SEO and AEO for Rebels: Nail the Basics, Rank Like a Rockstar

Not into SEO jargon and tech headaches? Good. You're in the right place.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn’t just for marketing wizards or Google whisperers. It’s for recruiters, agencies, and brands who are done with their website sitting on page 10 while competitors keep winning clicks.

Here’s the truth: you don’t need to be an SEO nerd to get real results. You just need the basics. And a killer attitude.

This guide is your no-fluff, zero-boring, straight-to-the-point breakdown of SEO that actually works tailored for talent pros, HR tech rebels, and recruitment brand builders who want to actually be found.

Key Takeaways (AKA: What You'll Walk Away With)

• You don’t need to code. You do need strategy.
• Keywords are everything when you use them right.
• UX, site speed, and mobile-friendliness aren’t optional.
• Link building is your secret SEO weapon.
• Social search (yep, TikTok too) is changing the game.
• Great content + basic optimization = organic win.
• AEO is a term you need to know

AI, SEO, AEO & Recruitment Marketing

AI is transforming the way recruitment brands show up online, from smarter content creation to deeper SEO wins. Here’s what you need to know:

The Industry Shift

• AI is disrupting the recruitment and marketing landscape.
  
  
• Staying current with tech and strategy is now mission-critical even for boutique agencies competing against global giants.
  
  

New AI-Powered Features (Now Live on Shazamme!)

• AI Assistant: Integrated into every text box for writing, editing, translating, and expanding content.
  
  
• Page Recommendations: AI analyzes your brand and suggests pages to boost SEO. Create instantly with smart layouts.
  
  
• SEO Assistant: Auto-audits pages, suggests meta tags, internal links, and bulk-generates missing metadata.
  
  
• Image Alt Text Generator: Instantly optimize accessibility with one click.
  
  
• Pre-designed Section Layouts: Drag, drop, and publish fast with AI-generated copy.
  
  
• Backups & Publishing Tools: Safer updates with both automatic and manual version saves.
  
  

Best Practices 

• Recruitment = Marketing: Treat your agency like a brand, not just a service.
  
  
• Consistency Matters: Keep NAP (Name, Address, Phone) details aligned across all listings.
  
  
• Zero-Click Search Is Real: Optimize for AI summaries, not just old-school blue links.
  
  
• AEO Over SEO? Focus on “Answer Engine Optimization” by using Q&A formats that AI search prefers.
  
  
• Know Your Niche: Regularly audit where you earn and where you want to earn then tailor your content.
  
  

Advanced Tactics 

• Train AI tools with detailed info about your agency for better, more relevant content.
  
  
• Create and publish employer/jobseeker FAQs and digital salary guides to build authority.
  
  
• Embed job widgets and talent showcases to drive action from the right audience.
  
  
• Use the all-new Social Manager and Analytics Dashboards to manage posts and track results across recruitment, marketing, and financial KPIs.
  
  

Action Point: Use Shazamme’s new features not just to optimize SEO, but to completely transform how you attract, engage, and convert.

AEO Is the New SEO (and Why It Matters for Recruiters)

Search engines aren’t what they used to be. With AI-powered results and zero-click searches on the rise, it’s no longer just about ranking on page one. It’s about being the answer.

Enter AEO – Answer Engine Optimization.

Instead of just optimizing for keywords, AEO is about structuring your content to directly answer questions your audience is typing (or speaking) into Google, Bing, and even AI tools like ChatGPT.

Think of it like this:

SEO gets you found. AEO gets you featured.

How to Optimise for AEO:

• Write in Q&A format – FAQ pages, “How to” posts, and salary guides perform well
  
  
• Use clear, conversational language that answers specific queries
  
  
• Add structured data and schema markup (yes, we do that at Shazamme)
  
  
• Be concise – search engines love direct, helpful answers
  
  
• Target long-tail questions like:
  
  
• “What’s the average recruiter salary in Brisbane?”
  
  
• “How do I create a recruitment agency website with AI?”
  
  

AEO is especially important for recruitment because jobseekers and employers are constantly asking very specific questions. If your site provides the best answer, you could land in a rich result, voice search, or even be quoted by AI-generated summaries.

Pro tip: Shazamme’s SEO Assistant and Page Recommendations tools help you write with AEO in mind – no jargon required.

Is SEO still relevant? (And Why Should You Care)?

Yes! SEO is how you help people (and search engines) find you online. That means showing up when someone Googles, "open jobs in Melbourne" or "top recruitment agencies with AI tools."

It's not magic. It's strategy.

SEO gets your brand in front of people who are ready to click, apply, and convert.

Lay the Groundwork: Your SEO-Ready Toolkit

Before diving into keywords and content, lock in these three must-haves:

1. A clean domain name — Keep it clear, relevant, and not 45 characters long.
2. Fast, reliable hosting — Slow sites = bad vibes (and worse rankings).
3. Smart site structure — Think clear menus, simple URLs, and easy navigation.

SEO Basic #1: Keywords That Actually Work

Keywords = Search Intent. Nail them, and you’ll unlock traffic from people who want what you offer.

Here’s how:

• Brainstorm what your audience is typing into Google.
• Use tools like Ubersuggest or Ahrefs to get data-backed ideas.
• Look at your competitors (then do it better).
• Focus on long-tail keywords, less competition, more qualified traffic.
• Don’t stuff. Make keywords feel natural.

Example: Instead of "HR tech," try "AI-powered hiring software for recruitment agencies."

SEO Basic #2: Content That Earns Its Place

Good content answers real questions.

It doesn’t need to be long. It needs to be valuable.

Try:

• Blog posts that solve hiring pain points.
• Pages that explain your tech in plain language.
• Case studies with actual results.
• Careers pages that convert.

Pro tip: Make your content scannable. Subheadings, bullet points, short paragraphs. Your readers (and Google) will thank you.

SEO Basic #3: Title Tags & Meta Descriptions

These are the first things searchers see. And trust us, bland doesn’t rank.

Do this:

• Include keywords in both.
• Keep it snappy. Think "hook meets helpful."
• Avoid clickbait. Build trust from the get-go.

Bad: "Welcome to our website"

Better: "Recruit Top Talent Fast | AI-Powered Hiring Tech"

SEO Basic #4: Don’t Sleep on UX

Google doesn’t rank ugly, clunky, or confusing websites.

Focus on:

• Fast page loading
• Easy site navigation
• Clear CTAs (call-to-actions)
• Accessibility for all users

Great UX = longer visits = better rankings.

SEO Basic #5: Go Mobile or Go Home

More than half of your visitors are on their phones. And Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing.

Your website should:

• Adapt to screen sizes
• Be touch-friendly
• Keep buttons big and forms simple

Still unsure? Test it with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.

SEO Basic #6: Build Links Like a Boss

Backlinks = Trust.

When other credible sites link to yours, it’s like the internet vouching for you.

How to get them:

• Create content worth linking to
• Guest blog on industry sites
• Partner with other businesses
• Submit to directories
• Don’t be afraid to ask

Bonus: Internal links help too. Link your own pages together with purpose.

SEO Basic #7: Get Your Tech Together

Yes, technical SEO matters. But no, it doesn’t have to be scary.

Checklist:

• Secure your site (HTTPS is a must)
• Submit a sitemap
• Use clear URLs
• Fix broken links
• Avoid duplicate content
• Make sure Google can crawl your site

It’s like cleaning your digital house. Not glamorous, but absolutely necessary.

SEO Basic #8: Measure What Matters

You can’t improve what you don’t track.

Use tools like Google Analytics and Search Console to:

• See what keywords bring traffic
• Track bounce rates and session time
• Monitor rankings
• Spot and fix dips fast

SEO isn’t set-and-forget. It’s test, learn, repeat.

Let’s Wrap It Up: SEO That Works for Humans (and Algorithms)

You don’t need to be an expert. You just need:

• A solid foundation
• Consistent content
• A little patience

And if you're thinking, "This sounds like a lot to manage" — you’re not wrong. But you’re also not alone.

Ready to Show Up Where It Counts?

Let Shazamme turn your recruitment website into an SEO machine.

We’ll handle the tech, the optimization, and the content, so you can focus on scaling your business.