Local SEO for small businesses: connect your Google profile and website
Someone searching for "electrician near me" or "physiotherapy in town" first sees a map with three businesses. Those three get most of the calls. Local SEO makes sure Google understands your business for such searches: through a well-kept Business Profile, a website with clear service and location information, and genuine reviews.
Step 1: Set up the Google Business Profile properly
The profile is free. What matters is filling it in according to Google's guidelines, because violations can lead to suspension.
- Business name exactly as on your signage and invoices, without added city or service words.
- Primary category as specific as possible; extra categories only where they truly apply.
- If customers do not come to you, hide the address and set a service area.
- Opening hours, phone number and a link to the matching page on your website.
- Real photos: team, vehicles, work, premises.
Step 2: Build the website for your area
Google connects the profile and the website. Each main service needs its own page that names the service and area in the title and heading and explains exactly what you offer. Keep your name, address and phone number identical across website, profile and directories.
Avoid dozens of near-identical pages for every town. Google treats them as doorway pages. A page per location only makes sense if you genuinely have customers, projects or premises there that you can write about specifically.
Step 3: Reviews and freshness
Reviews influence whether people call. Ask after every job, ideally with a direct link to the review form. Reply to every review, critical ones included, briefly and factually. Bought or self-written reviews break the guidelines.
Keep the profile current: holiday hours, new photos, new services. A visibly maintained profile looks more trustworthy to customers.
What local SEO costs
The profile itself is free. Costs come from setup, reworking service pages and, if needed, ongoing maintenance. Many small businesses do not need a monthly agency: once set up properly, keeping reviews and photos fresh yourself is often enough.
At Onravetoni, Google Business Profile setup is part of the SEO setup from €450, one-off, no monthly contract, together with technical checks, page structure, Search Console and a handover report.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I add my city to the business name in the profile?
- Only if it is genuinely part of your official name. Adding services or locations to the name breaks the guidelines and can get the profile suspended.
- I work from home. Do I still need a profile?
- Yes. Hide your home address and set your service area instead. Customers see where you work without seeing where you live.
- How long until I show up on the map?
- Once the profile is verified it can be quick. How high you appear depends on distance, relevance and prominence; reviews and good service pages help.
Sources
Send us your business name, service area and website. We check the profile and service pages and tell you what is missing.
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