You’re a fantastic local mechanic, florist, or builder, offering top-notch services in your community. But when potential customers in your own town search on Google for “mechanic near me” or “florist in [Your Suburb],” your competitors pop up, and your business is nowhere to be seen. Sound familiar?
The secret to fixing this isn’t complicated; it’s Local SEO. If you run a small business and want to attract more customers from your immediate area, making sure you’re visible in local search results is a game changer. Here’s a quick checklist to get you started.
Your Digital Shopfront: Google Business Profile
This is your most important free tool for Local SEO. Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is what allows your business to show up in Google Maps and in the “Local Pack”—that box with three businesses you see at the top of a local search.
Make sure your profile is complete and accurate, including your business name, address, phone number, opening hours, and photos of your work. This is the first place customers (and Google) look for reliable information about you.
Speak Your Customer’s Language: On-Page Local SEO
When someone in Orange searches for “landscaper in Orange,” Google scans websites for those exact keywords. You need to tell Google where you are and what you do directly on your website.
- Website Content: Sprinkle your suburb, region, or service area naturally throughout your website’s text, especially on your homepage and contact page.
- Titles and Descriptions: Add your location to your page titles and meta descriptions (the short text that appears in search results). For example, instead of “Our Services,” use “Landscaping Services in Orange NSW.”
Get Your Name Out There: Local Directories
Beyond Google, there are dozens of online directories where your business should be listed (think Yelp, Yellow Pages, or industry-specific sites like hipages for tradies). Every listing creates a “citation”—a mention of your business’s Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP).
The golden rule here is consistency. Ensure your NAP is identical across every single directory to build trust with search engines.
Let Your Customers Do the Talking: The Power of Reviews
Positive customer reviews on your Google Business Profile are a massive trust signal for both new customers and Google’s ranking algorithm. More five-star reviews mean more visibility and more phone calls. Don’t be shy about asking your happy customers to leave a quick review—it’s the digital equivalent of powerful word-of-mouth marketing.
The Foundation: Your Website
Your Google Business Profile, social media, and directory listings are all incredibly valuable, but they work best when they support a central hub: your professional website. This is the one place online that you completely own and control, where you can showcase your work, tell your story, and turn curious searchers into paying customers.
Even tweaking one or two of these areas can make a huge difference in how easily local people find you online. If you have a website but aren’t showing up in local searches, chances are you’re missing some of these basics.
Need a Hand?
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? If you need help getting a powerful, affordable website online or optimizing your Google Business Profile, we’re here to help.
Contact Blair from Easy Flow Web Design – we make it easy to get online and get found. https://easyflowwebdesign.com.au/contact-us/
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