Playbook · Services
SEO & AI search playbook for consultants
Consultants sell judgement. Buyers want to know how you think before they call, and they search both for the problem (“how to fix [issue]”) and for you by name after someone recommends you.
For a one-person business, a large content programme isn't realistic. A small number of strong, opinionated pieces, a clear about page and a few frameworks people can use do more than a weekly generic post.
Updated By the LaunchRanked team4 sources checked
Searches to plan around
Query patterns and the intent behind them. We don’t quote search volumes: check your own Search Console for the ones you already appear for.
“[specialty] consultant”, “[specialty] consultant for [industry]”
Find an expertService pages that name the specialty and who it's for.
Specific problems in your field
LearnEssays that take a position on a specific problem.
“[your name]”
Check youAfter a referral. Your site, LinkedIn and talks should all show up.
“[framework] template”
Use a toolIf you have a named framework, a page and template for it.
Page families that work
Point-of-view essays
/writing/[slug]
A clear argument about a specific problem, with examples from your work.
Frameworks and templates
/frameworks/[name]
Tools people can use without hiring you. They get shared.
About and credentials page
/about
Experience, clients (with permission), talks, publications. Google's helpful content guidance asks readers to consider who created content.
Talks and interviews
/talks
Links to talks and podcasts, with summaries.
Risky page types
AI-written weekly posts
Generic posts say nothing a buyer can't get anywhere. They dilute the pieces that show your judgement.
Location pages when you work remotely
City pages without a real local presence fit the doorway pattern.
Technical pitfalls
Content only on social platforms
Posts on social platforms help reach, but they're not your site. Publish the long version on your own domain and share from there.
Name domain vs brand domain
Pick one home and redirect others, so your name searches all land in the same place.
No contact path
An essay that convinces someone should end with a clear way to talk to you.
How AI assistants answer questions in this category
Assistants summarise common advice without naming anyone. They're more likely to name a source when it has a distinct framework, a specific claim or original data, since those are hard to give without attribution. Consultants who publish something recognisable get cited; those who publish general advice get summarised.
What tends to earn a citation
- A named framework with a clear definition on its own page.
- Specific claims backed by examples from your work.
- An about page that makes your credentials easy to confirm.
Check whether the AI crawlers you want can reach your site with our AI crawler checker.
Where links come from
Podcasts and trade publications
Interviews and contributed articles in your field's publications. Don't pay for links in them.
Conference talks
Event pages link to speakers. Publish your slides and a summary.
Frameworks others use
When people use your framework, they link to where it's explained.
Directory lists that fit consultants
Each directory is checked on its own site: price, link type and review process. We never sell links.
A 90-day plan
Days 1–30
Home base
- Consolidate on one domain.
- Write a strong about page with credentials.
- Write service pages that name your specialty.
Days 31–60
Point of view
- Publish three essays taking a position on specific problems.
- Write up your framework on its own page.
- Collect talks and interviews on one page.
Days 61–90
Reach
- Pitch two podcasts or publications in your field.
- Share essays from your domain on social platforms.
- Check Search Console for queries you almost rank for.
What to watch in Search Console
The Performance report gives clicks, impressions, CTR and average position by query, page, country, device and date. Traffic from Google's AI features is counted there too, under the Web search type (Google).
- Brand (name) queries
- Grows with referrals and talks. Make sure they land on your site.
- Essay impressions
- Shows which topics search associates with you.
- Contact form submissions from organic
- The only number that really matters for a consultant.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a consultant publish?
Less often and better. A few strong essays beat a weekly generic post.
Should we publish on LinkedIn or our site?
Both: the full version on your site, a shorter version on social platforms linking back.
Do frameworks help SEO?
They give people something specific to search for, use and link to.
Can AI assistants recommend a consultant?
Rarely by name for general advice. More often when you have a distinctive framework or public work they can find.
Sources
Checked on September 23, 2026. Search patterns and page advice are our own judgement from running this playbook; we don’t quote search volumes or third-party statistics.