Latest Insights

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Reviews and Testimonials increase in bound inquiries by 34%

Just one aspect of Social proof – Reviews can turn a “maybe ” into a yes! Websites using testimonials see +34 % more leads. Source: BigCommerce Consumer Trust Study (2024)

More clicks go to organic than ads

70 % of local business clicks go to organic results, not ads. That means that Google Business Profiles, Map Packs and Traditional Search matter more than ever for service businesses. Source: Moz Local Search Report (2023)

Over 100 web designers list Ballarat as their base

Only a handful specialise in Search Engine Optimisation and conversion-led strategy, As of October 2025 only 4 mention AI Search. Brighter Websites is One

Return on your marketing investment compounds quickly when you combine SEO and Conversion Optimisation (CRO)

Businesses that combine SEO + CRO grow leads 30–50 % within 6 months. Source: Aggregated Industry Case Studies (Portent, Databox, HubSpot 2024)

Stay ahead of the curve with Brighter Websites’ Latest Insights. Find expert commentary on SEO, AI, Web design and the world of search visibility. We track Google updates, algorithm changes, and generative AI trends in Regional Areas and world wide - Understand what is changing, why it matters for your business, and how to stay visible in search and beyond.

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This Week in AI, SEO & Digital Growth

The future of digital growth is being rewritten. This week, AI continues to reshape how content is discovered, cited, and trusted, while zero-click searches and smarter design tools are redefining SEO success. Businesses must now focus on building authority, structuring for AI visibility, and creating websites that humans and machines trust.

Digital cubes with icons on circuit board surface.

SEO in the AI Era: Why Authority-Led Topic Clusters Could Replace Keyword-First Strategies

Ballarat, Australia: The latest Google core update has sent shockwaves through the SEO industry, with impressions falling, clicks rising, and AI Overviews reshaping how results appear. As debates about whether “SEO is dead” resurface, Brighter Websites’ Vanessa Wood argues the answer isn’t keywords — it’s authority. Her proposed framework, Authority-Led Topic Clusters, shifts the focus from chasing rankings to building thematic depth, proof, and trust the signals Google and AI now reward.

Free digital marketing and website design workshop for business owners, led by Vanessa at Craig’s Hotel Lydiard St Ballarat, focusing on SEO, content, social media, and tech tools.

Fix My Website Ballarat: Coffee Chats & Support

Join us at Craig’s Royal Hotel every Wednesday for a free, casual co-working session hosted by Vanessa from Brighter Websites. Work on your website, get help with digital tasks, ask questions, and connect with other small business owners – all over coffee. Free to attend, but please register. One-on-one bookings also available.

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Latest Insights

This Week in AI, SEO & Digital Growth

SEO in the AI Era: Why Authority-Led Topic Clusters Could Replace Keyword-First Strategies

Fix My Website Ballarat: Coffee Chats & Support

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