Key SEO trends for businesses in 2026
Website search optimisation methods are changing rapidly. Google is actively introducing new rules for ranking websites.
In 2026, the winners will be those websites that can adapt their content to work with Zero-Click Search algorithms, increase trust and create the most useful, structured content with a personalised experience for visitors.
Multimodal search, AI Overviews, and formats in which users receive answers without going to the website are called Zero-Click Search.
Let's take a look at five important trends for businesses in 2026 for SEO that every website should consider, as well as recommendations from YoSiteUp SEO experts that we implement for our clients.
The transition from SEO to AEO and GEO. How to adapt website content for AI?
How to adapt to AI answers?
- Depending on the type of your content, implement Schema.org markup (HowTo, Product, FAQ, Video, Review, Service, Organisation, Author).
- Implement the llms.txt file used to protect your content from unwanted AI use.
- Adapt your content to structured blocks with clear logic: steps, answers, instructions, and comparisons.
What results will you get?
- The opportunity to appear in AI Overviews.
- Enhanced rich snippets.
- Improved CTR metrics in zero-click search conditions.
Key business SEO requests for 2026:
- Implement Schema Markup on the website for AI optimisation.
- Optimise website content for LLM models.
- Implement llms.txt and content protection.
How to improve Google's trust in your website content?
Google's algorithm for evaluating the trustworthiness of your website's content, or E-E-A-T, is an important signal for Google and users.
Google increasingly considers expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness to be important factors in website content. In the era of AI implementation, this has become an important ranking factor.
How to implement E-E-A-T factors on your website?
- Create an "About Us" page with the complete history of the company.
- Have a "Team" page with photos, biographies, and links to social networks.
- Link to the author of the article's page "Author".
- Section "Cases", reports and real results.
- Implement "Schema.org" content markup for these pages.
Why implement E-E-A-T?
Google's search algorithm wants to understand:
- Who is behind the content?
- Can this source be trusted?
For website visitors, this serves as protection against poor-quality content and is a good indication that the material was created by a real expert or organisation that is directly related to the content on the website.
What is Multi-Format and Interactive Format and why use it on a website?
Users consume information in dozens of different formats, and Google adapts its algorithms to recognise them.
What should you implement on your website in 2026 to increase traffic?
- Add short video responses Shorts/Reels directly to articles.
- Transcribe each video for SEO.
- Use full ALT descriptions for search results.
- Implement interactive elements: online cost calculation, online surveys, AI-based chatbots.
As a result, you will get
- Increased engagement.
- Strengthened behavioural factors.
- The ability for users to navigate to the page after a zero-click response.
Working with First-Party Data and Personalization
What is recommended?
- Use forms to capture data: quizzes, subscriptions, consultation questionnaires
- Implement chatbots that collect the necessary information.
- Integrate CRM to track the user's path.
- Personalise content displays: suggested services, segments, recommendations.
What will businesses gain?
- Increased conversion rates.
- Reduced dependence on advertising algorithms.
- The ability to create a unique experience for each customer.
Key Takeaway: What Businesses Need to Do to Develop SEO in 2026
Transition from classic SEO to AEO and GEO
Optimise content so that it appears in AI Overviews and is readily used by AI models.
Take advantage of the new era of trust in content
E-E-A-T is more important than keywords. Users and Google want to see proof of expertise.
Interactive and multi-format
Video, visual search, interactive and UX animation. Content diversity increases engagement and ranking.
Use key tools for growth
Expert pages, video content, transcripts, first-party data, Schema Markup — these are key elements for successful SEO for your website.

