Something fundamental has changed in how businesses find their suppliers. A growing number of procurement managers, office managers, and business owners are no longer starting their search on Google. Instead, they're asking AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot questions like:
"Who are the best photocopier suppliers near Cardiff?"
"Recommend a business telecoms provider in South Wales"
"What CCTV companies should I consider for my warehouse?"
If your business doesn't appear in these AI-generated answers, you're invisible to a fast-growing segment of buyers. Traditional SEO won't fix this. You need a different approach—and most of your competitors haven't figured this out yet.
The Shift: From Search Engines to Answer Engines
For 20 years, getting found online meant one thing: rank on Google. Businesses paid SEO agencies hundreds or thousands of pounds per month to climb the search results. And it worked—because Google was where everyone searched.
That's no longer the full picture. AI tools don't show ten blue links. They give direct answers, complete with company names, comparisons, and recommendations. When someone asks ChatGPT for a copier supplier, it doesn't link to websites—it names specific companies.
The question is simple: is your company one of the ones being named?
What Traditional SEO Agencies Actually Do
A good SEO agency focuses on getting your website to rank highly in Google's search results. Their typical services include:
- Keyword research — finding terms your customers search for
- On-page optimisation — improving title tags, headings, content structure
- Technical SEO — site speed, mobile-friendliness, crawlability
- Link building — getting other websites to link to yours
- Local SEO — Google Business Profile, local citations, reviews
- Content creation — blog posts, landing pages targeting keywords
This still matters. Google isn't going anywhere. But here's the problem: almost no SEO agency is optimising for AI tools. They're fighting the last war. When your potential customer asks ChatGPT for recommendations, your Google ranking is irrelevant.
What AI Visibility Actually Means
AI Visibility (sometimes called Answer Engine Optimisation or AEO) is about ensuring your business appears when AI tools generate recommendations. This requires a fundamentally different approach:
Structured Data & Schema
AI models rely heavily on structured data to understand what your business does, where you operate, and what you offer. Schema markup is essential.
Consistent Online Presence
Your business name, address, phone number, and services must be consistent across directories, social profiles, and your website.
Reviews & Reputation
AI tools weigh reviews and ratings heavily when deciding which businesses to recommend. More reviews with higher ratings = more mentions.
Clear, Structured Content
FAQ sections, service descriptions, pricing information, and location details help AI models understand and recommend your business accurately.
SEO vs AI Visibility: Side-by-Side Comparison
Here's how the two approaches differ across every key factor:
| Factor | Traditional SEO | AI Visibility (AEO) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary goal | Rank on Google page 1 | Get recommended by AI tools |
| How users search | "copier supplier Cardiff" | "Who's the best copier supplier near Cardiff?" |
| Traffic source | Google/Bing organic clicks | AI-generated answers with citations |
| Key ranking factors | Backlinks, keywords, site speed | Structured data, reviews, mentions, schema |
| Time to results | 3-6 months | 4-8 weeks for initial mentions |
| Typical agency cost | £500-£2,000/month | £0-£299/month with TendorAI |
| Measurability | Google Search Console, rankings | AI mention tracking, visibility scores |
| Competition awareness | Keyword difficulty scores | Most businesses aren't doing this yet |
The early-mover advantage is real
Right now, almost no UK SMEs are optimising for AI visibility. The businesses that start now will establish themselves in AI recommendations before their competitors even realise it's important.
Why You Need Both (Not One or the Other)
This isn't about abandoning SEO. Google still drives the majority of web traffic, and a strong search presence matters. But relying only on SEO is like having a shop on the high street while ignoring the new shopping centre opening next door.
The smart strategy for 2026:
- Maintain your SEO basics — keep your website technically sound, content fresh, and Google Business Profile updated
- Add AI visibility — ensure your business is structured for AI tools to find, understand, and recommend
- Monitor both channels — track Google rankings AND AI mentions to see where your customers are coming from
- Move fast — the AI visibility space is wide open. Your competitors likely aren't doing this yet
How TendorAI Helps You Get Visible to AI
TendorAI is built specifically for UK B2B suppliers who want to appear when AI tools recommend companies in their category. Here's what the platform provides:
AI Visibility Score
A single score (0-100) showing how visible your business is to AI tools, with specific tips to improve.
AI Mention Tracking
See how often AI tools mention your company when users ask about your category and location. Weekly scans across multiple AI models.
Live AI Search Test
Run real-time queries against AI tools to see exactly what they say about your business category in your area.
AI Visibility (AEO) Audit
A technical audit of your website checking 10 factors that influence AI visibility, from schema markup to content structure.
Competitor Analysis
See which competitors are being mentioned by AI tools and what they're doing differently.
Actionable Recommendations
Specific, prioritised steps you can take to improve your AI visibility score and mentions.
Plans & Pricing
TendorAI is a fraction of the cost of a traditional SEO agency, and it addresses the channel that most agencies completely ignore.
Free
- Basic vendor profile
- AI Visibility Score
- 1 AI Visibility (AEO) Audit
- Category listing
Starter
- Enhanced profile
- AI Mention Tracking
- Weekly AI Visibility (AEO) Audits
- Live AI Search Tests
- Unlimited product listings
- Monthly AI Visibility (AEO) report
Pro
- Everything in Starter
- Unlimited products
- Priority AI ranking
- Weekly AI Visibility (AEO) reports
- Verified badge
- Priority support
Check Your AI Visibility Score — Free
Find out if AI tools are recommending your business. Get your visibility score, see where you stand, and get tips to improve.