Growing your business online requires a multi-pronged approach. In 2026 digital marketing needs to go beyond the traditional factors. Whether you like it or not AI is here to stay so not only do you need to optimise you website in the usual SEO methods you also need to optimise for AI which means targeting AEO or Answer Engine Optimisation.
Here are some key areas to focus on:
Build a Professional Website
- Responsive Design: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly.
- SEO Optimised: Optimise your site for search engines to improve visibility.
- Quality Content: Your main pages should have well written content. You should include a blog and add new blog posts on a regular basis
- User Experience: Provide a seamless and intuitive user experience with easy navigation.
Content Marketing:
- Create high-quality, informative content that resonates with your target audience. This could be blog posts, infographics, videos, or even ebooks.
- Focus on building trust and establishing yourself as an authority in your niche.
- Share your content on social media and other online platforms to drive traffic to your website.
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation):
- Optimise your website and content for relevant keywords to improve your ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs).
- This includes using keyword research tools to identify the keywords that your target audience is searching for.
- If your website is new then focus on long tail keywords or keywords that aren’t too competitive. Once your website is established you can move on to more competitive keywords.
- Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate.
- Look at technical SEO factors such as ensuring your website is crawlable and indexable by search engines.
- Get good quality backlinks to your website. These can be from directories, blogs, social media etc
Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)
AEO is the evolution of SEO. While SEO focuses on ranking a website in a list of search results, AEO focuses on getting your content selected as the direct, definitive answer provided by AI models (like Gemini, ChatGPT, or Perplexity).
In 2026, AEO is about being the “source” for the AI’s synthesis.
The Core Pillars of AEO
- Structured Data (Schema): Using technical code (JSON-LD) to tell AI exactly what your data means (e.g., “This is a price,” “This is a ‘How-to’ step”).
- Direct Answer Formatting: Structuring content in a “Question-Answer-Detail” format. You provide a concise 50-word summary first to make it easy for AI to “scrape” and quote you.
- Authority & Citations: AI engines prioritise sources that are frequently cited by other reputable sites. It’s no longer about keywords; it’s about trustworthiness.
- Conversational Logic: Optimising for natural language. People ask AI “How do I fix a leaky pipe?” rather than typing “leaky pipe repair.”
Google Business Profile (GBP)
In 2026, your Google Business Profile is no longer just a digital business card—it’s your storefront. With the rise of AI-driven search, Google increasingly relies on your profile to feed “Local AI Overviews,” making an optimised GBP the fastest way to outshine local competitors without a massive ad budget.
1. Maximise Visual Credibility
In the age of visual search, high-quality imagery is a major ranking signal. Don’t stop at a logo; upload authentic, geotagged photos of your team in action, your workspace, and completed projects weekly. Short video tours or client testimonials are particularly effective in 2026, as Google’s algorithm now prioritises profiles that show consistent, “real-world” activity.
2. Leverage Direct Engagement
Engagement is the new “SEO juice.” Enable Google Messages (or WhatsApp integration) to capture leads the moment they find you. Proactively manage the Q&A section by posting your own frequently asked questions; this ensures AI tools pull the correct information when users ask about your services.
3. Cultivate Recent Social Proof
Total review counts matter, but recency and sentiment are now more influential. A steady stream of 5-star reviews from the last 30 days signals to Google that you are a relevant, active choice. Always respond to reviews within 24 hours, weaving in local landmarks or specific service names to boost your “hyperlocal” relevance.
By treating your GBP as a living social feed rather than a “set-and-forget” listing, you ensure your business remains the top choice in an AI-powered marketplace.
Social Media Marketing:
- Establish a presence on the social media platforms where your target audience is active.
- Regularly share engaging content, run social media ads, and interact with your followers.
- Use social media to build relationships with potential customers and promote your brand.
Email Marketing:
- Build an email list of potential and existing customers.
- Send regular email newsletters with valuable content and special offers.
- Email marketing is a great way to nurture leads and convert them into paying customers.
Paid Advertising:
- Consider using paid advertising platforms like Google Ads or social media advertising to reach a wider audience.
- Paid advertising can be a great way to quickly drive traffic to your website or landing page.
- Look out for vouchers. You can usually find a £400 Google ads voucher.
Track Your Progress
Use tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track how well your website is performing on the search engines. Search console focuses on organic search only and gives you invaluable information that allows you to optimise your site \ pages. Analytics shows you where all your visits are coming from so that you can see which marketing channels are working the best.
Other Strategies:
- Get listed in online directories: Make sure your business is listed in relevant online directories, such as Google My Business and Yelp.
- Offer excellent customer service: Provide excellent customer service to build positive word-of-mouth and encourage repeat business.
- Partnerships: Consider partnering with other businesses in your niche to reach a wider audience.
How to grow your small business online
Although most of what we have already covered will help a small business, here are some specific differences between small and large businesses:
Small Businesses: Tend to focus on a localised audience and target long-tail keywords (more specific phrases) that have less competition. They might prioritise ranking for terms like “Huddersfield plumber” or “best yoga classes Manchester”.
Large Businesses: Often have a broader national or even international reach. They can target high-volume keywords with more competition, like “running shoes” or “accounting software”.
Summary
By implementing these strategies, you can start to grow your business online. It’s important to be patient and persistent, as it takes time to see results. However, by consistently creating high-quality content, optimising your website, and engaging with your target audience, you can achieve your online business goals.
If you need help growing your business Lojix can help with SEO, AEO, Google Ads setup and management and content creation. Call us on 01226 236449.