Of all the marketing channels available to small businesses, local SEO delivers the highest return for the lowest investment. 76% of people who search for a local business on their phone visit within 24 hours, and 28% of those searches result in a purchase. Yet most SMBs barely touch their Google Business Profile. Here's how to change that.
Why Local SEO Matters in 2026
93% of online experiences start with a search engine, and for businesses with a physical location or service area, local intent dominates those searches. When someone searches 'web design agency near me' or 'construction company in Birmingham,' Google serves local results first — the Map Pack, Knowledge Panel, and local organic listings. If you're not optimised for these, you're invisible to your most motivated buyers.
Step 1: Claim and Complete Your Google Business Profile
This is the foundation. If you haven't claimed your Google Business Profile, do it today. If you have, make sure every field is completed: business name, categories, hours, services, description, website URL, and contact information. Google rewards completeness — profiles with all fields filled receive 70% more engagement.
Step 2: Optimise Your Categories and Services
Choose your primary category carefully — it's the single biggest ranking factor for local search. Then add all relevant secondary categories. List every service you offer with clear descriptions. For example, if you're a digital agency, your services might include 'Web Design,' 'Graphic Design,' 'App Development,' 'SEO Services,' and 'Social Media Management.'
Step 3: Collect and Respond to Reviews
Reviews are the second most important local ranking factor. Businesses with 40+ Google reviews and an average rating above 4.5 stars significantly outrank competitors with fewer reviews. Ask satisfied clients to leave reviews, and respond to every review — positive or negative — within 48 hours. Include keywords naturally in your responses.
Step 4: Post Weekly Updates
Google Business Profile has a built-in posting feature that most businesses ignore entirely. Share weekly updates about your projects, team, offers, or industry insights. These posts appear in your Knowledge Panel, signal activity to Google, and give searchers more reasons to click through to your website.
Step 5: Build Local Citations
Ensure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all directories: Google, Bing, Apple Maps, Yelp, industry directories, and your social media profiles. Inconsistencies confuse search engines and dilute your ranking signals.
Step 6: Create Location-Specific Content
Write blog posts and pages targeting your service areas. 'Web Design Services in Manchester' or 'App Development for London Businesses' help you rank for local searches where generic content won't. These pages should include genuine local knowledge — not just keyword-stuffed variations of the same content.
At Flex Tech Design, our marketing team helps clients build and maintain their local SEO presence as part of our subscription plans. From Google Business Profile optimisation to location-specific content creation, we handle the ongoing work so you can focus on running your business.