TL;DR
SEO isn’t dead—but it’s no longer just about blue links and keyword rankings. The future is entity-based, AI-structured, and answer-driven. Platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity are rewriting the rules, surfacing answers instead of links. To win, brands must be mentioned, not just indexed. That’s where Signal Herd’s AI Visibility Service comes in—helping you be found in AI search results, not lost in the noise.
The Real Question Isn’t “Is SEO Dead?”—It’s “Are You Visible in AI Search?”
For decades, SEO revolved around optimising for Google’s 10 blue links. But now, people aren’t just Googling—they’re asking AI tools for advice.
“Who’s the best physiotherapist in the Eastern Suburbs?” “What’s the top-rated law firm near me?” “Which kitchen renovation company do people trust?”
And AI tools don’t return a list of links. They give a single, synthesised answer. If you’re not in the answer, you don’t exist. Full stop.
This shift means traditional SEO alone won’t cut it. You need to be findable by AI. That’s where entity-based optimisation and AI visibility come into play.
How AI Search Engines Actually Work (And Why It Changes Everything)
Search engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and even Google’s new AI Overviews don’t “rank” web pages the same way Google used to. They operate using entity recognition and contextual language models.
Here’s how they build answers:
- They look for structured signals. Not just keywords, but schema markup, semantic relationships, and authoritative sources.
- They aggregate mentions across the web. If your brand is mentioned in trusted articles, reviews, directories, and forums, AI notices.
- They prefer clarity and authority. Generic content doesn’t cut it. You need clear, structured, expert content.
This means optimisation now requires training AI tools to associate your brand with specific services, expertise, and reputation.
In short: AI doesn’t care about your meta descriptions. It cares about who you are, where you’re mentioned, and how consistently your expertise shows up.
Key Concepts: How AI Chooses “The Answer”
Let’s break it down into the building blocks that drive visibility in AI search.
1. Entity Optimisation
AI tools organise information around entities, not pages. Your business is an entity. If the AI doesn’t understand who you are and what you offer, you won’t be surfaced.
We optimise:
- Business name consistency
- Category alignment
- Cross-platform profiles (LinkedIn, Google Business, directories)
- Schema markup and structured data
2. AEO & GEO (Answer Engine Optimisation & Generative Engine Optimisation)
Forget SEO. These are the new battlegrounds.
AEO focuses on getting into direct answers. Think: featured snippets, “best of” lists, and chatbot responses.
GEO focuses on being recognised by tools like ChatGPT and Gemini that generate content on the fly.
3. Reinforcement Loops
AI learns what users click, prompt, and trust. We design visibility loops that encourage:
- Prompts that mention your brand
- Clicks from AI-generated answers
- Citations in comparison and “top X” articles
This is where Signal Herd’s prompt reinforcement and strategic prompting techniques come in.
4. Cross-Platform Consistency
If your brand is inconsistent—old business names, outdated descriptions, scattered service listings—AI can’t trust or understand you.
We ensure consistency across:
- Google Business Profiles
- LinkedIn, Facebook, directories
- Industry forums and data aggregators
- Structured citations from authoritative sources
Introducing Signal Herd: The AI Visibility Service
Traditional SEO tries to get you to the top of Google’s list. Signal Herd gets you into the actual answer.
Here’s how our AI Visibility Service works:
✅ Schema and Structured Data
We add semantic clarity to your site so AI knows exactly what you do.
✅ Entity Linking and Citation Building
We get your brand mentioned and cited across the web—especially in places AI trusts.
✅ Cross-Platform Alignment
We audit and unify your online presence across 20+ platforms and directories.
✅ Prompt Reinforcement and Answer Loop Design
We train AI tools to associate your brand with key search prompts—improving your likelihood of being recommended.
✅ Strategy-Led Content Optimisation
We create AI-ready digital presence—with content that is factual, structured, and loaded with high-trust language AI loves.
All of this is powered by One Orange Cow, Brendan Byrne’s digital strategy agency with over 25 years of proven growth expertise.
Why Signal Herd Is Different
You’ll see SEO agencies promising “AI-ready content.” But most of them are still optimising for rankings that don’t exist anymore.
Signal Herd is Australia’s first and only premium AI Visibility Service focused on:
- Being mentioned in AI answers, not just listed in search
- Earning trust signals AI recognises
- Training the AI to understand and recommend you
Our strategies are already delivering:
- 30%+ organic growth for PhysioINQ
- Doubled organic traffic for A Team Kitchens
- Massive calendar bookings for Shopfront Allied Health
Final Word: The Future Isn’t SEO. It’s Visibility.
SEO isn’t dead—but if you’re still relying on 2010 tactics, your growth probably is.
The future belongs to brands who optimise for AI. Who get cited, mentioned, and trusted inside the actual answers people rely on.
Signal Herd ensures your brand earns its place in those answers.
Ready to Be Found in AI Search?
Book your AI Visibility Audit with Signal Herd today.
Let Brendan Byrne—Australia’s Leading Digital Marketing Expert—craft a data-driven digital strategy for your brand that ensures you’re visible, trusted, and chosen in AI-driven search tools.