We’re pleased to share that Kia Ora Digital has been shortlisted as a finalist in five categories at the 2026 APAC Search Awards. It’s a moment that reflects how far our team and partners have come over the past year across SEO and AI Search. The shortlist recognises real commercial impact, clear thinking, and a consistent focus on helping brands bring in buyers, not just traffic.
This announcement rounds out a strong year for our agency. We’ve sharpened our work in AI Search, expanded our approach to search strategy, strengthened our blended search method, and helped clients reduce wasted spend while growing revenue from both organic and AI channels. Our finalists list shows that the work is landing where it matters.
Five APAC Search Awards Categories That Reflect Our Direction
Kia Ora Digital has been named finalists in:
- Best Small SEO Agency
- Best Use of AI in Search
- Most Innovative Campaign
- Best Use of Search – Automotive
- Best Low Budget Campaign (SEO)
Each category at the APAC Search Awards covers a different part of our method, yet they share a common thread. Every project began with one goal: bring buyers to the site through search channels that support each other rather than compete. That approach sits at the core of what we do, and the nominations reflect that consistency.
Best Small SEO Agency
This category recognises our overall performance as a team. It highlights our focus on revenue outcomes, our blended search model, and our approach to AI Search. It also acknowledges that we refuse long-term contracts and prove our value through 90-day sprints. The nomination reflects our commitment to clarity, accountability, and results that matter to owners and marketers.
Best Use of AI in Search
AI Search is shaping how people shop, compare, and research. Brands now appear in AI answers when buyers ask tools like ChatGPT, Gemini AI, DeepSeek, and Perplexity AI what to purchase. Our work in this space sits ahead of the curve, using AI Search to capture demand and guide buyers toward the right products. This nomination shows that our method is working and that clients can now win visibility in a channel that didn’t exist a few years ago.
Most Innovative Campaign
This category at the APAC Search Awards reflects the value of testing, iteration, and smart use of paid insights to guide organic and AI Search decisions. By treating paid search as a testing ground, we can prove buyer intent before investing months into SEO. The nominated campaign used that model to create a clear path from search to purchase, with each step tied to revenue outcomes. It’s an example of how our blended approach gives brands a clearer and faster path to growth.
Best Use of Search – Automotive
The automotive category is fast moving and highly competitive. Search behaviour changes quickly, buyers compare many options, and margins matter. Our work in this space focused on reducing wasted spend, improving search efficiency, and helping clients present options clearly to buyers. The nomination reflects the accuracy of our strategy and the trust placed in us to guide major decisions.
Best Low Budget Campaign (SEO)
Not every brand has large search budgets. Our shortlisted project in this category at the APAC Search Awards proves that smart direction can outperform large spends when the strategy is built from real user intent. By using paid search signals, AI Search insights, and a tight SEO roadmap, we helped a client achieve strong gains with limited resources. It reinforces our belief that smart, clear work can win against broad, unfocused activity.
Recognising Emerging Talent: Ben McIntyre
Our Co-Founder, Ben McIntyre, has been named a finalist in the Emerging Talent category. This recognition reflects his role in shaping our strategy, guiding our clients, and helping steer the business toward a clear and effective direction.
Ben has played a key part in developing our blended search model, our AI Search method, and our approach to forecasting revenue before clients spend a dollar with us. His work has set the tone for how we operate: direct, transparent, and focused on outcomes that show up on a balance sheet. This nomination is a well-earned milestone and highlights the impact he’s made on both our clients and our team.
A Thank You to Our Clients, Team and Partners
Awards are a welcome moment to pause, but the work behind them is what matters. We’re grateful to the clients who trust us with their search channels, the team who push for clear and honest results, and our partners who help us deliver outcomes that hold up under scrutiny.
Your support, collaboration, and belief in our approach make everything possible.
Looking Ahead to APAC Search Awards Sydney in 2026
The APAC Search Awards ceremony takes place in Sydney in February 2026. We’re proud of the work that brought us to this point and excited to stand alongside some of the most respected teams in our region.
We’ll continue building on what got us here: clarity, strong thinking, and search strategies focused on revenue, not vanity metrics. We’re only getting started.