When someone nearby searches for a service like yours, search engines try to show businesses that are relevant, close by and trusted. You cannot control all of that, but you can make it easy for search engines and customers to understand who you are, what you do and where you work.
1. Claim and complete your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile is the listing that can show up in Google Maps and local search results. Claim it, then fill in everything: your business category, services, hours, service areas, photos and a clear description. Keep your hours current, especially around holidays.
2. Keep your contact details the same everywhere
Your business name, address and phone number should match on your website, your Google Business Profile and any directories you are listed in. Small differences, like an old phone number on one listing, can cause confusion for customers and search engines alike.
3. Give each main service its own page
One page that lists everything you do makes it hard to tell what you are best at. A clear page for each main service, with a plain title and a real description, helps the right customers find the right page.
4. Say where you work
Mention the city and areas you serve on your website in a natural way, especially on your contact and service pages. If you serve customers at their location, list your service areas in your Google Business Profile too.
5. Make your site fast and easy on phones
Local searches often happen on a phone, sometimes when someone needs help right now. Your site should load quickly, read easily on a small screen and make it simple to call or book with one tap.
6. Ask happy customers for reviews
Reviews help new customers decide whether to trust you. Make it easy for happy customers to leave one, and reply to reviews, good and bad, politely. Never buy reviews or post fake ones.
7. Write clear page titles and descriptions
Every page should have a title that says what the page is about, and a short description that tells people why to click. Write them for people first. Stuffing in the same keyword over and over does not help.
8. Make contacting you easy
Getting found is only half the job. Once someone lands on your site, your phone number, booking button or contact form should be easy to spot on every page, and requests should reach someone quickly.
What to skip
- Fake addresses or offices in cities where you do not work
- Bought or fake reviews
- Pages stuffed with the same city name and keyword over and over
- Anyone who guarantees you a top ranking
Where to start
Start with your Google Business Profile and your contact details, since they are quick to fix. Then look at your website: does each main service have its own clear page, and is it easy to use on a phone? If not, our Colorado Springs website design page explains how we help local businesses.
Want your site built for local search?Tell us what you do and where you work. A real person will read it and follow up.
Start a projectQuick questions
Can anyone guarantee I will rank first?
No. Search engines decide rankings, and no one can honestly guarantee a position. What you can do is cover the basics well and keep them up to date.
Do I need a separate page for each service?
It usually helps. A clear page for each main service gives search engines and customers a better idea of exactly what you offer.
Should I list an address in a city where I do not have an office?
No. Use your real address and list the areas you serve. Inventing locations goes against search engine guidelines and erodes trust.