We’re proud to announce that Digital Hitmen has won Best Use of AI in Content at the 2026 APAC Search Awards, recognising our work with Discovery Alert and setting a new benchmark for how AI can be used responsibly, strategically, and at scale in SEO.

This win acknowledges not experimentation for experimentation’s sake, but a commercially focused AI implementation that delivered measurable growth, global visibility, and sustained organic performance in a highly competitive publishing environment.

Why this win matters

AI content is everywhere. Results like this are not.

The Discovery Alert campaign proved that AI can be used as a force multiplier, not a shortcut. Through expert-led prompt engineering, strict editorial controls, and deep SEO foundations, we transformed a low-visibility niche site into a global content platform trusted by both users and search engines.

This award validates our position that AI should enhance expertise, not replace it.

The winning campaign at a glance

Category: Best Use of AI in Content
Client: Discovery Alert 
Timeframe: 10 months

Key outcomes:

• • Monthly organic sessions grew from ~600 to over 298,000
• • Approved and surfaced in Google News
• • Non-Australian traffic expanded to over 60% of total users
• • Thousands of AI-assisted articles indexed without penalties or trust issues
• • Strong engagement signals across key events and repeat visits

 These results were achieved without paid backlinks, content spinning, or automation shortcuts.

How we used AI differently

This campaign was not about volume alone. It was about control, quality, and intent alignment.

Our approach included:

• • Rigorous AI prompt testing and iteration to ensure immediate query satisfaction
• • Structured article templates that prioritised clarity, scannability, and search intent
• • Clear author attribution and supporting EEAT signals across all content
• • Continuous refinement as AI outputs evolved, not set-and-forget automation
• • Human oversight at every strategic layer, from topic selection to publishing logic

 In simple terms, AI handled scale. Experts handled direction.

Built for trust, not just traffic

One of the biggest risks with AI-generated content is trust erosion. This submission stood out because trust was engineered deliberately.

Every article was designed to:

• • Answer the query clearly and early
• • Demonstrate subject-matter understanding
• • Follow consistent editorial standards
• • Integrate seamlessly with Google’s expectations for helpful, people-first content

 That foundation is what allowed Discovery Alert to scale aggressively without triggering quality or credibility issues.

This win reflects how we work

Winning Best Use of AI in Content reinforces the core principles behind every Digital Hitmen campaign:

• • Expert-led execution, not account-managed delivery
• • Data-based decision making over hype
• • Practical innovation that delivers commercial outcomes
• • Trust-based content emphasis grounded in real expertise

 AI is part of our toolkit. It is not the strategy.

Want AI that actually delivers results?

This award is not about headlines. It is about outcomes.

If you are exploring AI for SEO, content, or digital growth and want to avoid the shortcuts that lead to penalties, wasted spend, or brand damage, our SEO agency in Perth is here to point you in the right direction.

Let's talk.

Brad Russell is the Director and Co-Founder of Digital Hitmen and an award-winning SEO expert, widely recognised as one of Perth’s leading authorities in search marketing. Since 2009, he has built, scaled, and optimised websites that generate measurable revenue growth. With deep expertise in technical SEO infrastructure, conversion rate optimisation, and scalable content architecture, Brad delivers sustainable organic performance strategies that drive long-term business success.