SEO in 2026 will focus on optimizing content for AI-driven search, answer engines, and multimodal discovery beyond traditional rankings. Success will depend on topical authority, structured data, and user-centric experiences that align with how humans and AI systems evaluate relevance and trust.

Practical Ecommerce contributor Ann Smarty has published an article featuring three SEO predictions for 2026.

She says, “I’ve been a professional search engine optimizer since 2005. Never have I experienced the speed and magnitude of the current web changes. Generative AI is accelerating and progressively dominating search results pages via AI Overviews and AI Mode. Many traditional optimization tactics are ineffective.

Here are my search engine predictions for 2026.

Zero Click Discovery

Consumers will increasingly discover and research products without clicking an organic listing. Commercial websites have experienced traffic declines for years. The trend will accelerate in 2026, as genAI platforms will research and recommend products based on shoppers’ prompts.

For instance, I queried ChatGPT with the prompt “best hiking boots for winter.” The platform ran its own searches, identified the best options, and then compared products across multiple criteria, such as snow, insulation, warmth, and price.”

3 SEO Predictions for 2026

Practical Ecommerce