Canberra businesses are quietly losing customers to AI-powered search, and many don't even realise it. Google's AI Overviews now appear on over half of all searches in Australia, providing instant answers that often stop users from clicking through to websites. For local businesses that relied on top rankings, this shift is a serious challenge.
What Are AI Overviews?
AI Overviews are Google's AI-generated answer blocks that appear at the top of search results. When someone searches for "best accountant in Canberra" or "how to fix a hot water system," the AI provides a summary before any website links are shown. Many users read the answer and never scroll down, meaning traffic that once went to top-ranking sites is now absorbed by the AI block.
This Is Not the End of SEO
Despite the disruption, SEO remains vital. Businesses cited as sources in AI Overviews often see an increase in qualified traffic. Visitors who do click through are further along in their decision-making and more likely to convert. The key is updating your SEO strategy for the way search works in 2025, not 2022.
What Google's AI Looks For
Google's AI prioritises content that demonstrates Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). Write content reflecting real experience, such as a Canberra accountant explaining ATO rulings rather than generic tax tips. Ensure technical foundations are solid: fast page speed, mobile optimisation, clean site architecture, and structured data markup. Build a reputation beyond your own website through third-party mentions, local press, and genuine customer reviews. Your Google Business Profile is a direct input into local search authority.
What Canberra Businesses Should Do Now
Audit Your Existing Content
Many business websites have outdated pages that dilute authority. A content audit identifies which pages to update, consolidate, or cut. This often yields faster results than publishing new content.
Add Structured Data
Schema markup (FAQ, local business, service schema) helps Google understand your content and increases the chance of being cited in AI Overviews. Most Canberra websites lack this, creating a competitive gap.
Optimise Your Google Business Profile
For local searches like "plumber near me," your profile is often more visible than your website. Regular posts, updated services, photos, and reviews improve local authority.
Create Question-and-Answer Content
AI search rewards conversational content that directly answers customer questions. For example, a mortgage broker should create a page titled "How much deposit do I need to buy a house in the ACT?" rather than a generic "Home Loans Canberra" page.
The Local Advantage Still Matters
Local search favours businesses with genuine local presence. Canberra businesses hold a structural advantage for ACT-specific searches that national competitors cannot replicate. Google Ads campaigns targeted at Canberra postcodes can achieve lower cost-per-click rates. If your website is over two years old, a new mobile-first, SEO-ready site can be a major lever, as Core Web Vitals are a ranking factor.
The businesses that adapt to AI search now will gain a compounding advantage. Updating content, fixing technical foundations, and building local authority will put Canberra businesses in a stronger position 12 months from now.
