Small Business SEO Services & Answer Engine Optimisation
Get found in Google and in AI-powered answers.
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.
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
Why Choose Wildcurrant for Small Business SEO Services?
“The number of clients coming to Night Nannies has increase 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
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 Optimization
➔ 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
Investment: 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
Imagine a website that Google, AI and your ideal clients can’t ignore.
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)
Investment: Starting 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, publish useful content, and keep an eye on how your site is showing 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 per month = £1,885
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.
That’s where I come in. I do the hard work so you don’t have to. You stay focused on your clients. I stay focused on making 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 based nearby or further afield, you get the same hands-on, personal approach. No account managers. No being passed around. Just clear, honest SEO work from someone who genuinely cares about your results.
What is Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)?
AEO is simply the next step in SEO.
Instead of only asking how to rank higher on Google, we also ask: how do I make it easy for AI tools to recommend my business?
In practice, that means:
Clear, focused pages for each service you offer
Helpful content that answers your customers’ real questions
A well-structured site that is easy for both people and AI to navigate
Strong signals from across the web, like reviews, listings, and backlinks
Traditional SEO is still the foundation. AEO builds on top of it. Together, they give you more visibility 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 focus on running your business.
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.
What is Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)?
Answer Engine Optimisation is simply the next phase of SEO.
It’s not just about ranking on Google any more. It’s about making sure AI tools know who you are, 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.
FAQs
Do You Have Case Study on SEO That I Could Read?
I do, read my Night Nannies SEO Case Study here.
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 for small businesses refers to actions taken outside your website—like backlinks, directory listings, and social proof—to boost your site’s authority and help it rank higher in search results.
Q: 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.
Q: 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.
Q: 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. Everything you need to know about local SEO – click here
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!)
ARE YOU READY TO LEVEL UP?
If you are:
- looking for a new small business website,
- with or without SEO
- or stand alone SEO services including Local SEO
- or Meta or Google Ads,
Then please drop me a line or give me a call.
Email me: melissa@wildcurrant.co.uk
Call: 07771 623276
Strategic website design plus advanced SEO & GEO
ABOUT
I work with small business owners delivering strategic website design and advanced SEO. Based in Ludlow, Shropshire and working UK wide.
07771 623276
The Coach House, Brand Lane, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY81NN
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