October News

Traditional SEO focuses on helping your website appear in search engine results, while AI SEO considers how your content can be discovered, understood and referenced by AI-powered search tools.

The good news is that many of the fundamentals remain the same. Useful content, a well-structured website and clear information about your products and services are still important.

We've put together a guide explaining the differences between traditional SEO and AI SEO, and what you should consider when developing your search strategy.

For many New Zealand small businesses, the majority of customers come from within a specific town, city or service area. Whether you're a plumber in Auckland, a café in Wellington, a builder in Christchurch or an accountant in Hamilton, local customers are actively searching online for businesses like yours every day.

The challenge is that if your business isn't appearing in Google Search or Google Maps, those customers are likely contacting your competitors instead. This is where local SEO becomes essential.

Local SEO helps your business appear when people search for products and services in your area. It increases your visibility, generates qualified leads and helps you compete against larger businesses without spending thousands on advertising.

In this guide, we'll explain everything small New Zealand businesses need to know about local SEO, including how it works, why it matters and the strategies that can help you rank higher in local search results.

It might feel early to be thinking about Christmas, but October is a good time to start preparing your online store for the busiest shopping period of the year.

Here are a few things worth checking now:

• Product information: Make sure descriptions, prices, product options and photographs are accurate.
• Stock levels: Review your inventory and identify products you may need to reorder.
• Shipping information: Check your delivery prices, estimated delivery times and Christmas order deadlines.
• Special offers: Think about whether you'll run any promotions, bundles or seasonal discounts.
• Checkout: Place a test order to make sure the shopping experience works as expected.

It's also worth checking your website on a mobile phone. Customers should be able to browse products, find delivery information and complete a purchase without difficulty.

Getting these details sorted early gives you more time to focus on sales when the Christmas rush begins.

View the site of the month 

Awa Produce, a recent migration from Squarespace, is a beautifully presented eCommerce site. Well branded, it has a clean design and great UX for selling their avocados and honey.