Is AI eating your business instead of helping it?
I help small businesses fix their AI problems and recover their search visibility. No jargon. No massive consultancy fees. Just practical solutions that work.
Sound familiar?
You're a CEO, COO, or CFO of a successful small business. You've built something brilliant without AI. But now everyone's talking about it, and you're feeling the pressure:
Why isn't AI working for small businesses?
After 30 years helping organisations implement technology, and literally writing the book on AI implementation, I see three critical failures that kill AI initiatives before they start:
Starting Too Big Without a Strategy
You've jumped straight to ChatGPT, Claude, or whatever AI tool the vendor convinced you would "transform" your business. But without a strategy, you're throwing money at technology without understanding what problem you're solving.
It's like buying enterprise software when you're still using paper filing. You need a realistic roadmap that matches your business maturity, not Silicon Valley's latest obsession. Most small businesses need simple automation before artificial intelligence, but vendors won't tell you that - there's no commission in common sense.
The solution: Strategic AI planning that starts where you actually are, not where vendors wish you were.
Ignoring the Foundations
AI isn't magic. It needs clean data, organised processes, and proper content structure to function. But most small businesses have:
-
Customer data scattered across spreadsheets that don't talk to each other
-
Processes that exist only in people's heads
-
Website content that AI search engines can't understand
-
No consistent way of naming or organising anything
You're trying to build a skyscraper on sand. When it falls over, you blame AI for not working, rather than recognising you never built the foundation it needs.
The solution: Fix your data, structure your content, and build the foundation that makes AI possible.
Your People Think AI Is Coming for Their Jobs
Your team has heard the hype. They think AI means redundancy. So they resist, sabotage, or simply ignore every AI initiative. Meanwhile, you're paying for tools nobody uses because nobody understands what they're actually for.
The truth? AI should make your people more capable, not replace them. But fear and misunderstanding, fuelled by media hype and vendor nonsense, means your biggest asset - your team - becomes your biggest obstacle.
The solution: Education that replaces fear with facts, showing your team how AI amplifies their abilities rather than replacing them.
A Practical Path Forward: The Five A's Framework
I've developed a systematic approach that takes you from AI confusion to AI confidence. It's based on my book "The Five A's of AI" but adapted specifically for SMEs:
Start with Automation (Not AI)
-
Fix your data chaos first
-
Automate repetitive tasks
-
Build the foundation AI actually needs
-
See ROI in weeks, not years
Add Augmented Intelligence (Help Humans Decide)
-
Fix your data chaos first
-
Automate repetitive tasks
-
Build the foundation AI actually needs
-
See ROI in weeks, not years
Progress Through the Framework
-
Each stage builds on the last
-
No jumping to the exciting stuff
-
Practical implementation
-
Measurable results
How can I help?
AI Reality Check
When you need honest answers
Stop guessing whether AI is worth it for your business. In a day, I'll review:
-
What you're currently spending on technology
-
Where AI could genuinely help (and where it won't)
-
Quick wins you can implement immediately
-
Whether you're ready for AI or need foundation work first
You'll leave with a clear 90-day action plan and finally understand what all the fuss is about.
Search Recovery Programme
When AI has destroyed your visibility
Google's AI updates have decimated many small business rankings. You haven't done anything wrong - the rules changed overnight. I'll help you:
-
Understand why your traffic dropped
-
Restructure content for AI discovery
-
Optimise for both traditional and AI search
-
Track recovery with real metrics
This isn't traditional SEO - it's preparing for a world where AI answers questions instead of sending visitors to websites.
Foundation First Programme
When you need to get the basics right
Most AI failures happen because businesses skip the boring but essential foundation work. This programme:
-
Audits your current technology stack
-
Identifies and fixes data chaos
-
Implements basic automation
-
Prepares you for genuine AI adoption
Think of it as making your business "AI-ready" without wasting money on AI you can't use yet.
AI Content Authority
When you need content that works in an AI world
I'm a published author who understands both technology and business communication. I create:
-
Content that AI systems actually reference
-
Articles that establish your expertise
-
Documentation that turns complexity into clarity
-
Strategic content that drives real outcomes
Not just any content - content that positions you as the authority in your sector.
Latest Articles
Let's work together
Are you facing technology paralysis? Struggling to implement AI or digital transformation initiatives? Looking for expert guidance without the cost of a full-time CTO?
Book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your challenges and discover how we can help. As one client put it:
"If I need to understand how to deliver something that seems unreachable, unknowable or just too hard, I would turn to Owen."