SEO & AI search
Small business SEO services and AI search optimisation
Get found in Google and in AI-powered answers.
Search is changing
Affordable small business SEO services including AI search
Search is changing fast. Your next customer might not scroll Google at all. They might ask an AI like ChatGPT or Gemini for a recommendation. And they’ll go with whoever gets named.
My SEO services are built for this new world. I still cover the essentials: technical SEO, content, and on-page work. But I also set your website up so AI tools know what you do and when to recommend you.
If you are looking for Hereford SEO services, please click here.
That’s Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)
When we work together, we’re aiming for:
- Higher rankings in traditional Google search
- More visibility in AI Overviews and AI Mode
- A better chance of being named when someone asks AI “who should I use for…?”
- Clearer messaging so both people and AI know exactly who you help
Three-step approach
My small business SEO services: a three-step approach
I offer three clear phases of SEO. You can start at any point, and I’ll meet you where you are.
Step 1
SEO audit & strategy session
Want to know exactly how your site is performing?
I start by getting to know your business, your goals, and your competitors. Then I check your website against the four key areas of SEO: technical SEO, content, on-site optimisation and off-site SEO.
I also check how ready your site is for AI search. This means looking at whether your content is clear enough for AI tools to understand and use in their answers.
You’ll get a clear PDF roadmap showing where you are now and what to do next. We then meet online to go through it together.
What’s included
- Full website audit
- Light-touch keyword research
- Technical SEO review
- A clear action plan
- AI-readiness check on your key pages
From £675
Based on website size and complexity.
If your audit makes you want the full website too, the audit costs you nothing. Book a Wildcurrant build within 60 days of your audit being completed and I’ll refund the audit fee in full. Your build itself can start later.
Step 2
SEO setup & implementation
A website that Google, AI tools and your ideal clients can all find.
Research and planning: I set up Google Analytics and connect your site to Google Search Console. Then I do a deep dive into keyword research, competitor research, and content planning.
I look at how your content can show up in both Google and AI search. That means clear service pages, useful content, and a structure that helps AI tools understand what you do and who you help.
Set-up and updates: This includes updating page titles and meta descriptions, improving content, fixing image alt text, building an XML sitemap, and more.
Results and next steps: You should start to see changes in your search results within a few weeks of set-up being done. We’ll then review results and agree the next steps together.
For businesses ready to lay a solid SEO foundation.
What’s included
- Google Analytics and Search Console set-up
- Deep dive into keyword research
- On-page SEO optimisation
- Competitive research
- Content strategy
- Content optimisation for target keywords
- Content structured for AI and answer engines (AEO foundations)
From £995
Based on website size and complexity.
Step 3
Choose your monthly SEO support level
Perfect for small businesses that want steady, ongoing growth.
Ongoing SEO is where we keep building your visibility in Google and in AI search results. We improve existing pages and publish useful content, and keep an eye on how your site shows up as search changes.
What’s included
- Regular improvement for both traditional search and AI search features
- Technical SEO maintenance
- Strategic planning sessions
- Monthly performance reports
Investment
Half day £695 · full day £1,200 · 1.5 days £1,885 per month
Why Wildcurrant
Why choose Wildcurrant for small business SEO services?
Getting SEO right takes time and know-how. Most small business owners are too busy running their business to keep up with how Google works, let alone how AI search is changing things.
I do the hard work so you can stay focused on your clients, while I make sure people can find you.
Why work with an SEO agency in Ludlow?
As an SEO agency in Ludlow, I work with small businesses both locally and across the UK. Being based on the Shropshire and Herefordshire border means I understand the challenges smaller businesses face when trying to compete online.
Whether you’re nearby or further afield, you get the same personal approach. There are no account managers and you won’t be passed around; you deal with me, and I care about your results.
Small business SEO services that fit your budget
Every business is different, so I offer flexible options. You can start with an audit, move into a full set-up, and then choose the level of monthly support that suits you. There’s no pressure to commit to more than you need.
There is a minimum three-month commitment for ongoing work. After that, it’s flexible with no long-term contract.
Answer engine optimisation
What is Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)?
Answer Engine Optimisation is simply the next phase of SEO.
Ranking on Google still matters, and now AI tools also need to know what you do and when to recommend you.
Practically, that means:
- Clear, focused pages about each service you offer
- Helpful content that answers your customers’ real questions
- A well-structured site that’s easy for both humans and AI to navigate
- Trusted signals from around the web (reviews, citations, backlinks)
Traditional SEO is still the foundation. AEO builds on top of it, so that strong base leads to more mentions, more visibility, and more enquiries as AI becomes part of how people search.
If phrases like “AI Overviews” and “LLMs” make your eyes glaze over, don’t worry. My job is to stay on top of the tech so you can stay focused on running your business.
“The number of clients coming to Night Nannies has increased by about 25-30% in the past 4 months since I contacted Melissa and I totally attribute that to her wisdom. It was the best money I ever spent on my business and I have been recommending them to my fellow entrepreneurs.”
Night Nannies, London
Read the Night Nannies SEO case studyQuestions
FAQs
Do you have a case study on SEO that I could read?
Small business websites & SEO
If you need the foundations sorted first, I can build the site too. See my small business website design service (WordPress, WooCommerce and Shopify).
What is on-page SEO for small businesses?
On-page SEO means making changes to the pages on your website, things like your text, images and page titles, so Google can find you more easily.
What is off-page SEO for small businesses?
Off-site SEO means the things done outside your website, such as backlinks and directory listings, that build your site’s authority and help it rank higher in search results.
How long does it take to see results from SEO?
SEO takes time. You may see some changes within a few weeks, but bigger results usually take between three and six months.
Do I need to commit to a long-term contract?
Not at all. There is a minimum 3-month commitment required. But after this my ongoing SEO support is flexible, with no long-term commitments. You can choose the level of support that suits your business.
Can you help with local SEO?
Yes. Local SEO is a big part of what I do. I can help your business show up in local search results and on Google Maps. Read everything you need to know about local SEO.
You might also need
Local SEO
Show up in the Google Map Pack and local searches, with your Google Business Profile managed for you. £1,195 a month.
See Local SEOAI visibility audit
Find out how AI search tools see your business, with a clear list of what to fix. £995.
See the AI visibility auditSEO Power Hour
One focused 60-minute call on SEO, your website or marketing, with a written action plan. £197.
See the SEO Power HourSee everything I offer on Work with me, or compare prices on Pricing. For the basics, read my posts on SEO-friendly website design and SEO image optimisation.
Melissa Critchley
Founder of Wildcurrant Marketing, specialises in website design and search engine optimisation for small businesses. Based in Ludlow, Shropshire, she works with clients across the UK (and sometimes beyond!)
Great design is wasted if nobody finds it. Let’s talk.
If you are looking for a new small business website (with or without SEO), stand-alone SEO services including Local SEO, or Meta or Google Ads, please drop me a line, give me a call or book a free 15-minute discovery call at a time that suits you.
Email: melissa@wildcurrant.co.uk
Call: 07771 623276
