Top 10 SEO Questions

1. What exactly is SEO and why does it matter?

Q: What is search engine optimization and why should I care?
A: SEO is the practice of improving your website’s visibility in organic (non-paid) search engine results. The better your SEO, the more likely people find your site when they search for relevant topics. It’s critical because traffic from search engines remains one of the most consistent, high-intent traffic sources.

2. How is AI changing SEO and search?

Q: With AI search, chatbots, voice assistants — how is SEO different now?
A: AI features like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, voice search and “answer engine optimization (AEO)” are shifting the landscape. You now need to structure content so that AI/answer engines can easily extract and present your content as direct answers.

3. What are the main types/categories of SEO I should focus on?

Q: On-page, off-page, technical… what do they mean?
A:

On-page SEO – optimizing content, headings, meta-tags, keywords, structure.
Off-page SEO – backlinks, brand mentions, authority signals.
Technical SEO – site speed, mobile-friendliness, crawlability, schema markup.

4. How do I optimise content so that it answers searchers’ questions (not just ranks for keywords)?

Q: What’s the method for content that both ranks and serves AI/people well?
A:

Use natural language and question-format headings (H2/H3) that mirror how users ask.
Provide a direct, concise answer up front (40-60 words), then deeper detail.
Cover user intent: what they are really asking, not just a keyword.
Include schema/structured data so AI and search engines can parse your content.

5. Why aren’t my pages ranking despite being “optimized”?

Q: I’ve done keywords/meta tags etc., but traffic or ranking hasn’t moved. What could be wrong?
A: Common issues:

The content doesn’t match search intent (people land then bounce).
Technical issues: slow loading, poor mobile experience, crawl/index problems.
Lack of authority/backlinks or brand visibility.
New AI/answer-engine dynamics: you may rank but aren’t being cited as direct answer.

6. How important are backlinks and brand mentions in 2025?

Q: Are backlinks still as critical as “they used to be”?
A: Yes, but the nature and value of links/mentions are shifting. High-quality, context-relevant backlinks help, but brand mentions, earned media, and being seen as a credible source for AI/answer engines matter more.

7. What is “Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)” and how is it different from SEO?

Q: I’ve heard of AEO. How is that different (or related) to SEO?
A: AEO is optimizing content so that answer-engines (AI summaries, chatbots, voice assistants) can pick your content as the direct answer to user queries, rather than just you ranking on a search engine results page.
Key tactics:

Short, direct answers.
Structured content with schema.
Use question headings.
Aim for being cited, not just ranked.

8. How do I optimise for voice search or conversational queries?

Q: With more people using voice/assistant search (“Hey Siri …”) how can I ensure my content still shows up?
A:

Use natural conversational phrases and questions in your content.
Use FAQ-style sections: “What is…?”, “How do I…?”, “Why does…?”.
Ensure your site loads fast and is mobile-friendly (voice search often on phones).
Use structured data so voice assistants can understand your content’s semantic structure.

9. How do I track and measure SEO performance when AI/answer engines are involved?

Q: If people find answers via AI/overview and don’t click through, how do I know my content is working?
A:

Monitor referrals and traffic sources carefully: look for traffic from AI/answer-engine domains (if available). Webflow+1
Track things like brand mentions, citations of your content in other sources (which AI might draw on).
Monitor click-through rate (CTR), bounce rate, time on page.
Use search console data, but be aware that visibility in direct answer blocks may not always show as a click.

10. What content shouldn’t I focus on (or what mistakes to avoid)?

Q: What are common pitfalls or things that hurt SEO now?
A:

Creating generic “me-too” content that doesn’t add value; AI and search favour unique, useful content.
Focusing purely on keywords instead of the user’s intent or question.
Ignoring technical site health (slow speed, bad mobile UX).
Relying solely on outdated tactics; ignoring AI/answer-engine dynamics.
Neglecting brand reputation, mentions, authority signals.