Here's a selection of the types of questions customers ask when they contact us.
A local SEO agency helps a business appear in search results for people in a specific area. It manages the business’s online information so that it shows up when someone nearby searches for its services. This is useful for businesses that rely on local customers, such as tradespeople, clinics, and shops.
What is included in a local SEO service?
Why is local SEO useful for a business?
A local SEO agency helps a business show up in search results for people in the same area. The main tasks include:
Most businesses start seeing early improvements within 30 days, like cleaned-up listings and an updated Google profile. More noticeable results, such as better rankings and more enquiries, usually appear between months three and six.
The service starts with a full review and update of the profile to make sure all details are accurate and complete. Ongoing work includes:
The agency creates a separate plan for each location. This includes setting up and optimising a Google Business Profile for each branch and writing separate web pages like “accountants in York” or “accountants in Harrogate.” This helps each location rank well in its own area.
Citations are managed in two stages. First, the agency finds incorrect listings for the business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) and submits corrections. Then, they create new listings on trusted local and industry directories. This helps improve local search rankings by building consistency and authority across the web.
Agencies follow a five-step process to create pages that target service-and-location keywords. It includes:
Agencies use email or SMS systems to send review requests to recent customers. The business provides the contact list, and the agency sends branded messages asking for a review on Google or similar platforms. Follow-up reminders are often included to increase the number of responses.
ROI is measured by comparing the cost of the service to the number of valuable actions it generates—such as phone calls or contact form submissions. The agency should set up tracking tools and include this data in a monthly report to show how SEO activity links to business results.
At the start, there’s usually a 60-minute onboarding call. After that, a good agency should only need around 30 minutes per month for the business to review reports and give feedback. Most tasks are handled by the agency without needing day-to-day involvement.
Local SEO agencies focus on ranking signals that affect search results in specific areas. These include Google Business Profile visibility, citation consistency, review quality, and relevance to local searches. General SEO agencies often focus on broader strategies for national or global keywords, without targeting specific towns or service areas.
The business should receive a monthly report within five working days. This report should include:
The agency starts by asking which services matter most to the business. Then it uses keyword research tools to find high-traffic search terms for those services in specific towns or cities. The suggested keywords are then reviewed and approved by the client before content is created.
Yes. A business can target nearby towns by publishing dedicated landing pages for each area. For example, a Newcastle firm can create a page for “family law solicitors in Sunderland.” These pages can rank in organic results, though showing up in the Google Map Pack usually requires a verified local address.
If a negative review appears, an agency should draft a calm and professional response. This draft is sent to the business for approval before posting. Responding promptly and politely shows that the business takes feedback seriously and helps maintain its public reputation.
Agencies acquire local backlinks through various methods, but the most valuable links come from manual outreach to relevant businesses and organisations. A quality-focused agency identifies opportunities like sponsoring a local charity, joining a business association, or featuring in a local news story. This approach builds a natural and authoritative backlink profile that search engines trust.
Local SEO leads to higher conversion rates for firms compared to non-local searches. The key is to make sure your site either finishes in the Local Pack or on page one of Google's search engine results page. Ideally, you should be able to do both.
A strong local online presence helps your company build trust and credibility with your audience. People now search the internet for suppliers, information and events the way they previously used local directories.
Here are some of the stats:
Despite this, many companies make the mistake of not claiming their Google Business Profile. This makes it harder for customers to find them. Many others also overlook social media, which can enhance brand reputation and customer relations.
Local SEO marketing is a cost-effective method to promote your business compared to traditional advertising.
An optimized Google Business Profile helps earn credibility and increase website clicks. Positive reviews and a strong local SEO presence also build trust with your audience. Google Business Profile was previously known as Google My Business.
Every business should have a website that is user friendly and informative, so that when people find you through local search, they can quickly understand what you offer and why they should choose you.
A local SEO agency is a specialist service provider whose role is to increase your visibility online to searchers based close by to you.
They do this by building up the number of new and correcting inaccurate existing citations, a form of business listing. They also manage your Google Business Profile, handle the collection of online reviews (and certain online reputation issues), keyword research, local landing page creation, and try to secure a location on the Google Map-related Local Pack to increase organic traffic to your website.
Top local SEO companies are responsible for everything from Google Business Profile optimisation and local content creation to review management and competitor tracking. They use Google Analytics and other measurement tools to track your website's visibility to your local audience. The higher your site ranks in your local area, the more potential local customers you'll be able to sell to.
Local SEO costs can begin at £595 and increase based on specific needs and market competition. The amount spent on local SEO varies depending on the size of the business and the number of required services.
Different businesses may experience different timelines for seeing full benefits from local SEO efforts, typically ranging from six months to a year. You should consider local SEO as an important part of your digital marketing strategy and a long-term investment in building visibility, credibility and a steady stream of inbound enquiries.
Achieving a high local SEO ranking is worth it. Just as with traditional SEO, the long-term costs are much lower than paying for Google or social media adverts to appear when local search terms are used.
Your first task is to select your local SEO priorities. They could be appearing in the Local Pack or increasing enquiries from people searching nearby. Choose what the most commercially valuable benefits of an enhanced local presence would be.
Other local websites will currently dominate when it comes to the sale of local services and products. Set your local SEO goals to be realistic, trackable and tied to business outcomes like calls or leads.
The best local SEO company for your business therefore should offer clear, structured reporting and take full responsibility for strategy, content and execution.