B2B SEO & AEO Consultant with 12+ Years in Search
I help B2B companies get cited, quoted, and trusted by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and AI Overviews. Full-stack execution — not just strategy decks — across authority building, backlinks, content strategy, technical SEO, and digital PR.
Featured In & Published On
From SEO Practitioner to AI Search Leader
12 years of search experience. 2+ years pioneering the intersection of traditional SEO and AI-powered discovery.
I started in search over twelve years ago — long before AI models were part of the conversation. Back then, the work was straightforward: keyword research, on-page optimisation, link building, and technical audits. I built my career doing hands-on execution for B2B companies, learning what actually moves the needle by shipping work and measuring results, not by writing about frameworks.
Over the years, I worked across every stage of the funnel and nearly every growth lever available to organic search teams. I managed technical migrations, built content engines from scratch, acquired backlinks from high-authority domains, and developed content strategies that drove millions of organic sessions for clients across SaaS, FinTech, AI, e-commerce, crypto, and media publishing.
When ChatGPT launched and AI search started reshaping how buyers discover, evaluate, and shortlist solutions, I didn't wait. I was one of the first SEO practitioners to shift focus toward what would become Answer Engine Optimisation — building systems specifically designed for how large language models retrieve, evaluate, and cite sources.
That early investment paid off. I proved that entity authority — not just domain authority — is what drives AI citations. I demonstrated that strategic brand mentions and expert positioning in major publications could generate high-value clients even at relatively low domain authority levels. I acquired clients directly from Perplexity citations at DA 19, something most agencies would say is impossible.
Today, I operate as a B2B SEO and AEO consultant specialising in the intersection of traditional search and AI-powered discovery platforms. My work has been featured in Fast Company, SimilarWeb, Zapier, and the European Business Review. I deliver full-stack execution — authority building, backlinks, content strategy, technical SEO, and digital PR — not just strategy decks.
I publish content daily while competitors post sporadically. I measure success through concrete metrics — AI search traffic growth, conversion rate improvements, and client acquisition directly from AI platform citations. And I build systems designed to persist across model updates, not strategies that depend on temporary exploits.
12+ Years Building in Search
Early SEO & Organic Growth Foundations
Started in search with hands-on execution — keyword research, on-page optimisation, link building, and technical audits across multiple B2B verticals.
Scaling B2B Content & Technical SEO
Led technical migrations, built content engines from scratch, and developed systematic approaches to backlink acquisition from high-authority domains.
Full-Stack Consulting & Multi-Industry Expansion
Drove 1.7M organic sessions (+1,419%) across SaaS, FinTech, AI, e-commerce, crypto, and media. Developed the bottom-funnel-first content hierarchy.
Early AI Search & AEO Pioneering
Built systems for how ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini retrieve and cite sources. Proved entity authority outweighs domain authority for AI citations.
Leading AEO Consultant & AI Visibility Strategist
Featured in Fast Company, SimilarWeb, Zapier, and the European Business Review. Delivering 454% AI impression growth in 60 days and 21K+ AI search clicks.
Real Numbers from Real Engagements
Measurable outcomes from hands-on execution across B2B SaaS, FinTech, AI, and e-commerce companies.
1.7M Organic Sessions — +1,419% Growth
Built a content engine and technical foundation driving 1.7 million organic sessions. Full-stack execution including content strategy, technical SEO, and authority building.
454% AI Impression Growth in 60 Days
Rapid AI visibility through coordinated authority building, content velocity, and entity optimisation. AI visitors converted at significantly higher rates.
5,130 ChatGPT Referrals — +1,746% Growth
Over 5,000 direct referrals from ChatGPT through systematic entity authority building and LLM-optimised content.
Client Acquisition via Perplexity at DA 19
Proved entity authority outweighs domain authority. Acquired high-value B2B clients directly from Perplexity citations at only DA 19.
Why Companies Choose Austin Heaton
Most consultants repurpose SEO playbooks and call it AEO. I operate with systems built for how AI models discover, evaluate, and cite sources.
Full-Stack Execution, Not Strategy Decks
Authority building, backlinks, content strategy, technical SEO, digital PR, and copywriting. No handoffs to junior teams. One engagement, complete execution.
Published Authority, Not Declared Credentials
Featured in Fast Company, SimilarWeb, Zapier, and the European Business Review. I demonstrate authority — AI models recognise published expertise.
Entity Authority Over Domain Authority
Strategic brand mentions and expert quotes drive AI citations more effectively than pure link building. I acquired clients through Perplexity at DA 19.
Daily Content Velocity
Daily publishing while competitors post sporadically. Consistent velocity combined with strategic authority building creates compound benefits across search platforms.
Built for AI Model Resilience
Strategies persist across model updates and interface changes. No prompt tricks or temporary exploits — only durable, compounding authority systems.
Single-Threaded Senior Ownership
One accountable owner — not an account manager relaying to juniors. Strategic direction and execution from the same person.
Metrics-Driven, Not Vanity-Driven
AI search traffic growth, conversion improvements, client acquisition from citations, and pipeline contribution. Not impressions or keyword counts.
Bottom-Funnel-First Content Strategy
Solution pages, comparison content, case studies, and pricing before blog posts. Consistently outperforms conventional blog-first B2B strategies.
Industries I Specialise In
Deep experience across six high-growth B2B verticals with unique buyer journeys and competitive dynamics.
B2B SaaS
Product-led and sales-led SaaS scaling organic acquisition. Comparison pages, content strategy, and technical foundations driving signups and demos from traditional and AI search.
FinTech
Payment platforms, neobanks, lending, and financial infrastructure. Compliance-sensitive content with authority signals driving AI citations in regulated categories.
AI & Machine Learning
AI infrastructure, MLOps, and AI-powered products. Positioning in a highly technical category where the competitive landscape evolves weekly.
E-Commerce
B2B platforms, marketplaces, and DTC brands. Category optimisation, product SEO, and structured data driving rankings and AI recommendations.
Crypto & Web3
Exchanges, DeFi protocols, and blockchain infrastructure. Building credibility where trust signals are paramount and AI models are cautious about sources.
Media & Publishing
Digital publishers navigating the shift from search-driven to AI-driven discovery. Protecting traffic while building new AI citation channels.
The Bottom-Funnel-First Content Hierarchy
Most B2B companies start with blog posts. I start with revenue pages — then work up. This consistently outperforms conventional strategies.
Solution & Product Pages
Use-case-specific landing pages answering the exact queries buyers ask when ready to evaluate.
Comparison & Alternative Pages
"X vs Y" pages and competitive positioning content that AI models frequently cite for recommendations.
Case Studies & Proof Points
Credibility content AI models use as evidence when recommending solutions.
Pricing & Engagement Models
Transparency pages reducing friction. AI models cite these when users ask about costs.
Blog & Thought Leadership
Top-of-funnel content building topical authority — only after the bottom-funnel foundation is in place.
How I Think About Search in 2026
The principles guiding every engagement — from strategy to execution.
Entity Authority Over Domain Authority
AI models select sources, not rank pages. Entity authority through brand mentions and cross-platform presence outweighs raw backlink counts.
Conversion Over Traffic
AI search visitors convert at significantly higher rates. I optimise for pipeline contribution and revenue — not vanity traffic numbers.
Compounding Systems, Not Quick Wins
Everything compounds — content velocity, authority building, entity signals. No dependency on prompt tricks that break when models update.
Demonstrated Results, Not Declared Expertise
Competence proven through published work, documented metrics, and verifiable outcomes — what AI models actually evaluate.
Tactical Execution Over Generic Advice
Specific metrics, case studies, and industry statistics. Concrete numbers over theoretical frameworks that never get implemented.
Eliminating Coordination Overhead
No coordinating between consultants, writers, link builders, and PR agencies. One engagement covers strategy through implementation.
Full-Stack SEO & AEO Services
Everything you need to win in traditional and AI search — one engagement, one accountable owner.
AI Search Leadership
Executive-level ownership aligning content, product, and marketing around a unified AI visibility roadmap for ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and AI Overviews.
Authority Building
High-authority external articles, strategic brand mentions, expert quotes, and digital PR placements building entity signals AI models use to select sources.
Backlink Acquisition
Strategic links from relevant, high-authority domains strengthening trust signals for traditional rankings and AI-driven discovery.
Content Strategy & Copywriting
Data-driven roadmaps and hands-on writing targeting high-intent topics for both search rankings and AI citation eligibility.
Technical SEO
Technical auditing, schema markup, crawl optimisation, site architecture, and structured data ensuring AI models find, parse, and trust your content.
LLM Auditing & Monitoring
Systematic auditing of how AI models perceive, cite, and recommend your brand. Gap identification, competitor tracking, and AI visibility measurement.
Engagement Models
Flexible structures for different stages of growth and AI search maturity.
Monthly Retainer
Ongoing SEO and AEO execution — authority building, backlinks, content, technical SEO, and strategic direction for consistent, compounding growth.
Fractional Head of Search
Senior-level ownership of your entire search and AI visibility function. All the benefits of a VP/Director hire without the full-time cost.
Strategic Advisory
High-level guidance for teams with internal execution capacity. Roadmap development, competitive analysis, LLM audits, and ongoing advisory.
Ready to Own Your AI Visibility?
If AI search is shaping how your buyers discover, evaluate, and shortlist — and no one owns your visibility — you're already paying for it.
Book a Call with Austin Heaton