Search Engine Optimisation

SEO SERVICES IN
Durham.

Search isn’t about tricks — it’s about understanding how humans look for solutions and how Google interprets quality. At CannyWorks, we improve visibility through ethical techniques, technical precision and content that matches intent.

Growth Velocity

+145%
Organic Traffic
#1
Rankings
3.5x
ROI

What We Deliver

Comprehensive search strategies built on data, not guesswork.

Technical SEO

We fix the foundations so Google loves your site.

  • Speed optimisation
  • Indexing fixes
  • Core Web Vitals
  • Schema markup
Site Architecture

Content Strategy

Map what your audiences search for and bring them to you.

  • Keyword clusters
  • Topical authority
  • Landing pages
  • Blog frameworks
Keyword Opportunity

Local SEO

For businesses in Newcastle and the North East.

  • Google Business Profile
  • Local citations
  • Geotargeted content
  • Review strategy

Digital PR

Authoritative, relevant and natural link building.

  • Earned links
  • Compelling stories
  • No spam
  • High authority placements

Why Choose CannyWorks?

Clear Audits

Actionable insights, not automated PDF spam.

Monthly Reporting

Transparent growth metrics you can understand.

Revenue Focus

No fluff. Only activity tied to visibility & sales.

Integrated Approach

We bake SEO into PR, campaigns & content.

SEO Durham 2026 | Dominate AI Search & AEO

The 2026 SEO Paradigm Shift: From Search to Discovery

As we navigate through 2026, the digital landscape in Durham has reached a critical tipping point. Traditional SEO has evolved into Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Conversational Discoverability. In the shadow of Durham Cathedral and within the high-tech corridors of the Durham Innovation District (DID), businesses are fighting to be the definitive "cited source" for AI agents and generative search interfaces.

At Canny Works, we provide 2026-ready SEO services in Durham. Whether you are a biotech firm at NETPark, a retail brand at Milburngate, or a hospitality giant near Aykley Heads, your strategy must account for Google's AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.

Why Durham Businesses Need 2026-Spec SEO

  • Answer Engine Optimization (AEO): Ensuring your business is THE answer when AI assistants are asked about 'best legal firm for startups in Durham Innovation District.'
  • Authority in the Innovation District: Building 'Topical Authority' linked to Durham's major drivers—Durham City Incubator, Integra 61, NETPark.
  • Zero-Click Brand Salience: Optimizing for the 60%+ of searches that result in zero clicks—being cited as the expert builds recall for high-value leads.

Our Four-Pillar Durham SEO Strategy

Entity-Based Local SEO

Durham Knowledge Graphs, Advanced Schema 2.0 markup, hyper-local targeting for Nevilles Cross, Gilesgate, Chester-le-Street, and Milburngate.

"Citable" Content Architecture

Factual, evidenced 1,500-word deep dives backed by NECA data. Structured for AI extraction with clear H-tags and "TL;DR" summaries.

Technical AI Crawlability

Edge Delivery with 100/100 speed, semantic HTML for "data-first" development, API-first readiness for AI agents booking at STACK Durham.

"County Durham Pound" Backlinks

Regional citations from Durham Business Growth, Visit County Durham, University research journals, and local events like Bishop Auckland Food Festival.

2026 Sector-Specific SEO

  • 1
    Tech & Science (NETPark): 'Deep Tech' authority with long-tail technical queries and Knowledge Vault recognition for scientists and leaders.
  • 2
    Visitor Economy: Global 'Experience Search' optimization for The Light cultural hub and Kynren time-traveling adventures.
  • 3
    Professional Services: 'Local Expert' signals for North East devolution queries, NECA grants, and Durham property law.
  • 4
    Manufacturing (Integra 61): B2B supply chain visibility for 'Sustainable manufacturing North East' and 'Logistics hubs A1(M).'

Discovery Analytics

  • AI Share of Voice: How often cited in AI answers?
  • Sentiment Analysis: Digital consensus across North East forums
  • Citation Traffic: Clicks from 'Source' links in AI overviews
  • Conversion Mapping: 'Near me' vs 'how to' query leads

Why Canny Works?

  • Strategic Proximity: We understand Durham's geography
  • AI-First Expertise: Pioneers in AEO and semantic search
  • Local Commitment: We attend Durham Business Growth Summit
  • Social Value: Supporting the County Durham Pound

Own the Future of Durham Search

Durham has thrived for a millennium by embracing change while honoring its roots. As the Durham Innovation District brings thousands of new jobs and billions in investment, the businesses that win are those that own their digital narrative.

Partner with Canny Works for SEO as robust as Durham Cathedral and as innovative as the supercomputers at Aykley Heads.

AUDIT

Check Your Digital Pulse

Google ignores invisible sites. Scan your meta tags and header structure to see if you're actually indexable.

// Free Tool • Instant Results • No Sign-up

SEO Pulse Checker

Instant health check for your meta tags. No crawlers, just raw HTML analysis.

The Mechanics of Ranking

What is 'Logfile Analysis'?

Most agencies look at Google Analytics (User behavior). We look at Server Log Files (Bot behavior). By analyzing exactly when and how Googlebot hits your server, we identify 'Crawl Waste'—orphan pages, infinite loops, and heavy assets that are burning your crawl budget and preventing new content from being indexed.

How do you handle 'JavaScript SEO'?

Google claims to render JavaScript, but it's slow and unreliable. We implement Dynamic Rendering or Server-Side Rendering (SSR) to ensure that when a user bot hits your page, it receives fully populated HTML, not a loading spinner. This is critical for React/Vue/Angular applications.

What is the 'Hub & Spoke' Strategy?

We reject flat site architectures. We engineer Semantic Clusters. We identify a 'Parent' topic (e.g., 'Industrial Automation') and generate 20-50 'Child' pages (e.g., 'Automation for Textiles', 'Automation for Automotive') that all interlink. This signals overwhelming topical authority to Google's ranking algorithm.