NBIS 2026: Be the Business AI Recommends - SEO, AI and Modern Search Explained

The Nillumbik Business Ignite Series is a two week program of high impact workshops, keynote speakers and networking events designed to support and grow Nillumbik’s business community.

Search is changing. Customers are no longer just typing keywords into Google. They are asking complex, conversational questions and AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Copilot are generating answers, not ranking links. In this practical session, Nina Buckley, a strategic brand and digital architect with over 30 years’ experience across global retail, publishing and marketing, will unpack why traditional SEO is no longer enough and how Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) and AI Optimisation (AIO) are reshaping how businesses are discovered online. Nina specialises in translating complex commercial strategy into structured digital ecosystems that AI platforms can interpret, trust and recommend. You will gain clear, practical steps to help your business stay visible, credible and understood in this new AI-driven search environment.

The workshop explores:

• The shift from keywords to context and trust

• How AI models decide who to recommend

• The signals that influence generative search results

• Why clarity, specificity and repetition matter

You will examine how AI interprets authority, language patterns and structured content, then apply practical techniques to your own business. Through guided exercises, participants will rewrite key elements of their website and social profiles to improve AI visibility, including homepage headlines, service descriptions and FAQs.

This session is designed for small and home based businesses who want to remain visible in an evolving search environment and position themselves as the answer, not just another link.  

NBIS is presented by Council in partnership with your local Bendigo Community Bank branches of Hurstbridge, Diamond Creek and Eltham.

Join the Business in Nillumbik private Facebook Group to stay updated, connect with local businesses, and access exclusive event insights.

Tickets are free, but registration is essential to manage room capacity and catering.