really want based on their past behaviour and patterns. AI uses this information to rank websites and content, giving preference to those that are more likely to satisfy user needs. This means AI has a growing role in how easily your business can be found online.
One of the big advantages of AI is its ability to personalise search results. Unlike traditional SEO, which treats everyone the same, AI looks at what users have previously searched for, clicked on, or spent time viewing. Using this data, AI delivers search results that are tailored to an individual's preferences and interests. This personalised approach means that your business can connect more meaningfully with potential customers by showing up when they are most likely to be interested in what you offer.
Try it for yourself - you’ll see now when you search for something, the search engines and social media channels try to predict what you want by providing an overview of the topic.
Let’s take a look at how Google and Instagram use AI to improve their search
Google is using AI algorithms like RankBrain which works by compiling search patterns, how users interact with searches, and how pages rank for certain keywords and phrases.
With this data, algorithms like RankBrain can learn, adjust, and optimise the search engine rankings accordingly.These algorithms go beyond matching keywords to analysing the intent behind a search. They consider factors like how much time users spend on a page and their interactions with the content.
This means Google can rank websites based on how relevant and satisfying they are to users' needs, ensuring that high-quality, useful information appears higher in search results.
Super powerful right?!
Instagram has different priorities and is more focused on personalising feeds and enhancing discoverability for creators, employing AI to curate personalised feeds for each user (and to inform their advertising but that’s another story).
You know when you watch one video of a cute otter and suddenly they are popping up in every second video. That AI knows what you really want to watch…
Beyond learning what you watch, Instagram’s algorithms analyse behaviours such as likes, comments, saves, shares and interaction patterns, Instagram's AI then selects content that best matches individual interests.
This approach extends to Instagram's search and explore functions, where AI suggests content and profiles that align with what users seem to enjoy and pairs it with popular content in that genre - amplifying discoverability for relevant creators and businesses.
The overarching goal of AI in platforms like Google and Instagram is to provide users with precise, actionable results. AI overviews focus on interpreting vast amounts of data to predict what the user is looking for or might need next. This ensures that users are met with resources or content that are most likely to satisfy their queries or needs, creating a more engaging and relevant experience.
For businesses, this means optimising for AI is about aligning with user intent and creating content that genuinely meets their audience's needs. Doing this helps small businesses reach the right audience at the right time, growing both engagement and visibility.
Phew…do you want me to keep going? I better give you some tips before I bounce.
My top ten tips for AI optimisation for your website (Google focus):
Prioritise mobile friendliness
Improve page loading speed
Use AI-friendly keywords (research using Google or Ask The Public)
Optimise meta tags and descriptions - do your research first
Create quality content with AI insights (ask Gemini or similar to help you)
Use structured data (probably need a professional for that)
Optimise your images (file names, file sizes, quality, relevance)
Focus on user experience - the longer people spend on your site the better
Strengthen your backlink strategy
Monitor your performance regularly using site analytics or 3rd-party tools
My top ten tips for AI optimisation for social media (Instagram focus):
Use AI tools to help you learn what’s working and create content accordingly
Use your Instagram insights to make decisions (it’s the AI telling you what works)
Use Reels and Stories more and always use captions for accessibility and information
You could engage with your audience providing value using chatbots like Many Chat or similar
Partner with influencers or encourage user-generated content to provide social proof
Optimise hashtags (yes they are still a thing) get AI to help you
Schedule posts or post at optimal times consistently using your insights
Personalise, be human, build connections with your followers
Use keywords and key search phrases in your captions and bio
Use AI tools to help you with competitor analysis to discover what’s working and help you create content that is relevant for your audience
I don’t know about you, but I am always learning and trying to make the best of a pretty hectic world. While I know this topic has some people super excited about the possibilities, it equally scares the pants off others and leads to a sense of overwhelm. I don’t want that for you.
If you want help, please reach out. I can help you to make sense of all this and to either fix it ourselves or write a brief for your web developer.
❤️ Hi I’m Erika ✌️ I’m a marketing specialist with a stack of qualifications and almost 30 years marketing experience.
I’m well-placed to help you navigate the sometimes overwhelming world of marketing and social media.
I work with you one-on-one or create fun and action-oriented workshops and webinars for groups, organisations and businesses.
Book a free discovery call with me or simply email me to get the conversation started.
