How to show up on Google as a local business

A lot of local searches end on the map, not on a website. Someone types "plumber near me" and Google shows a map with a few businesses on it. Getting into that list is the first thing to work on.

Start with your Google Business Profile

It's free. Claim it, verify it and fill in everything. Category, hours, phone, website, service area and photos. Pick the most accurate main category you can, since it affects which searches you show up for.

Keep it current. If your hours change for a holiday, change them there too. Add photos now and then. Reply to reviews, good and bad, briefly and like a person.

Ask for reviews

Reviews play a big part in how Google ranks local businesses, and in whether people pick you. The easiest way to get them is to ask. Right after a good job, send a short text with the link. Most happy customers are glad to help if it takes a minute.

Don't buy reviews or offer something in return for them. It breaks Google's rules and it usually shows.

Make your details match everywhere

Your business name, address and phone should be the same on your site, your Google profile, Yelp, Facebook and anywhere else you're listed. Small differences, like an old number on a directory, can confuse things. It's boring work, but you only do it once.

What your website should do

Your site backs up your profile. Each page should have a clear title that says what it is and where, like "Dog grooming in Rockville". Put your address and phone in plain text, not inside an image, so Google can read them. If you serve a few towns or offer a few different services, a short page for each can help, as long as each page says something real.

Make sure it loads fast and works on a phone. Google looks at this, and so do your customers.

Give it time

None of this works overnight. It can take weeks or months to see a change, depending on how many others do what you do nearby. Keep your profile updated, keep asking for reviews and keep your site accurate. For most small businesses, that covers the basics of local SEO.

Be careful with anyone who promises first place on Google. Nobody can promise that.