Search is changing, and it’s changing fast. With AI-powered tools like Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), ChatGPT and Perplexity becoming part of how people look for information, traditional SEO alone isn’t enough anymore to ensure your practice appears when someone searches for healthcare services in your local area. It’s time to expand your approach and prepare for the next phase of search: AEO, or Answer Engine Optimisation.
Does SEO still matter?
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) has been the foundation of online visibility for years. It’s about helping your website rank higher in search results so potential patients can find you.
Strong SEO focuses on:
- Local keywords such as “dentist in Parramatta” or “female GP near me”
- Fast, mobile-friendly websites
- High-quality, informative content
- Backlinks and reviews that build authority
These strategies make sure your practice shows up high in the search rankings when someone searches for your services. SEO still matters and is the foundation that everything else builds on. But the way people search is changing.
Enter AEO: The next layer of SEO
AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) is essentially the evolution of SEO. Instead of just aiming for the top of Google’s results, AEO helps your content appear in AI-generated answers.
When someone types or asks, “How often should I get a dental check-up?”, AI tools don’t always show a list of links anymore. They generate a summary using trusted, structured information from websites they understand best.
That’s where AEO comes in. It helps AI identify and use your content by:
- Writing clear, concise answers that directly address specific questions
- Structuring content with schema markup so AI can easily interpret it
- Emphasising accuracy, trust, and expertise, which is critical for healthcare content
AEO essentially adds a new layer to your SEO strategy. SEO gets you found in search results and AEO ensures you’re part of the answers those searches generate.
What does this mean for healthcare practice owners?
For dental, medical, and allied health clinics, this shift towards AI tools will gradually change how potential patients find you. If your website content isn’t structured for AI understanding, your clinic could be left out of AI-generated responses altogether, even if your SEO is strong.
That means fewer impressions, less traffic, and missed opportunities to attract new patients.
Adapting now gives you a head start. By blending SEO with AEO, your website becomes visible in both traditional search results and the emerging world of AI-driven answers.
How MedDigital can help
At MedDigital, we’re already helping healthcare practices future-proof their online visibility. We can help to optimise your website structure, write content that both Google and AI tools understand, and help you stay ahead as search continues to evolve.
Want to learn more? Complete our contact form or call us on 1300 75 75 22.
