If you’ve searched for anything on Google lately, you’ve probably noticed the AI-written summaries at the top of the results. For many small business owners, that raised a worrying question: if Google answers the question itself, will anyone still click through to my website? On 15 October 2026, Google announced changes to Google AI search that should ease some of that worry, and they’re a good reason to give your website some attention.
What Google Announced
In an update on its official blog, Google said it is making it easier for people to click through to websites from AI Mode and AI Overviews (the AI-generated answers in Google Search). The main changes are:
- More links, placed higher. Google says it has significantly increased the number of links inside its AI answers, and will show them higher up in the response more often.
- An “official websites” section. Google is testing a section at the top of some AI answers that highlights the official sites for a task or piece of information, with a short note on why each link is useful.
- More clickable related links. Links at the end of some AI answers will include image thumbnails and a more clickable design.
In plain language: Google wants its AI answers to send people to real websites. The question for your business is whether your website is the one it chooses.
Why This Matters for South African Small Businesses
When someone in Cape Town asks Google “who does same-day plumbing in Blouberg?” or “best coffee shop near Durbanville”, the AI answer pulls information from websites it trusts and links to some of them. If your website clearly explains what you do, where you do it and how to contact you, you give Google a good reason to include you.
If your website is outdated, slow, or vague about your services, Google is more likely to send that potential customer to a competitor instead.
A Checklist to Help Google AI Search Find Your Business
There’s no secret trick to getting picked. The basics of good SEO matter more than ever:
- Say clearly what you do. Give each main service its own page, with a heading that uses the words your customers would search for. “Kitchen renovations in Cape Town” works better than “Our Solutions”.
- Name the areas you serve. List the suburbs and towns you work in, so Google can match you to local searches.
- Keep your Google Business Profile up to date. Check your hours, phone number, address, photos and service list, and reply to your reviews. Make sure these details match what’s on your website.
- Answer real customer questions. An FAQ section covering prices, turnaround times and what to expect is exactly the kind of content AI answers draw from.
- Make it fast on a phone. Most South Africans search on their mobiles, so a slow or clunky site loses visitors before they’ve read a word. (We’ve written more about why mobile-first design matters.)
- Keep it current. Old prices, expired specials and broken links tell both people and search engines that a site isn’t looked after. Regular website maintenance keeps everything fresh and secure.
- Make contacting you easy. Put your phone number, WhatsApp link and contact form where visitors can find them in a second.
An Example Close to Home
Imagine two electricians in Table View. The first has a one-page website with a logo, a phone number and the words “All electrical work”. The second has separate pages for COC certificates, solar and backup power installations and emergency call-outs, lists the suburbs it covers, shows recent reviews and loads quickly on a phone.
When someone asks Google for “an electrician for a COC in Table View”, the second business gives Google much more to work with, so it has a far better chance of appearing in the AI answer and getting the click.
Don’t Panic About AI Search
AI search is changing how people find businesses, but it hasn’t made websites less important. If anything, Google’s latest update shows that a clear, trustworthy website is what gets you recommended. Businesses that keep their sites useful and up to date are the ones that will benefit.
You can read Google’s full announcement on the Google Keyword blog.
Not sure if your website is ready for AI search? Get in touch with 1iDesigns for an SEO check, and we’ll show you what’s working and what to fix so Google can find and recommend your business.
