AI search optimisation for Manchester businesses
Get your Manchester business cited by ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Google’s AI Overviews. Schema, llms.txt, entity clarity, citation-optimised content. £400/month.
Search is splitting in two
A growing share of Manchester buyers now start their research in ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or Gemini instead of Google. These tools don’t rank ten blue links — they synthesise an answer and cite 2-4 sources. If your Manchester business isn’t in those citations, you’re out of the conversation entirely.
The people who built the modern SEO playbook (Google rankings, backlinks, meta tags) are now watching 20-30% of commercial queries disappear into AI answer boxes. Google’s AI Mode is accelerating this. The rules for being cited by an LLM are different from the rules for ranking on Google.
AI Search Optimisation is our framework for getting Manchester businesses into those citations. It sits next to traditional SEO, not instead of it.
What we actually do
AI crawler access
Robots.txt configured to allow GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot, Google-Extended, CCBot, Applebot-Extended. No Cloudflare blocks accidentally kicking them out.
llms.txt implementation
Published llms.txt file with your business context — what you do, who for, pricing, positioning. So LLMs get it right when they cite you.
Schema and entity clarity
Organization, LocalBusiness, Service, FAQ, and Product schema layered using schema.org vocab. Your business as a clearly-defined entity in the knowledge graph.
Citation-optimised content
Content structured the way LLMs prefer to quote — clear statements, definitions, lists, direct answers. Not the rambling blog post style Google used to reward.
How we measure citations
AI citation tracking is messier than Google ranking tracking, but it’s improving. We run prompts across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for your target queries monthly, and log when and how your business appears. We also watch referrer traffic in Google Analytics from `chatgpt.com`, `perplexity.ai`, `claude.ai`, and others.
Typical timeline: first citations in 4-12 weeks. Consistent visibility from month 3+.
Is this just SEO with a new name?
No. Traditional SEO optimises for Google’s ranking algorithm. AI Search Optimisation optimises for how LLMs retrieve and cite information — a different problem with overlap. You need both, and they’re distinct services at Signal.
Our own Manchester site runs both. Our llms.txt is published. Our schema is layered. And we’re cited when you ask ChatGPT or Claude about Manchester SEO agencies. Proof-of-concept on our own domain.
FAQs
Is AI search really worth optimising for?
If your Manchester buyers use ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity or Gemini for research, yes. For most B2B and considered-purchase B2C, that’s a growing share of the market.
Can I just do traditional SEO?
You can, and a lot of Manchester businesses still should. AI Search Optimisation is for businesses where being cited by LLMs would materially drive revenue. Not every business yet.
Do you guarantee citations?
No. LLMs are non-deterministic — the same prompt can return different citations on different days. We do guarantee the structural work is done properly.
How is this different from your SEO service?
SEO targets Google ranking. AI Search Optimisation targets LLM citations. Different playbooks, same objective of being the recommended answer.
Can you run both together?
Yes. Most serious Manchester clients do. Combined retainer available.
“Before I met Oliver we were getting 2/3 leads a day. Their strategy led us to 10 leads a day.”
— Caroll, verified Trustpilot review
Related services in Manchester
- SEO Manchester
- Google Business Profile Manchester
- Web Development Manchester
- Website Design Manchester
AI Search in other cities
Let’s chat
We’ll run your brand through ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity and show you exactly where you’re invisible and why.
Drop us a message