Notes on AI search
Plain-English guides, honest data and news on getting found and recommended by AI. Written for business owners, not SEO people.
The SEO Statistics Everyone Quotes, Traced Back to Source
I traced the most-quoted numbers in UK local SEO and AI search back to their origin. Several do not say what people think they say. Here is what I found, with the numbers that hold up.
I Checked Seven Best GEO Agency Lists. All Seven Ranked Themselves First.
On 4 August 2026 I opened seven pages ranking the best GEO agencies of 2026 and noted who each put first. The publisher won every time. Why that matters now AI assistants read these lists, and how to choose a provider instead.
The CMA's New Google Rules: What Changes for UK Businesses
In June 2026 the CMA imposed the first conduct requirements on Google Search anywhere in the world. What each one does for a small business, and which new button you should not press.
What the Research Actually Says About Getting Cited by AI
A July 2026 critical survey graded 45 GEO studies. The famous 40% figure does not mean what the decks say, repeat a prompt and the sources change, and one benchmark found optimisation reduced retrieval.
Does AI Traffic Really Convert Better?
The claim runs from 2x to 27x. Marketing Science studied 973 e-commerce sites and 50,000 ChatGPT-referred transactions, and found the opposite. Why the numbers disagree, and why the rate was never the point.
How to Actually Measure AI Search Traffic in 2026
GA4 added an AI Assistant channel in May and Search Console added generative AI reports in June, UK sites first. Both have holes. What each really shows, and an hour of setup worth doing.
What SEO Actually Costs in the UK in 2026
Real published UK agency prices from £99 to £24,000 a month, what you get at each level, what AEO and GEO actually cost, and the red flags Google itself tells you to watch for.
Getting Found in East Dulwich: What the Data Actually Says
Real numbers on SE22 and Lordship Lane: 114 businesses, 830 people an hour, a catchment that is 57% local. What that means for how an independent business here gets found.
CMA Vet Reforms 2026: What Independent Practices Must Do
The CMA Order lands by 23 September 2026: mandatory price lists, ownership disclosure and fee caps. What has to change on your website, and how to be ready before the corporates are.
SRA Transparency Rules: What Solicitors Must Publish
How the SRA's 2018 price transparency rules work, where firms fail 2019 sweep data, and what genuinely helps clients find you.
What Osteopaths and Chiropractors Can Legally Claim Online
A plain guide for osteopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists to GOsC, GCC and HCPC rules, CAP's chiropractic claims list, and what one patient is worth.
Getting Found Online: A Guide for UK Accountants
What a small company client is really worth over seven years, what the ICAEW and ACCA rules allow you to say, and the technical work that decides whether firms like yours get found.
SEO for UK Trades: What One Job Is Actually Worth
What Checkatrade and the lead sites really cost against what one boiler install is worth in profit, and the technical work that gets you found without paying per lead.
SEO for Pilates, Yoga and PT Studios in the UK
Real UK studio pricing, the maths on what one regular client is worth over a year, and the technical work that decides whether people searching nearby actually find you.
SEO for Salons and Barbers: What a New Client Costs
Treatwell takes up to 35% plus VAT of a new client's first booking. What a direct client is worth instead, and the technical work that brings them to you rather than a marketplace.
The DVSA Website Rules Driving Instructors Get Wrong
What one pupil is worth at DVSA average hours, the website rules instructors most often get wrong, and the technical work that gets you found by learners nearby.
The Age of Answers: The Biggest Shift in Search Since Google
Search now returns answers, not links, and the machine chooses who gets named. The biggest shift in search since Google, and what it means for UK businesses.
AI Search Optimisation: The Complete UK Guide for 2026
Plain-English guide to AI search optimisation for UK small businesses: how AI engines choose who to recommend, what to fix first, and what not to pay for.
The State of AI Search in the UK, 2026
AI referrals up 357% in a year, AI Overviews roughly halving clicks, and little overlap between rankings and AI citations. A data-led read for UK businesses.
Does Schema Markup Get You Cited by AI? What the Evidence Says
Does schema markup boost AI citations in ChatGPT and AI Overviews? A controlled Ahrefs test says no. What structured data actually does, and does not, do.
How to Get Your Business Found by AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity): a UK Guide
A practical UK guide to getting your business found by ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. The technical steps that actually help AI read, trust and recommend you, in order.
SEO vs AEO vs GEO: What's the Difference?
SEO, AEO and GEO explained in plain English for UK businesses, plus a comparison table and the questions to ask any agency pitching the acronyms.
AI Overviews Are Cutting Clicks by 58%: The UK Action Plan
AI Overviews cut clicks to the top Google result by 58% (Ahrefs, 2026). Here is the five-step plan UK businesses can use to get named in AI answers.
How to Get Your Business Recommended by ChatGPT
ChatGPT recommends just 1.2% of local businesses. How it chooses, the signals UK firms need, and a 10-minute visibility test to run today.
'Near Me' Is Moving to AI: What Local UK Businesses Must Do in 2026
The classic 'near me' search is moving into AI answers. What still matters for UK local businesses, what is new, and a prioritised action list to start today.
Why Isn't My Business Showing Up on ChatGPT? (and How to Fix It)
Nine technical reasons ChatGPT and other AI tools skip your business, from blocked crawlers to missing schema, and what to check and fix for each one.
Is Your Website Blocking AI Crawlers? A Five-Minute Check
Cloudflare and other hosts now block many AI crawlers by default. A five-minute check to see if your site blocks GPTBot, ClaudeBot and other AI crawlers.
How UK Dental Practices Get Recommended by ChatGPT and Google AI
How UK dental practices get named in ChatGPT and Google AI answers: CQC, GDC and review signals, a 10-minute self-test, and what to fix first.
How Much Does AI Search / Technical SEO Cost in the UK?
A straight breakdown of UK pricing for AI search and technical SEO work: DIY tools, agency retainers, freelancers and done-for-you services, with real ranges.
How UK Law Firms Get Recommended by ChatGPT and AI Search
How UK law firms get named in ChatGPT and AI search: SRA and review signals, practice-area depth, directories, a prioritised checklist and what to fix first.
What Is llms.txt, and Should Your Business Have One?
llms.txt is a proposed markdown file giving AI models a clean summary of your site. How it differs from robots.txt and sitemap.xml, and adoption in 2026.
What Is an AI Visibility Audit? What It Includes and What It Should Cost
What an AI visibility audit covers, five free checks you can run today, honest UK pricing and the red flags to avoid before you pay for an AEO audit.
How UK Aesthetic Clinics Get Found and Recommended by AI Search
How UK aesthetic clinics get named by ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI: Save Face and JCCP signals, named clinicians, reviews, and a prioritised checklist.
AI Search News, July 2026: What Changed and What It Means for UK Businesses
A plain-English July 2026 update on the shift to AI answers across ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Perplexity, and the technical work UK businesses should prioritise now.