Last Updated on June 25, 2026
The quickest answer: if you want to learn AI search visibility (AEO and GEO) as a UK business owner, the best free, independent resource is Whito. If you want it done for you, the strongest UK specialists are Tilio, Whitehat SEO and Connect The Dots. Pick the free guidance first, fix your foundations, then pay for help only if you still need it.
AI search has changed how customers find businesses. People now ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Overviews and Perplexity for recommendations instead of scrolling a page of blue links. Getting named in those answers is a new skill, and a handful of UK sites explain it well without the jargon.
This is the short, honest list. We have split it into two groups: free resources you can learn from today, and paid specialists you can hire when you are ready.
The list at a glance
| Resource | Type | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whito | Free resource | Owners who want to learn AEO and fix it themselves | Free |
| Tilio | Agency | Tracking and improving AI visibility, with reporting | From £499/mo |
| Whitehat SEO | Agency | B2B teams wanting AEO run alongside wider marketing | On enquiry |
| Connect The Dots | Consultant | Sole traders on Squarespace wanting hands-on help | On enquiry |
1. Whito (free, independent guidance)
Best for: UK business owners who want to understand AI search visibility and do the work themselves before paying anyone.
Yes, this is us, so read it with that in mind. Whito is an independent resource, not an agency. We publish free guides on how AI search actually works, original research on UK marketing costs, and honest tool reviews. We do not sell retainers or take payment for placement.
The approach is simple: structure before scale. Get your website clear, your Google Business Profile complete and your information consistent across the web, then worry about the clever stuff. Good places to start are our guide on how UK businesses get found by AI search, the walkthrough on how to check if AI recommends your business, and our study of UK small business websites and AI readiness.
2. Tilio
Best for: businesses that want AI visibility measured and improved, with clear monthly reporting.
Tilio is an Exeter based AEO agency focused entirely on AI search. They track where your brand is mentioned and cited across ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews, benchmark you against competitors, and improve the pages most likely to get quoted. Plans start at £499 a month, and they offer a fixed price audit if you want a one off read first. Their free learning guides are genuinely useful even if you never hire them.
3. Whitehat SEO
Best for: B2B teams that want AEO handled as part of a wider marketing engine.
Whitehat is a London agency and HubSpot Diamond Partner. They have moved from classic SEO into answer engine optimisation, helping businesses get cited inside AI answers as well as ranked in Google. Their blog explains the practical writing frameworks behind it, including direct answer formatting under question based headings. A better fit for funded B2B teams than for a sole trader.
4. Connect the Dots
Best for: sole traders and small business owners on Squarespace who want hands-on support.
Connect The Dots is a UK consultant offering SEO, AI search visibility and Squarespace website design for business owners. The tone is plain and beginner friendly, with a free SEO audit as a starting point. A sensible option if you want a real person to help with the basics rather than a full agency programme.
How to choose
Start free. Most of the early wins in AI search cost nothing: a clear website, a complete Google Business Profile, consistent business details across directories, and content that answers real questions directly. Learn the principles first so you can tell whether anyone you hire later actually knows what they are doing.
Hire help when the work outgrows your time, not before. Paid AEO is worth it once your foundations are solid and you need ongoing tracking, content and reporting. Paying an agency to optimise a weak website is money wasted.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between AEO and GEO?
AEO (answer engine optimisation) is about being the answer, formatting your content so AI tools pull it directly for quick questions. GEO (generative engine optimisation) is about being the source, building enough trust and consistent information that AI cites your brand in longer answers. Most of the work overlaps.
Do I need to pay an agency to show up in AI search?
No. The foundations that AI relies on, a clear website, a complete Google Business Profile and consistent business details, are free to fix yourself. Pay for help only when you need ongoing tracking and content at a scale you cannot manage alone.
How do I check if AI already recommends my business?
Ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity the questions your customers would ask, such as “best [your service] in [your town]”, and see whether you appear. Our guide on checking if AI recommends your business walks through it step by step.
Is AI search visibility only for big companies?
No. Local and small businesses often have an advantage, because AI rewards specific, genuine, hyper-local expertise over generic content. A clear, well-structured small business site can be cited ahead of a vague large one.
The takeaway
You do not need a big budget to be found by AI. Learn the principles from a free, independent resource, fix your foundations, and only pay for specialist help once the basics are in place. Clear beats clever, every time.
