The local SEO checklist for UK small businesses.
Local SEO isn't magic and it isn't a monthly mystery invoice. It's a short list of things done properly and kept up. Here's the checklist we work through for every business, in the order that usually makes the biggest difference.
1. Google Business Profile
- Claim and verify it, and choose the most specific primary category that fits.
- Add every service you offer, your service areas and accurate opening hours.
- Write a clear description that says what you do and where, in plain English.
- Add real photos of your team, premises and work, and keep adding them.
- Post an update every week or two: a project, a tip or an article.
2. Reviews
Reviews are one of the strongest local signals you control, and they persuade people as much as they persuade Google.
- Ask every happy client, every time, with a direct review link.
- Reply to every review, good or bad, politely and promptly.
- Never buy, swap or write reviews. In the UK, fake reviews are banned outright under consumer law.
3. Your website
- One page per service, each clearly describing what you do, who it's for and where.
- Area pages for the places you really cover, each with genuinely local detail, not a copy with the town name swapped.
- Your name, phone and area on every page, matching your Google profile exactly.
- Schema markup describing your business, services and FAQs so search engines understand them.
- Fast on a phone. Check it with Google's PageSpeed Insights.
4. Citations and links
- List the business consistently on the main directories: Bing Places, Apple Business Connect, Yell, Thomson Local and your industry's own directories.
- Earn local links: your chamber of commerce, local business groups, suppliers, sponsorships and partners.
- Write genuinely useful articles that other people want to link to.
5. Measure it
- Set up Google Search Console and submit your sitemap.
- Track calls, enquiries and direction requests from your Google profile.
- Record where every enquiry came from in your CRM, so you know what's working.
Need a hand?
We do all of this as standard. See local SEO, or request a free website health check and we'll tell you what's missing.
Quick answers
Still unsure? Ask us anything.
How long does local SEO take to work?
Basic fixes such as a properly set-up Google profile can help within weeks. Ranking for competitive searches usually takes a few months of consistent work, reviews and links.
What matters most for local SEO?
A complete Google Business Profile, steady genuine reviews, clear service and area pages, and consistent business details across the web.
Can I do local SEO myself?
Yes. This checklist covers the essentials. The hard part is doing it consistently, which is why many businesses hand it over.
Want a second opinion on your website?
Request a free website health check and we'll reply within one working day with honest, practical recommendations.
- A reply within one working day
- A fixed quote before any work starts
- No pressure, no sales script