# Tom Telford

> Tom Telford is a British growth and marketing adviser to boards, based in Devon and working across the UK. He specialises in AI search and generative engine optimisation (GEO): how AI answer engines such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google describe and recommend businesses. He is a board member of Clarity Global Group, a former Chief Digital Officer of Clarity Global, and founded the agency 3WhiteHats, which Clarity Global acquired. He is not Thomas Telford (1757 to 1834), the Scottish civil engineer.

Contact: hello@tomtelford.co

## Services

- [Board and non-executive roles](https://tomtelford.co/services/board-roles/): I join boards as a non-executive director or adviser, bringing a growth, marketing and digital perspective to the table. I sit on the board of Clarity Global Group, and I founded and sold an agency, so I know both sides of the board pack.
- [AI search and GEO](https://tomtelford.co/services/ai-search-geo/): Buyers now shortlist inside AI answers from ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google. I help leadership teams see how their brand appears there, why, and what to change.
- [Fractional CMO](https://tomtelford.co/services/fractional-cmo/): I step in as a part-time or interim chief marketing officer (CMO) for growth-stage and investor-backed businesses, setting marketing strategy, building the team and getting the numbers moving.

## Writing

- [Your next customer asked an AI first.](https://tomtelford.co/writing/your-next-customer-asked-an-ai-first/): Why the shortlist now forms inside an answer, before anyone visits your site.
- [What AI answer engines actually read.](https://tomtelford.co/writing/what-ai-answer-engines-actually-read/): Sources, entities and the signals behind a mention.
- [Measuring a brand you can't see rank.](https://tomtelford.co/writing/measuring-a-brand-you-cant-see-rank/): A practical way to track how you appear in AI answers.
- [Capacity is the constraint.](https://tomtelford.co/writing/capacity-is-the-constraint/): Hire or reprice before chasing more work. Why I start with hours, not pipeline.

## Resources

- [PCRE framework](https://tomtelford.co/resources/pcre/): a free 2x2 for agency commerciality covering Pipeline, Capacity, Revenue and Efficiency.

## About

- [About Tom Telford](https://tomtelford.co/about/): background, CV and facts.
- [Contact](https://tomtelford.co/contact/)