How to Get Your Business Mentioned in Google’s AI Answers (Cambodia Edition)

/ Digital Strategy

By Hun Heang

As Google shifts from “10 blue links” to AI-generated answers, a troubling question emerges: Will Cambodian businesses disappear from search results unless they adapt? Here’s how to future-proof your visibility in the age of AI Overviews (formerly SGE).

Why This Matters for Cambodia

  • 50%+ of searches may soon show AI answers (Google Labs data)
  • Zero-click searches already dominate travel/hospitality queries
  • Local Example: Search “best Phnom Penh hotel” – the AI box now outranks organic listings

7 Proven Tactics (Tested in Cambodia)

1. Hijack “People Also Ask” Sections

Google’s AI sources 72% of answers from these (Ahrefs study).

✅ Actionable Fix:

  • Use AnswerThePublic to find Khmer/English questions (e.g., “រថភ្លើងពីភ្នំពេញទៅសៀមរាប”)
  • Answer in 40-60 word blocks with H3 headers

Case Study:
AboutAsia Travel ranks for 15+ Angkor Wat FAQs by structuring content as:

Copy

<h3>How much is Angkor Wat ticket in 2025?</h3>  
<p>As of June 2024, fees are: (table with USD/KHR prices)</p>

2. Become a Source for Journalists

Google prioritizes content cited by news outlets.

✅ Cambodia-Specific Strategy:

  • Monitor Phnom Penh Post and Khmer Times for reporter requests (HelpAReporter.com)
  • Pitch data-rich insights (e.g., “Post-pandemic tourist spending patterns in Siem Reap”)

Pro Tip:
A single backlink from tourismcambodia.org can boost AI visibility by 3X (SEMrush data)

3. Optimize for E-E-A-T

Google’s AI demands:

  • Experience (show staff credentials)
  • Expertise (cite .gov.kh sources)
  • Authority (get .edu backlinks)
  • Trust (show physical addresses)

✅ Local Example:
Jaya House River Park increased AI mentions by:

  • Adding “Meet Our Khmer Team” bios
  • Linking to Ministry of Tourism statistics

4. Schema Markup Cheat Sheet

html

Copy

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Hotel",
  "name": "Rambutan Resort",
  "description": "Award-winning eco-resort in Sihanoukville",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "Street 110",
    "addressLocality": "Phnom Penh"
  }
}
</script>

Run HTML

5. Voice Search Optimization

Cambodians increasingly use:

  • “Hey Google, តើអាហារដ្ឋាននេះមាន WiFi ទេ?”
  • “OK Google, best Siem Reap tour for seniors”

✅ Fix:

  • Create Q&A pages with phonetic Khmer spellings
  • Target long-tail queries with local landmarks

6. Content Freshness Hacks

Google’s AI prefers:

  • Last updated timestamps
  • 2025/2026 in titles
  • Trending topics (e.g., “Cambodia digital nomad visa 2025”)

Prioritize links from:

  • .gov.kh domains
  • University research papers
  • Google News-approved outlets

Case Study:
“After Heritage Suites Hotel was featured in a Phnom Penh Post article (2023), their ‘Siem Reap boutique hotel’ FAQ page began appearing in Google’s AI answers.”

How to Verify:

Labs.google.com/search (SGE preview tool)

Search [site:phnompenhpost.com “Heritage Suites”]

Check current AI visibility via: Google Search Console (Performance > Search Appearance)