SEO · September 2023
A local SEO checklist for service businesses
The handful of local SEO steps that move the map pack for trades, clinics, and studios serving one region.
By Ali Bek · Published · Updated · 2 min read
Local search rewards boring completeness. Most businesses can outrank their neighbours by finishing the basics properly rather than by publishing more.
Finish the profile
Business name, categories, service areas, hours, and real photos. Add every service as an explicit item. Incomplete profiles lose to complete ones for the same search, and the fix takes an afternoon.
Give each service its own page
One page per service, with the city named naturally in the heading, the intro, and the FAQ. A single services page cannot rank for six different searches at once.
Ask for reviews on a schedule
Two or three requests a week, sent right after the work is done. Reviews mentioning the service and the neighbourhood help more than generic five-star ratings with no text.