If your website isn’t showing up on Google (or worse, if AI tools aren’t picking you up) you’re missing out on a huge chunk of potential clients. In 2025, your website isn’t just about looking good. It’s about being found, understood, and trusted by both humans and machines.
On episode 45 of the Get Savvy podcast, we have a special guest: Anesha from Wildhouse Design Studio. As the creative arm of Strictly Savvy, Wildhouse builds websites that don’t just sit there collecting digital dust. They work 24/7 as your best salesperson. Anesha walks us through the practical steps small business owners can take to make their websites shine for both Google and AI-powered search engines.
SEO still matters in 2025
The internet is noisier than ever. If your site can’t be found, it might as well not exist. SEO isn’t about gaming the system by packing in keywords anymore (not that we ever recommended that!) - it’s about visibility and credibility. When Google shows you on page one, you instantly look more trustworthy to your audience.
I’s not just about Google now. People are searching on ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and other AI tools. Instead of just ranking sites, AI summarises them. If your content is clear, structured, and human-friendly, AI will lift snippets, quote you, and position you as the expert.
The Basics You Can Fix This Week
If you’ve only got an hour to work on your website, here’s where Anesha recommends starting:
Meta Titles and Descriptions
These are the headlines and blurbs you see in Google results. If you don’t write them, Google guesses - and usually gets it wrong. Crafting them yourself means you’re in control of the first impression.Alt Tags for Images
Instead of “image1.jpg,” describe what’s actually in the picture - bonus points for weaving in relevant keywords. For example: Marcus installing a new roof in Tauranga. It’s better for SEO and makes your site more accessible.Clear Service Area and Contact Info
It sounds simple, but too many sites forget to mention where they actually work. Don’t make your audience (or Google) guess.
Structure Matters More Than Keywords
Gone are the days of stuffing a page with thousands of keywords. What matters now is clarity.
Headings: One H1 per page (the main topic), followed by H2s and H3s to break things down. This helps skim readers and AI understand your content hierarchy.
Content Length: Around 500 words per page is plenty, as long as it’s useful. Quality beats keyword soup every time.
Fresh Content: Originality counts. Recycling your competitor’s copy or leaning on generic AI fluff won’t cut it. Your clients can tell, and so can Google.
What About Blogging?
Yes, blogging still matters. But instead of pumping out weekly posts, think about quality. A single, well-written blog answering a real client question is more valuable than five generic posts. Pro tip: look at Google’s auto-complete suggestions or jot down the questions clients keep asking you. That’s your blog gold.
How AI Reads Your Website
Unlike Google, AI tools want context. If an AI tool had to explain your business in 30 seconds, would it get it right? That’s the test.
To help AI (and your clients) understand your site:
Keep your language plain and jargon-free.
Write detailed service descriptions.
Build out an FAQ page with clear, human answers.
Consider schema markup (a bit nerdy, but worth it - it tells search engines how to read your site).
One Wildhouse client went from invisible to ranking first on both ChatGPT and Perplexity after a site refresh that fixed her structure and clarity. Proof that these tweaks work.
Don’t Forget Backlinks
Think of backlinks as digital word of mouth. If credible sites are linking to yours, Google sees that as a trust signal. Start simple:
Set up your free Google Business Profile.
List your business on local directories.
Ask suppliers or partners to link to you.
Write a guest blog or offer a testimonial in exchange for a link.
In New Zealand, backlinking is still underused, so even small efforts can put you ahead of your competitors.
The Big Picture
SEO and AI aren’t separate anymore, they work hand in hand. The goal isn’t to trick the system but to make your website clear, accessible, and genuinely useful.
Because if people can understand your site, so can Google. So can AI. And that means more visibility, more credibility, and more clients finding you when it matters.
Need Help Making Your Website Work Harder For You?
The team at Wildhouse specialises in bold, SEO-ready websites that both Google and AI love. Visit their website to book a discovery call with Anesha.
