Local SEO checklist: get found by customers nearby

Searches with a local intent — a plumber, a restaurant, a dentist nearby — show a map and a short list of businesses before the regular results. Local SEO is everything you do to appear there, with information that convinces people to call, visit or book.

1. Claim and complete your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile is the basis of local visibility. Claim it, verify it and fill in every field: the right category, your services, opening hours and holiday hours, photos, a short description and a link to your website.

2. Keep your details identical everywhere

Your business name, address and phone number should be exactly the same on your website, your Business Profile, social media and directories. Inconsistent details make it harder for search engines to trust the information.

3. Give every location its own page

If you have more than one location or serve several towns, create a separate page for each, with the address, opening hours, a map, local photos and directions. Avoid copying the same text and only changing the name of the town.

4. Ask for reviews — and answer them

Reviews help people choose and support your visibility. Ask satisfied customers for a review at the right moment, for example after a finished job, and reply to every review, positive or negative, politely and personally. Never buy or write fake reviews: it breaks the platforms' rules and destroys trust.

5. Make your website locally relevant

• Mention the area you serve in titles, headings and text — naturally.
• Add LocalBusiness structured data with your address and opening hours.
• Make sure the site loads fast and works perfectly on a phone: many local searches happen on mobile.
• Put your phone number and a call button where people expect them.

6. Use relevant local directories

Being listed in the main directories and platforms for your country and sector helps people and search engines confirm that your business exists. Quality matters more than quantity: a few accurate listings beat hundreds of irrelevant ones.

7. Keep it up to date

Update your opening hours before holidays, add new photos, publish posts about offers or news and check the questions people ask on your profile. An active profile gives people more reasons to choose you.

Prefer to have this done for you? Our local SEO service takes these steps off your hands, and a fast business website with a page for every service gives Google more reasons to show you in your area.