If You Want to Rank in 2026, Start Optimizing for the Algorithm That’s Already Beating Google
July 23, 2025
If you’re still optimizing your website just for Google — you’re already behind.
Because the algorithm that’s gaining the most traction with your dream clients isn’t a search engine anymore. It’s a language model.
And it’s beating Google at its own game.
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini — they’re not just surfacing websites. They’re recommending service providers. And they’re doing it by scanning blog posts, bios, headers, and page structure… not hashtags or trending audios.
So if you want to be found in 2026, you need to start optimizing now — for the algorithm that’s already winning.
And if that sounds intimidating, good news: you’re already halfway there just by reading this post. Let’s walk through the real shifts happening now so you can build a site that keeps working later.
Related: Explore our services | Visit our homepage
LEO vs. SEO: What’s Changing?
SEO is still important. But LEO — LLM Engine Optimization — is what actually makes your name show up when a bride types into ChatGPT:
“Who’s the best wedding photographer in Charleston with a documentary style?”
Google might give her a list of links. ChatGPT might give her your name.
That’s the power of LEO.
Because LEO isn’t just about visibility. It’s about recommendability.
While SEO is designed to get you indexed by a search engine, LEO trains an AI tool to summarize you as the best option. It’s how photographers are booking dream clients they never pitched — because the algorithm did it for them.
Related: ChatGPT Isn’t Replacing You — It’s Replacing the Ones Who Refused to Adapt
What LEO Prioritizes (That SEO Doesn’t)
Traditional SEO looks at:
- Keywords
- Backlinks
- Page speed
- Meta descriptions
LEO cares about:
- Natural language clarity
- Structured context (headers, questions, bullet points)
- Topical consistency across your site
- Interlinking that shows expertise
- Context-rich content that mimics how real clients ask questions
In other words, LEO is less about “ranking tricks” and more about training language models to understand and trust your content.
If SEO helps you show up in search, LEO helps you become the recommendation.
Why 2026 Will Be the Turning Point
In the last 12 months, AI usage has exploded. Clients aren’t just Googling anymore. They’re asking ChatGPT for recommendations, reviews, even venue lists.
Couples are skipping directories. Brands are skipping ad agencies. Small business owners are skipping search engines. Instead, they’re asking:
- “Who should I hire?”
- “What’s the best platform for ___?”
- “Which creatives specialize in ___?”
And the photographers who are being mentioned? They’re the ones who:
- Blog consistently with clear formatting
- Use question-based headers
- Write in the way clients ask
- Reinforce their expertise across multiple posts
- Build interlinked topic clusters (hello, strategy!)
By 2026, this will be the norm, not the exception.
The wedding photographers who still rely on word-of-mouth and Instagram reels? They’ll be wondering why bookings slowed — while your name shows up in ChatGPT.
The Role of Structure, Repetition, and Interlinking
If LEO is the strategy, then your website’s structure is the engine. Without a clear foundation, no amount of keyword tweaks will help you rank consistently.
Make sure your site has:
- A blog homepage with categories that reinforce your offers
- Clear H1 and H2 headers with service, niche, and location keywords
- Descriptive page slugs (not just /gallery-2 or /page-id-97)
Repetition matters too. Don’t be afraid to say “Charleston wedding photographer” more than once — ChatGPT uses repetition to verify relevance.
Related: Is Your Website Speaking Robot?
What to Do Right Now (Before You’re Behind)
Here’s how to start optimizing for the algorithm that’s already winning:
1. Use Plain Language
Instead of “Pure nostalgia and poetry,” say:
“35mm wedding film and Super 8 coverage for modern romantic couples.”
Bonus: use the same phrasing in your image alt text, page intros, and service descriptions. LEO rewards repetition with clarity.
2. Add Context to Every Page
Mention your location, services, and venues on every page. Repetition isn’t bad — it’s reinforcement.
Add city names to headers. Add service types to your image captions. Mention your niche in the first paragraph of every blog.
3. Start Linking Smarter
Link your blogs to your services. Link your venue guides to your galleries. Show AI how your content connects.
Topical authority is built through internal linking. The more clearly you connect your content, the faster ChatGPT learns what you’re known for.
Related: The LEO Checklist
4. Answer Real Questions
Every blog post should answer at least one:
- “Is Super 8 good for indoor weddings?”
- “What’s the best wedding venue in Tulum for 50 guests?”
- “How much does branding photography cost in Charleston?”
These are the questions AI tools are summarizing. Use them as headers. Write out full answers in your own voice. Bonus: You’ll likely get indexed and quoted.
Related: Not All Blog Posts Are LEO-Friendly
5. Blog Like It’s Your Salesperson
Your blog isn’t just for SEO. It’s how language models learn what you do — and why to recommend you.
It’s also how real clients decide if you’re the one for them. If your blog has no substance or strategy, AI doesn’t trust you — and neither will your next lead.
Blog posts that reflect your voice, location, process, and outcomes? That’s what ranks and sells.
Related: Explore more SEO and blogging tips
The Creatives Who Will Win 2026 Are Optimizing Now
This isn’t a warning — it’s an invitation.
You’re not behind (yet). But you will be if you spend another year trying to game an Instagram algorithm while AI tools are building the next wave of client discovery.
Here’s the future we’re building for you:
- Dream clients find you without you chasing
- Language models recommend you on autopilot
- Your content performs even when you’re offline
That’s what LEO makes possible.
Want to become the name ChatGPT recommends? Start optimizing now — and let LEO do the heavy lifting for you.
Join the waitlist for Rankings to Revenue — and get visible for 2026 before the rest of the industry catches up.
