SEO for Auckland businesses

2024 was a difficult year for many New Zealand businesses, but for this online electronics store, I netted them an extra ~17,000 organic visitors per quarter, increasing their organic traffic by a whopping 300% (4x increase) in only one year.

If you want the same kind of SEO results for yourself, here is how you do it:

• #1 Every page needs a purpose. Every product page, collection page, and other website pages should be mapped to at least one specific search topic for SEO. If you don't know what keywords your web pages should be appearing for, you will struggle to find footing with your own SEO.
• #2 Keep it fast and fun. Users will stay longer on your website if it loads faster and gives them a better experience. Focus on removing website issues, loading web pages quickly, and adding value to your customer's browsing journey.
• #3 Do not forget about local SEO Google search is not the only place you can get organic traffic for. Optimise your Google My Business (GMB) listing for searches on Google Maps, and optimise your website for highly local searches, such as "Electronics stores Auckland", or "Electronics stores near me".

Every New Zealand business is trying to get on top of AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Google Answers, and Perplexity, but very few know how to optimise properly for this quickly growing channel.

Over the course of 2025, I grew AI brand discovery for an international furniture company from 300 to a whopping 8,000+ visits from ChatGPT following my proven tricks & techniques for AI search discovery, here was the bones of our AI SEO strategy:

• #1 Feeds & Rich Data. Use schema.org structured data so AI tools can map your content into answers directly. Keep pages fast-loading and easy to crawl. Submit your data to feeds like Google Merchants, XML sitemaps, and directories. Optimizing your feeds and rich data to be both accurate and reflecting the queries you want to show for is key.
• #2 Authority & Trust Signals. Brand mentions and backlinks currently have some of the strongest weighting for showing up in AI answers. Promote discussion about your services or products on social platforms like Reddit, get referenced on high-authority websites, and get featured in reputable news outlets.
• #3 Monitor, Experiment, & Optimise Use a reliable LLM monitoring tool to track brand mentions & citations on AI answer engines. Certain LLMs like ChatGPT can update their results frequently based on new feed & search data, so experiment with different strategies, review the results, and adjust your website content + metadata to match how people are querying these AI platforms.

While many New Zealand Shopify merchants were struggling to get new visitors during the harsh 2023 year compared to 2022, I grew the organic traffic of a local fashion brand by 90%, resulting in an extra ~80,000 website visitors per quarter.

My work on the Shopify store's SEO contributed to their 28% increase on online sales for 2023 compared to the same time period in 2022, a phenomenal result during a time where many other local businesses were down in sales.

Here is how I did it:

• #1 A Faster & Better Website. You will struggle to achieve any SEO growth if the shopping experience of your store isn't perfect. I improved loading time from 5 seconds on average to 0.5 seconds, and redesigned the store layout for better online shopping.
• #2 A Cross-Platform Content Strategy. I worked with their internal team on a combined content strategy that was cross-posted on their website, social media, and weekly newsletter. The end result was simplifying their content creation while increasing the reach of their content.
• #3 Rich Snippets & Discovery Feed. With a few simple changes to their website and content, I increased the frequency that their website appeared in Google's rich snippets and discovery feed, which is one of the most important and overlooked factors for SEO rankings in modern day, and a crucial factor for appearing in AI searches (AI SEO).

I started working with Auckland businesses in 2014, when the city’s digital scene was still finding its rhythm. Back then, search optimisation was relatively simple, adding “Auckland” to a page title or headline was often enough to earn a top spot. Those days are long gone. Auckland has since become New Zealand’s most competitive online environment, with every industry pushing hard for visibility across Google and beyond.

My early work took me across a wide cross-section of Auckland organisations. I collaborated with local cafés and trades based in suburbs like Grey Lynn and Mount Eden, while also helping larger brands expand their reach across the greater Auckland region. Some of my first projects came through agencies in Parnell and the CBD, where I gained first-hand insight into how the city’s mix of fast-growing startups and established businesses approach SEO. That experience continues to guide my work today through my own agency, where I focus on helping Auckland clients compete in one of the country’s most dynamic markets.

My projects span everything from technical optimisation and structured data to strategic content planning and high-authority backlink development. Recently, my work has extended into AI-driven SEO and GEO optimisation for discovery platforms such as ChatGPT and Perplexity. These campaigns are built around Auckland-specific search behaviour, neighbourhood references, and content that reflects the character of the city from the North Shore to South Auckland.

Auckland is a city that never really stops moving. It’s home to the country’s largest economy, but also to local communities that value trust and long-term relationships. That mix makes digital marketing here both challenging and rewarding. I’ve seen how consistent, well-structured optimisation can help Auckland businesses stand out, connecting them with real customers, in real parts of the city, who are already searching for what they offer.

Auckland is New Zealand’s largest and most diverse city. The 2023 Census recorded 1,656,486 residents and a median age of 35.9 years, making it one of the youngest major urban centres in the country. The region contributes nearly 40 percent of New Zealand’s GDP and continues to attract both domestic and international migration. Forecasts suggest it could reach two million residents by the end of the decade (Auckland NZ).

Auckland’s economy reflects its scale and diversity. Key industries include finance, technology, logistics, education, and creative sectors, supported by a strong network of small businesses that serve local communities from the North Shore to South Auckland. The city is also a gateway for trade and tourism, with the Ports of Auckland handling a significant share of the country’s imports and exports. According to Auckland Economic Development data, the region produces almost half of New Zealand’s exports by value.

Education and innovation also play a central role. The University of Auckland consistently ranks among the top 100 universities worldwide, while Auckland University of Technology contributes thousands of skilled graduates each year. Together with research institutes and private training providers, they supply talent to key industries including engineering, IT, health and design. The presence of these institutions supports a strong pipeline of local expertise and entrepreneurship.

Quality of life remains a defining factor for the region. In the 2024 Quality of Life Survey, 75 percent of residents rated their overall wellbeing positively, with access to parks, beaches and cultural events often cited as highlights. At the same time, challenges such as housing affordability and transport remain key public issues (Auckland Council). Despite its scale, Auckland retains strong local identities across its neighbourhoods, from the creative centres of Grey Lynn and Ponsonby to the industrial hubs of Manukau and East Tamaki.

Choosing to work with me on your Auckland SEO means working with someone who has lived and studied in the city and understands how it operates from the inside. I spent six years based in Auckland, studying at both the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and Massey University’s Albany campus. Those years gave me a first-hand understanding of how the city’s pace, diversity and scale influence the way people and businesses connect online.

Living in Auckland shaped much of how I approach digital marketing. I experienced the contrast between the creative, fast-moving energy of the central city and the more grounded, community-focused side of the North Shore and outer suburbs. Working with local clients across different parts of the region helped me see how each area has its own search habits and audience patterns, knowledge that directly informs how I plan and execute Auckland-based SEO strategies today.

My time at AUT and Massey built a strong foundation in both communication and technology, and many of the professional relationships I formed during that period still connect back to my work now. Being surrounded by students, startups and established companies across Auckland’s digital scene helped me understand what makes online competition in the city so distinct, and why a localised, detail-driven approach matters.

Some of my best memories of Auckland come from simple moments: late nights studying in the city, walking through the Viaduct after work, and weekends spent exploring the different nature walks. Those experiences keep Auckland close to my work and remind me why local understanding is so important when helping businesses stand out in such a dynamic and competitive environment.