A conversation with Ilija Stevanic, Project Design Lead at BIAC Digital Studio
Q: Ilija, there’s a lot of talk about SEO being “dead” and AI changing everything. From your perspective, what’s really happening?
SEO isn’t dead. But it’s also not the whole story anymore.
What we see very clearly is that the way people find information online has changed. More searches now end with an answer shown directly by Google or inside AI tools, without people clicking through to websites. This is already happening, not something in the future.
So the goal is no longer just “ranking high”. The goal is being understood, trusted, and visible where answers are actually shown.
Q: So does SEO still matter at all for Irish businesses?
Yes, absolutely. SEO is still the foundation.
Without good technical SEO, structure, performance, and accessibility, nothing else works properly. But SEO on its own is no longer enough. You also need content that clearly answers real questions and content that AI systems can understand and summarise correctly.
That’s where Answer Engine Optimisation and AI-focused visibility come in.
Q: You mentioned Answer Engine Optimisation. How do you explain that to clients without jargon?
In simple terms, it means writing content in a way that answers questions directly.
Instead of long, vague text written only for keywords, we focus on:
- clear questions
- clear answers
- good structure
- real intent behind searches
This helps content appear not only in traditional search results, but also in AI summaries, voice search, and conversational search tools.
It’s still SEO, just done in a more practical and honest way.
Q: A lot of agencies are now talking about “AI optimisation” and new buzzwords. How do you approach this at BIAC?
We’re careful with that.
We don’t follow hype and we don’t sell speculation. What we do is analyse real-time search data and performance signals from actual websites we manage. We use advanced AI tools to monitor visibility, search behaviour, content performance, and technical health across platforms.
If something works, we use it.
If it doesn’t, we drop it.
That’s how we stay agile and resilient. Search is changing fast, so rigid strategies don’t make sense anymore.
Q: When did BIAC start thinking this way?
From last year, we build all our websites and projects with AI search visibility in mind first — not as an extra, but as part of the foundation.
That means how content is structured, how pages are written, how data is marked up, and how the site performs technically. It’s built in from the start, not added later.
“We don’t build websites just for Google anymore. We build them so they make sense to people and to AI.”
— Ilija Stevanic, Project Design Lead, BIAC Digital Studio
Q: What does this mean in practice for a business owner reading this?
It means your website is no longer just a brochure or a traffic funnel.
It’s a source of truth about your business. AI systems increasingly rely on well-structured, up-to-date, and trustworthy sources. If your site explains what you do clearly and shows real expertise, it has a much better chance of being surfaced — even when users don’t click through immediately.
Visibility today is about being present in the answer, not just in the list of links.
Q: How do you manage risk when things are changing so quickly?
By being risk-aware, not risk-blind.
We test carefully, we monitor continuously, and we don’t make aggressive moves that could harm long-term visibility. Especially for sensitive or regulated niches, being cautious is often the smarter strategy.
We track performance, adapt fast when needed, and keep strategies flexible. That’s how you stay resilient.
Q: Final question — what should Irish businesses focus on in 2026 and beyond?
Clarity and trust.
Clear messaging. Clear answers. Clear structure.
And a website that works well, loads fast, and is accessible to everyone.
Trends will come and go, but businesses that are easy to understand — for people and for AI — will always have an advantage.
Ilija Stevanic – Project & Design Lead
