Being Found by People Nearby
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The profile does most of the work
For local searches, your business profile listing often matters more than your website. Complete it properly: categories, hours, services, photographs, and keep it current.
It is free, it takes an afternoon, and most businesses have filled in a third of it.
Consistency everywhere
- Name, address and phone identical across every listing
- Same format — Street versus St matters less than being consistent
- Old listings for previous addresses found and corrected
- The same details on your own site, in the footer and on contact
Inconsistent details across directories are a common and invisible problem. An hour finding and fixing them is worth more than most content work.
Location pages, if you serve several areas
One page per area you genuinely serve, with real local content — projects done there, areas covered, local specifics. Not a template with the town name swapped.
Five substantial location pages outperform thirty thin ones, and thin location pages can actively harm a site.
Reviews
- Ask every satisfied customer, at the moment they are pleased
- Make it one link, not instructions
- Reply to all of them, including the negative ones, calmly
- Never incentivise or fabricate — it is obvious and it backfires
On the site itself
| Element | What to do |
|---|---|
| Structured business data | Name, address, phone, hours, marked up |
| Contact page | Address, map, and the areas you cover |
| Page titles | Include the location where it is genuine |
| Footer | Consistent details on every page |
Frequently asked questions
How long does local visibility take?
Do we need a physical address?
How many reviews do we need?
Are directory listings worth it?
Not appearing for searches in your own town?
Usually the profile and consistency, not the website. Happy to check what is missing.