Technical SEO
Page speed, mobile layout, crawl errors, broken links, duplicate pages, sitemaps and indexing in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
Service · SEO & AEO
Get found on Google. Get named by AI.
Your customers search Google, ask ChatGPT and read Google's AI answers before they ever call. SEO (search engine optimization) helps your pages show up in search results. AEO (answer engine optimization) helps AI assistants understand your business well enough to recommend it. We do both, built on the same foundation.
Why it matters now
Search has a second front door.
For years, getting found meant ranking on Google. That still matters, especially the map results for searches like "accountant near me." But more people now ask an AI assistant instead: "Who can help my business automate invoicing in Wilmington?" The assistant answers with a few names, and the businesses it can't read clearly don't make the list.
AI assistants and search engines reward the same things: a site that loads fast and is easy to crawl, pages that answer real questions in plain language, and business details that match everywhere they appear. Get those right and you improve both at once.
What we work on
SEO and AEO, piece by piece.
We start with an audit of your site, your Google Business Profile and how AI assistants currently describe you, then fix what matters most first.
Local SEO
A complete Google Business Profile with the right categories, services, photos and posts, plus consistent name, address and phone across the directories that matter.
Structured data
Schema markup that tells search engines and AI exactly what you are: your business, services, service area, hours and FAQs, in a format machines read reliably.
Answer-first content
Service pages and guides built around the questions your customers actually ask, with the answer up front. This is what both Google and AI assistants quote.
AI assistant visibility
Access for AI crawlers, an llms.txt summary of your business, and regular checks of how ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity describe you, so gaps get fixed.
Plain-English reporting
A monthly summary of which searches bring people in, which pages they land on and what we changed, connected to your reporting dashboard if you have one.
How we do it
Fix the foundation. Then build on it.
The same order we use for every project: understand what is there, fix what is broken, then add what is missing.
- 01
Visibility audit
We check how your site is crawled and indexed, how your Google Business Profile compares to competitors, where your business details conflict, and what AI assistants say when asked about businesses like yours.
- 02
Technical fixes
Speed, mobile, indexing, redirects, sitemaps and structured data. These are usually the fastest wins and everything else depends on them.
- 03
Local presence
We build out your Google Business Profile and clean up your listings so your name, phone number and website match everywhere.
- 04
Content that answers
We plan and write pages for the services, places and questions that matter to your customers, in your voice, and you approve everything before it goes live.
- 05
Measure and adjust
We track rankings, Search Console data, calls and form fills, and re-check AI answers, then adjust the plan each month.
Proof we can show you
We run this playbook on our own site.
This website is built the way we build for clients: structured data on every page, an llms.txt file for AI assistants, AI crawlers allowed, a sitemap submitted to Google and Bing, and a complete Google Business Profile. During your audit we can walk you through exactly how it is set up.
- Google Search Console
- Bing Webmaster Tools
- Google Business Profile
- Google Analytics 4
- Schema.org markup
- llms.txt
- robots.txt & AI crawlers
- WordPress
- Squarespace
- Wix
- Shopify
- Webflow
- Cloudflare
Fit
Is SEO and AEO work right for you?
A strong fit if…
- Customers find businesses like yours by searching, not only by referral
- Your Google Business Profile is incomplete, or you have never touched it
- Competitors show up in the map results or AI answers and you don't
- Your website exists but nobody is sure whether it brings in any work
Probably not yet if…
- You need leads this week; paid ad campaigns work faster while SEO builds
- You already have more work than you can handle and no plan to grow
- Leads arrive but nobody follows up; fix that first with CRM automation
Not sure? That's exactly what the free audit answers.
FAQ
SEO and AEO questions.
What is the difference between SEO and AEO?
SEO (search engine optimization) helps your pages rank in search results like Google and Bing. AEO (answer engine optimization) helps AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity understand your business well enough to mention it when someone asks for a recommendation. They share a foundation: a fast, well-structured website with clear answers and consistent business information.
Can you guarantee a first-page ranking or an AI recommendation?
No, and you should be careful with anyone who does. Search engines and AI assistants decide what to show. What we can do is remove the technical problems that hold a site back, publish content that answers real customer questions, and make your business information clear and consistent everywhere it appears. We report on what changes month to month.
How long does SEO take to show results?
Technical fixes and Google Business Profile improvements can show up within weeks. Ranking for competitive searches usually takes months of steady work. We agree the scope, the priorities and how we will measure progress in writing before work begins.
Do I need a new website for SEO?
Usually not. Most sites can be improved where they are. If your current platform makes basic fixes impossible, we will explain the options during the audit, including what a rebuild would and would not change.
Related
Pairs well with
Paid ad campaigns
Google and Meta ads bring in leads now while organic search builds over time.
ExploreCRM & follow-up
More visibility means more inquiries. Make sure every one gets a fast reply.
ExploreWilmington, NC
Local businesses across southeastern North Carolina, met in person.
ExploreFree visibility check
See how Google and AI see you.
As part of the free audit, we'll check your site, your Google Business Profile and what AI assistants say about businesses like yours, then show you what to fix first. No cost, no obligation.
or email tom@columbusinnovate.com