Get these right:

• Update your hours. Especially around Christmas and bank holidays, when everything goes a bit wonky
• Stick photos up regularly. Real ones from actual jobs, not stock images of people in suits shaking hands
• Reply to reviews. Yes, even the grumpy ones
• Use those posts to share what you're up to

I had a client who hadn't touched their profile in two years. Opening hours were wrong, photos were ancient, reviews were unanswered.

Fixed all that in an afternoon, and enquiries started dripping through.

For many service businesses, the competitive advantage lies in appearing first for local searches. If you're operating in the South East, mastering your Google Business Profile is the critical first step.

For those based near Basildon, consulting with Google Business Profile experts in Basildon can provide a significant, immediate advantage. They ensure your critical business details are spotless, your photos are engaging, and every review - good or grumpy - is handled professionally.

This comprehensive approach directly impacts your visibility in the all-important local "map pack". Remember, sustainable growth isn't accidental; it requires consistent, targeted effort.

If you are serious about driving high-quality enquiries and outranking your nearby rivals, you need a robust focus on local SEO in your area. It's the strategy that keeps delivering

2. 📱 Check Your Website on Your Phone

Right now, grab your phone and look at your website. Go on, I'll wait.

Does it look alright? Can you actually press the buttons without your thumb hitting three things at once? Does it load before you lose the will to live?

Most people browse on their phones these days. If your site's a mess on mobile, they're gone. Probably to whoever shows up next in the search results.

3. 🗺️ Think Local with Your Keywords

Nobody's searching for "plumber" and scrolling through pages hoping to find one near them. They're typing "plumber Basildon" or "emergency plumber near me" or "who can fix my boiler in Southend right now".

Here's what works:

• Stick your town in your page titles
• Mention local areas in your content where it makes sense
• If you cover multiple towns, give each one its own page
• Use the words people actually say, not what sounds clever

A roofer in Chelmsford shouldn't have a homepage that just says "Roofing Services". Make it "Roofing Services in Chelmsford - Emergency Repairs & New Roofs". Tell Google where you are.

4. ⭐ Collect Reviews Without Being Annoying

Reviews matter. Google looks at them, customers read them, and they separate you from businesses with nothing to show.

But don't be that person offering a fiver for a five-star review. Google knows, customers know, and it looks desperate.

Do this instead:

• Ask when you've just done a great job and the customer's happy
• Send them a direct link so they don't have to faff about finding you
• Write back to every review with something personal, not a copy-paste job
• Don't bribe people. Seriously, don't

One genuine review from Mrs Smith, who's chuffed with her new kitchen, beats a hundred dodgy ones from "John D" and "Sarah M".

NB: The Customer Feedback Centre is your complete, personalised reputation solution. This single platform collects, amplifies, presents, and oversees all aspects of your online reviews and feedback, custom-branded to your company and tailored for local service providers. Learn more>>

5. 📝 Answer Questions People Actually Ask

Your customers are typing questions into Google. If you answer them on your website, Google sends those people to you.

Questions worth answering:

• How much does your service cost around here?
• What should someone do when they've got the problem you solve?
• How do they pick someone good in your trade?
• What are the common cock-ups in your industry, and how do you avoid them?

Write like you're chatting to someone, not like you're trying to impress your old English teacher. Nobody wants to read an essay.

6. 🔗 Get Your Business Listed in Directories

Online directories help Google determine that you're a legitimate business, not someone with a website created in their spare time.

Start here:

• Yell
• Thomson Local
• Free Index
• Bing Places
• Whatever directories exist for your specific trade

Ensure that your business name, address, and phone number match exactly everywhere. Google becomes suspicious if you're listed as "J Smith Plumbing" in one place and "John Smith Plumbing Services Ltd" elsewhere.

7. 🚀 Make Your Website Faster

Slow websites wind people up. They also wind Google up. Neither of those things helps you get customers.

Quick fixes:

• Shrink your images before you upload them
• Bin off any plugins you installed once and never used again
• Pay for proper hosting, not the cheapest thing you found on Google
• Turn on caching if your site does that

If this sounds like gibberish, ring your web person and tell them to speed things up. Worth every penny.

8. 📞 Don't Hide Your Contact Details

I've seen websites where finding a phone number is like a treasure hunt. Why make it hard for people to give you money?

Make it obvious:

• Phone number at the top of every page
• Contact form that actually sends you the message
• Map showing where you're based
• Email address that's easy to spot

The easier you are to contact, the more people contact you. Shocking, I know.

9. 🎬 Stick Some Videos Up

Videos are massive right now. You don't need a film crew - your phone's fine.

Film this stuff:

• Quick tips about your industry
• Before and after shots of your work
• Happy customers saying nice things about you
• You actually doing the work

Upload them on YouTube and showcase them on your website. Google owns YouTube, so it definitely pays attention.

10. 📊 Keep an Eye on What's Happening

Set up Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Both free, both tell you useful stuff like:

• Which pages people look at
• What they typed into Google to find you
• Where your visitors come from
• Which pages lead to people actually getting in touch

Check them once a month. If something's working, do more of it. If something's not, try something else.

Right Then

SEO's not rocket science. Do these things regularly, and you'll get found more often. Simple as that.

It takes time, though. Anyone promising overnight results is taking advantage of you. But stick with it, and the results keep coming, unlike paid ads that stop the second you stop paying.

Do half this lot consistently and you're already doing better than most of your competition.

If you’re unsure, help is around the corner.