local-business-website-tips
Simple, practical website, SEO and marketing tips local businesses can implement today to get more customers.
This guide gives fast wins and longer-term strategies—copy templates, checklist items, and tools you can use whether you're running a café, plumbing business, salon, or local service.
Quick wins you can do today
These tasks take 5–60 minutes and often give the biggest immediate impact.
tel:+61xxxxxxxx.Website checklist (must-haves)
A quick auditing checklist you can run through in 30 minutes.
- Clear headline describing service + location
- Clickable phone & directions on mobile
- Fast load (aim < 2.5s mobile)
- Unique title & meta description per page
- Service pages for each key offering (3–6 pages)
- Contact details + Google Business Profile link
- Customer reviews/testimonials visible
- Basic analytics installed (GA4 or similar)
SEO basics (practical, on-page steps)
These items move the needle for local searches without requiring advanced technical work.
1. Page Titles & Meta Descriptions
Make each page have a unique title and meta. Use this template:
Meta: One clear benefit + CTA — Example: "24/7 emergency plumbing in Melbourne CBD. Fast response, fixed pricing. Call now."
2. Headings & Content
Use H1 only once (usually the page headline). Use H2s for services and H3s for details. Keep paragraphs short, and include the target suburb naturally.
3. Images & Alt Text
Compress images (WebP preferred) and set descriptive alt text including the service and location: "electrician testing switchboard in Richmond".
4. Internal Links
Link from blog posts or homepage to your key service pages with keyword-rich anchor text (e.g., "book a blocked drain service").
5. Simple Schema Markup
Add LocalBusiness schema (name, address, phone, openingHours, geo). This helps search engines show rich results.
Local SEO & Google Business Profile (GBP)
Local searches drive foot traffic and calls. Focus here.
Claim & Optimise Your Google Business Profile
- Complete every field: services, hours, photos, service area.
- Use your main keyword in the business description naturally.
- Post updates/offers weekly (GBP posts boost engagement).
Gather Reviews—Ask, Don’t Wait
Send a short SMS after completion with a direct review link. Template text:
Citations & NAP Consistency
Ensure your Name, Address, Phone (NAP) is identical across directories (Yellow Pages, TrueLocal, Facebook). Inconsistent NAP confuses Google.
Content & CTAs that convert
Good copy organises information and reduces friction. Use these templates and patterns.
Homepage Hero Copy (formula)
Example: "Emergency Electrician Melbourne — 24/7 fast response, fixed-price repairs. Call now."
Service Page Structure
- Intro (1–2 short paragraphs) — what you do and the key benefit.
- What we do — bullet list of services.
- How it works — simple 3-step process.
- Pricing guide — ranges or fixed starting price.
- Local proof — nearby jobs and testimonials.
- CTA — phone + booking form (top & bottom).
CTA Examples
UX, images & mobile checks
Most visitors arrive on phones—prioritise the mobile experience.
Image Tips
- Use real photos of your team and work where possible.
- Crop to key subject and ensure faces are visible at thumbnail size.
- Name files with keywords (e.g., emergency-plumber-melbourne.jpg).
Mobile UX Checklist (3 minutes)
- Tap the phone number — does it call?
- Can you read the main headline without zooming?
- Are CTA buttons large enough (44px tall) and spaced?
- Does the page load within 3 seconds on 4G?
Analytics & tracking (measure what matters)
You can't improve what you don't measure. Start simple.
Essential Tags
- Google Analytics 4 — track users, pages, conversions
- Google Search Console — monitor search queries and coverage
- Call tracking (if you want to measure phone leads)
Simple Conversion Goals
Track 1–3 goals: phone clicks, contact form submissions, booking completions. Check these weekly.
Paid ads for small budgets
If you have $10–30/day, focus on high-intent local keywords and call-first campaigns.
Google Ads
- Use location targeting (cities/suburbs) and ad schedules during business hours.
- Create call-only ads for immediate leads.
Social & Remarketing
Retarget visitors who viewed key service pages with special offers. Use short video or photo ads showing finished jobs.
Social proof & reviews
Reviews are social currency—display them where visitors make decisions.
- Show 3–5 highlighted reviews on the homepage with initials, suburb and service.
- Respond to reviews quickly—thank positive reviewers and offer to resolve issues on negative ones.
- Use schema for review snippets to increase visibility in search results.
Ongoing maintenance & updates
Keep a simple monthly plan to avoid site rot and missed leads.
If you prefer not to manage this yourself, consider a subscription service that includes unlimited updates, hosting, and analytics for a predictable fee (Congero offers this for a flat monthly price).
30–90 day action plan (exact steps)
- Update contact info & hero CTA
- Claim/optimise Google Business Profile
- Install GA4 and Search Console
- Create 2 service pages with unique titles
- Collect 5 recent reviews
- Run PageSpeed and fix top 3 issues
- Start a small Google Ads test ($10–30/day)
- Publish 2 blog posts targeting local questions
- Review analytics & optimise top pages
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can I see results from these changes?
Quick wins (clickable phone, GBP tweaks) often increase calls within days. SEO improvements typically show organic gains in 4–12 weeks, depending on competition.
Do I need to hire someone to do this?
You can do most quick wins yourself. For continuous optimisation, many businesses choose a managed subscription to save time (Congero provides done-for-you builds and unlimited updates).
What's the single most important thing?
Make it ridiculously easy for customers to contact you—click-to-call, clear pricing, and a visible CTA. Everything else builds on that.
How do I get more Google reviews?
Ask at the end of a job, send a short SMS with a direct link, and make leaving a review part of your follow-up process. Offer exceptional service—no shortcuts.
Ready to get more local customers?
If you'd rather focus on jobs than website maintenance, Congero builds and manages local business websites with built-in local SEO, unlimited updates, hosting, domain and analytics for a flat monthly fee.
Flat pricing, no lock-in contracts, domain & hosting included. Start with a free demo—no credit card required.
