the exvoq blog
Notes on being found by AI.
Practical, no-fluff guides on AEO/GEO, AI search behaviour, and what actually moves citations — written from work we run for clients every month.
Answer-First Writing: The Format AI Assistants Actually Quote
AI assistants quote the smallest passage that answers the question. Put the answer in your first two sentences and write every heading as a question customers actually ask.
4 Aug 2026 · 5 min read
Digital PresenceWhy Your Google Business Profile Now Matters for AI Search
AI assistants build local answers out of Google Business Profile data. Here is which fields decide whether you get named, and the ones most owners leave blank.
2 Aug 2026 · 6 min read
AI VisibilitySchema Markup for Small Businesses: What to Add and Why
Organization, LocalBusiness, FAQ and Product schema in plain English — which four types to add, in what order, and how to check they are working.
31 Jul 2026 · 6 min read
AI VisibilityIs Your Website Blocking AI Crawlers? How to Check robots.txt
Many hosts and security plugins block GPTBot, ClaudeBot and PerplexityBot by default. Here is how to check your robots.txt and open it up in ten minutes.
29 Jul 2026 · 6 min read
AI VisibilityHow to Check If Your Business Appears in ChatGPT (Free Method)
A free 20-minute test: ask the questions your customers ask, log who gets named instead of you, then repeat it monthly.
27 Jul 2026 · 6 min read
Web DesignHow AI Is Changing Website Design (and Google Rankings)
AI is changing how sites get built and what ranks — clean structure, schema, and answer-first content now matter for search.
16 Jul 2026 · 7 min read
Web DesignWhy Responsive Website Design Still Matters for Google Rankings in 2026
Google has ranked sites by their mobile version since 2019. Here's why responsive design still directly affects your rankings.
15 Jul 2026 · 6 min read
AI AutomationIs AI Marketing Automation Worth It for Small Businesses?
An honest look at AI marketing automation ROI, realistic timelines, and the setup mistakes that make it fail.
14 Jul 2026 · 6 min read
AI AutomationHow Small Businesses Are Using AI to Automate Marketing in 2026
Lead follow-up, content drafting, 24/7 chatbots and ad optimization — the highest-ROI ways small businesses are automating marketing.
13 Jul 2026 · 6 min read
Competitor Analysis10 Free Tools to Analyze Your Competitors' Marketing
Google Trends, GBP reviews, sitemap checks and asking ChatGPT directly — 10 free tools, no paid suite required.
11 Jul 2026 · 6 min read
Competitor AnalysisHow to Do a Competitor Analysis for Your Business (Step-by-Step)
Identify real competitors, audit their site and reviews, and check who AI assistants cite instead of you. A step-by-step process.
9 Jul 2026 · 7 min read
Digital PresenceWebsite vs Social Media: What Should Your Business Prioritize First?
Build the website first — it's what you own and what AI assistants cite. Social media should drive traffic to it, not replace it.
8 Jul 2026 · 6 min read
Digital PresenceHow to Build a Strong Online Presence for Your Small Business
A real website, a claimed Google Business Profile, one consistent social platform, and AI-crawler-readable content — the build order for 2026.
6 Jul 2026 · 6 min read
Social MediaWhy Your Social Media Isn't Getting Engagement (And How to Fix It)
Low engagement is usually one of four fixable problems: promotional content, no replies, wrong platform, or a weak hook.
4 Jul 2026 · 6 min read
Social MediaHow to Do Social Media Marketing for a Small Business: A Practical Playbook
Pick one or two platforms your customers use, post consistently, and prioritize replies over follower count. A step-by-step playbook.
2 Jul 2026 · 7 min read
PlatformsChatGPT vs Perplexity vs Google AI Overviews: how each one picks sources
Every AI answer engine weighs citations differently. Understanding the differences changes what you should actually optimise first.
30 Jun 2026 · 7 min read
ResearchWhy 72% of brands get zero AI citations — and how to fix it
Most businesses that rank well on Google are still invisible inside ChatGPT and Perplexity answers. The reasons are structural, and fixable.
16 Jun 2026 · 5 min read
AI VisibilityWhat is AEO/GEO? A practical guide for small businesses
Search results are being replaced by written answers. Here is what Answer Engine Optimisation and Generative Engine Optimisation actually mean, and where to start.
2 Jun 2026 · 6 min read
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