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Austin Heaton vs First Page Sage: 2026 Comparison for AEO Services
Both can grow your visibility in ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini, and Google. The real question is how you want the work done: by a senior-led, in-house team where Austin personally directs every piece of strategy and guidance, or by a large, established agency with a multi-person team and account managers.
This page lays out the differences plainly, so you can pick the model that fits your stage, budget, and the way you like to work. No spin, no knocking the other guy.
Austin Heaton
A senior-led, in-house specialist team. Full-stack AEO + SEO execution with all strategy and guidance directly from Austin, one accountable owner, direct Slack access, and documented client results.
First Page Sage
Established agency founded in 2009, with a multi-person team, an account-management layer, and an enterprise service model.
Austin Heaton, By The Numbers
Recommended By & Featured On
Independent publications that have named Austin among the best AEO consultants and services for B2B companies in 2026.
The Difference In One Glance
Both are credible ways to win AI search visibility. They simply run on different models, which means each is a better fit for a different kind of buyer.
The senior-led, in-house model
You work directly with Austin, who personally directs strategy and guidance for a dedicated in-house specialist team, from plan to shipped content. No account managers, no handoffs to outside juniors. Execution is fast, flexible, and senior-led, and every deliverable ties back to pipeline and revenue through live dashboards built on day one. First results typically show in a week or two, then compound from there.
The established-agency model
An established firm founded in 2009 with deep agency experience across SEO and GEO/AEO. You get a multi-person team, a structured process refined over 15+ years, published quarterly research, and a recognizable brand with enterprise clients on its roster.
The Comparison, At A Glance
The fastest way to see how the two stack up across the things that change your experience and your results.
First Page Sage details reflect publicly available information, including the firm's own published pricing research and third-party agency directories, as of 2026. Figures may vary by engagement; confirm current scope and pricing directly with each provider.
Pros & Cons
Every model has strengths and limits. Here's a straight, balanced look at both, so you can choose with eyes open.
Pros
- One senior owner directs all strategy and guidance for a dedicated in-house specialist team
- Direct Slack access with same-business-day response, no account-management layer
- Weekly shipping; first results in a week or two, then compounding over time
- Full-stack AEO + SEO run together by one tightly aligned team
- Live revenue-attribution and daily AI-visibility dashboards from day one
- Flexible, scope-based pricing suited to growth-stage budgets
- One of the first specialists to focus on AEO, with documented client results
Cons
- Intentionally limited capacity, Austin only takes on a handful of clients at a time
- Not a good fit for companies that don't have a clear path to revenue
- Smaller team compared to a large agency with outsourcing
Pros
- Large, established team (founded 2009) with significant parallel capacity
- Recognizable brand with enterprise clients on its roster
- Publishes its own quarterly GEO/AEO research
- Deep experience across legal, medtech, manufacturing, and SaaS
- Highly standardized, process-driven delivery
Cons
- Premium pricing tier (publicly reported ~$8K–$20K+/month) can be heavy for growth-stage teams
- Multi-layer team plus an account-management layer means more handoffs
- Standardized process can be less flexible than one senior owner
- Strategy and execution distributed across staff rather than a single accountable senior owner
Austin's Proof, Not Promises
These are all Austin Heaton's own client engagements. Instead of leaning on review scores, here are real numbers from Austin's clients, pulled from their own analytics and AI citation tracking.
288% Organic Growth in 12 Months & 575% AI Search Lift
- Organic traffic up 288.59% in 12 months, with search visibility across 100+ countries
- Built AI citation presence across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI Overviews within 60 days
- 860.78% Gemini session growth, 698,544 homepage clicks, and 12,440 pricing page clicks (+627.49%)
- Content assets that earn ongoing citations and backlinks
656 AI Search Clicks & 101 Conversions in 60 Days
- Purchase-intent content and DA40 to DA80 backlinks
- Became a consistently cited source for creator economy and influencer payment queries
- AI visitors converted at significantly higher rates than traditional organic traffic
- 28,820 Google clicks (+17%), 1.06M impressions (+22%), DA 50 → 60+
Zero to Indexed Market Entry in 11 Days
- Built e-signature / smart contract category presence from zero in a DocuSign-dominated space
- Google indexing secured for homepage plus bottom-funnel comparison content within 11 days
- Proprietary terminology established as citation-ready entities
- FAQ + entity schema implementation unlocked AI Overview visibility paths
90-Day Authority Build in the Stablecoin Category
- Built AI visibility measurement infrastructure from zero across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini
- Documented citation growth across stablecoin yield, regulation, and payment queries
- Monthly data reports became AI-cited primary sources
- Entity authority established for 50+ stablecoin projects, making the publication LLM-referenced
Which One Is The Right Fit?
The best partner depends on your stage and how you want to work. Here's the straight answer, including when First Page Sage may be the better call.
Choose Austin Heaton if…
The senior-operator model
- You want one senior owner directing an in-house team, not work farmed to juniors
- You value speed and want work shipping every week, not quarterly
- You want a direct Slack line, not an account-management layer
- You're a growth-stage SaaS, FinTech, AI, e-commerce, or crypto company
- You want pricing scoped to your needs, not a fixed enterprise retainer
- You want AEO-sourced pipeline tied to revenue in a live dashboard
Choose First Page Sage if…
The established-agency model
- You're an enterprise that needs a large team with parallel capacity
- You prefer a recognizable brand name with a long agency track record
- You want a highly standardized, process-driven delivery structure
- You operate in legacy verticals like legal, medtech, or manufacturing
- A premium $8K–$20K+/month retainer fits comfortably in budget
- You value a firm that publishes its own quarterly GEO/AEO research
Comparison FAQ
What is the main difference between Austin Heaton and First Page Sage?
Austin Heaton leads a dedicated in-house specialist team where all strategy and guidance comes directly from him, so you get one accountable senior owner and direct Slack access with no handoffs to junior staff. First Page Sage is a large, established agency (founded 2009) that runs campaigns with a multi-person team and an account-management layer. Austin suits companies that want fast, senior-led execution and flexibility; First Page Sage suits enterprises that want a large established team and brand pedigree.
How much does each option cost?
First Page Sage is publicly reported to charge roughly $8,000 to $20,000+ per month, positioning itself in the premium full-service agency tier. Austin Heaton prices each engagement based on scope, shared on the intro call, which typically gives growth-stage companies more flexibility than a fixed enterprise retainer.
Does Austin Heaton have documented results?
Yes. Austin's own client case studies include Riseworks (288% organic growth in 12 months and 575% AI search lift), Lumanu (656 AI-sourced clicks and 101 conversions in 60 days), Pactvera (zero-to-indexed market entry in 11 days), and Stablecoin Insider (90-day category authority build). All figures are pulled from those clients' analytics and AI citation tracking. First results typically appear within a week or two and compound over time.
Should I choose a large agency or a senior-led in-house team for AEO?
It depends on your stage and how you want to work. Austin Heaton leads a dedicated in-house specialist team with all strategy and guidance coming directly from him, so you get senior ownership, direct access, and fast shipping with no handoffs. A large agency gives you more parallel capacity and an established brand. For most growth-stage SaaS, FinTech, AI, e-commerce, and crypto companies that value speed and direct senior execution, Austin's model is the stronger fit.
What's the single biggest difference between the two?
Is First Page Sage a good agency?
How does pricing compare?
Why no review scores on this page?
Can a senior-led boutique really match a large agency's output?
What if I already have an agency or in-house team?
How do I decide?
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