How To Check Your Google Maps Ranking (And How Often To Do It)
Searching your own name on your phone tells you nothing. Here is how UK trades check where they really rank on Google Maps, for free, and how often to look.
4 min read
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Local SEO Insights
Actionable guides, strategies, and tips to help UK local businesses dominate Google Maps and attract more customers.
Google Business Profile Without Showing Your Home Address: A Guide For UK Trades
Work from home but do not want your address on Google? How UK trades set up a service area Business Profile, hide their address and still show up on Maps.
4 min read
SEO For Plasterers UK: How To Get Found For The Plastering Jobs You Want
How UK plasterers get found on Google for skimming, rendering, artex removal and ceiling repairs, and how to stop wasting time on jobs that are not worth the drive.
4 min read
SEO For Tradesmen: A Plain-English Guide To Getting Found On Google
What SEO actually means for a UK trade business, what to do first, what to ignore, and trade-by-trade guides for plumbers, roofers, electricians and more.
3 min read
SEO For Locksmiths UK: How To Win The Calls That Go To Lead Sites Today
Most locksmith searches are urgent and local. How UK locksmiths get into the map results, beat the call-centre sites and turn searches into phone calls.
3 min read
SEO For Tree Surgeons UK: How To Get Found For The Bigger Jobs
How UK tree surgeons get found on Google for felling, crown work and storm damage, and how to turn searches about tree rules into paying jobs.
3 min read
How Much Does A WordPress Website Cost In The UK? A Straight Answer For Trades
What a WordPress website really costs a UK trade business: the build, hosting, plugins and upkeep, what you get for your money, and when WordPress is worth it.
4 min read
How Much Does SEO Cost For A Trade Business In The UK?
What UK trades should expect to pay for SEO, what the money should buy, the red flags in an SEO quote, and our own prices in plain numbers.
3 min read
Christmas And New Year Opening Hours On Google: What Trades Should Update Now
How UK trades set Christmas and New Year hours on their Google Business Profile, so customers know when you are working and Google stops warning them your hours might be wrong.
3 min read
Local SEO In Stroud: How Trades Get Found Across The Five Valleys (2026)
On a map, Stroud and its surrounding towns look close together. On the road, the valleys make some of those trips a lot longer than they look. Google uses the map. That quirk shapes how local search works here.
8 min read
Web Design In Somerset: What A Trade Website Should Cost In 2026
Ask three web designers in Somerset for a quote and you can get three wildly different prices for what sounds like the same thing. The price on its own tells you very little. What is in it tells you everything.
9 min read
Local SEO In Yeovil: Getting Found On Both Sides Of The Somerset And Dorset Border (2026)
Yeovil is a Somerset town that does a lot of its business in Dorset. Sherborne is a short drive away, and plenty of Yeovil trades work across the border every week. Google does not care about county lines. Your customers' searches do.
8 min read
Marketing For Kitchen Fitters UK: How To Win More Fitting Jobs From Google (2026)
Kitchen fitting has a quirk most trades do not. A lot of your customers have already bought the kitchen. They are not looking for a kitchen company. They are looking for someone to fit the one sitting in boxes in their garage.
10 min read
SEO In Taunton: How To Choose An SEO Company As A Trade Business (2026)
Taunton is the county town and it keeps growing. More homes on the edges of town means more people searching for a trade they have never used before. Here is how to pick an SEO company that actually gets you in front of them.
9 min read
Winter Marketing For Trade Businesses: How To Keep Work Coming In The Quiet Months (2026)
Every year the same thing happens. Work slows from November, the phone gets quieter, money gets tighter, and marketing is the first thing that gets cut.
9 min read
SEO For Driveway And Patio Contractors UK: Winning The High-Value Jobs (2026)
A driveway is one of the biggest things a homeowner buys that is not a car or a kitchen. They research it for weeks, they get three or four quotes, and they judge almost entirely on photos and reviews.
9 min read
Local SEO In Gloucester: How Trade Businesses Get The Phone Ringing (2026)
Gloucester is a compact city with a lot of trade businesses in it, sitting ten miles from Cheltenham with a ring of villages around both. That geography decides how local search works here, and it catches people out.
8 min read
Facebook And Instagram Ads For Trade Businesses: When They Work And When They Waste Money (2026)
Google and Facebook do opposite jobs, and most trades who waste money on Meta ads do it because they expected Facebook to behave like Google.
11 min read
How To Respond To Google Reviews (Including The Bad Ones) As A Trade Business
Getting reviews is half the job. What you write underneath them is the half most trades ignore, and it is read far more than you would think.
9 min read
How To Write Service Pages That Actually Rank (UK Trades Guide)
Most trade websites have four pages: home, about, services, contact. The services page lists twelve things you do, one line each.
11 min read
How Somerset Trade Businesses Get Found Across Taunton, Wells And Bridgwater (2026)
Somerset is a different SEO problem to a city. There is no single centre. You have Taunton, Bridgwater, Yeovil, Wells, Glastonbury, Street, Frome and a lot of villages in between, and a trade business here typically covers several of them.
11 min read
SEO For Fencing Contractors UK: How To Fill Your Diary From Google (2026)
Fencing has a brutal seasonal curve. Every storm brings a fortnight of panicked calls, spring brings the planned work, and then there are the quiet months where the phone barely moves.
11 min read
SEO For Carpenters And Joiners UK: How To Get Found For The Work You Want (2026)
Carpentry has a problem most trades do not. The word covers a £70 door hang and a £12,000 fitted kitchen, and the customers searching for each of those are completely different people.
11 min read
Google Business Profile Suspended? The UK Trade Business Reinstatement Guide (2026)
You wake up, search your business name, and it is gone from Maps. No warning, no explanation, and your enquiries stop that day.
11 min read
What Missed Calls Are Really Costing Your Trade Business (And The Fix)
You are up a ladder. Your phone rings. By the time you are down, they have hung up.
9 min read
Google Ads For Tradesmen UK: Budgets, Setup And The Mistakes That Waste Money (2026)
Most tradesmen who try Google Ads do it once, spend £400, get three rubbish enquiries and never go back.
13 min read
Google Local Services Ads UK: The 2026 Guide For Trade Businesses
There is a spot on Google that sits above the map pack, above the normal ads and above every organic result. Most UK tradesmen do not know it exists, and the ones who do often assume it is the same thing as Google Ads.
12 min read
7 Website Mistakes Costing UK Small Businesses Leads in 2026
Most local business websites don't fail because they look bad. They fail because of seven fixable, boring mistakes.
8 min read
How Many Google Reviews Do You Need to Rank? (2026)
There's no magic number, but there is a threshold relative to your competitors. Here's how to work out yours.
10 min read
Google Ads vs SEO: Which Should a UK Local Business Do First?
Ads buy you leads today. SEO builds leads you don't pay for. Here's how to decide which comes first for your business.
10 min read
Local SEO for Cleaning Companies in the UK (2026 Guide)
Cleaning is a repeat-revenue business, which makes every ranking position worth more. Here's how to win the map pack.
11 min read
Why Your Google Maps Ranking Dropped (And How to Fix It)
A sudden map pack drop feels like a disaster. Usually it's one of six causes, and most are fixable within weeks.
12 min read
Do Google Business Profile Posts Help Rankings? (2026 Answer)
Everyone tells you to post weekly on your Google Business Profile. Here's what posting actually does, and what it doesn't.
10 min read
How to Choose a Local Web Designer in the UK: Questions to Ask (2026)
Choosing a web designer is stressful when you're not technical. Ask these questions up front to avoid overpaying and get a site that actually brings in work.
12 min read
SEO for Builders & Construction Firms in the UK (2026 Guide)
Builders win the biggest jobs when they're easy to find and easy to trust online. Here's how to make local SEO work for a construction firm in 2026.
13 min read
"Why Am I Not Getting Leads From My Website?": 7 Reasons for UK Trades (2026)
A website that doesn't bring in work is a common frustration. Here are the seven reasons trade sites fail to generate leads, and the fixes.
12 min read
What Questions Do Customers Ask Google Before Hiring a Tradesman? (2026)
Customers research before they call. Answer the exact questions they ask Google and AI on your website, and you become the obvious choice.
12 min read
How Do Customers Actually Find a "Plumber Near Me" in Bristol? (2026)
"Plumber near me" is one of the most valuable searches in Bristol. Here's exactly what happens after someone taps search, and how to win the call.
12 min read
Do I Need a Website If I Have a Google Business Profile? (2026)
Plenty of trades ask whether a Google Business Profile alone is enough. The honest answer: it's essential, but a website makes it far stronger. Here's why.
12 min read
Summer Marketing for Trade Businesses: Win More Work Before Autumn (2026 Guide)
Summer is when homeowners book projects. Here's how UK trade businesses can capture that demand online before competitors do, and carry the momentum into autumn.
12 min read
SEO for Painters & Decorators: How to Get More Local Jobs in 2026
Word of mouth dries up in quiet months. Here's how UK painters and decorators use local SEO to keep a steady stream of jobs coming in all year round.
12 min read
How To Get Into Google's Map Pack: The Complete 2026 Local SEO Checklist
The Map Pack (Google's top 3 local results) captures the lion's share of clicks and calls. Here's the complete, no-fluff checklist to get your business in it this year.
14 min read
SEO For Heating Engineers And HVAC UK: The 2026 Guide To Year-Round Bookings
Boiler breakdowns are pure emergency demand, and installs are worth thousands. Here's how heating engineers stay booked year-round by owning Google and AI search.
13 min read
SEO vs Checkatrade vs Bark: The Best Way To Get Trade Leads In 2026
Checkatrade, Bark, Google Ads, SEO. Every channel promises trade leads. Here's the honest breakdown of what each really costs, the quality you get, and which one wins.
13 min read
SEO For Landscapers And Gardeners UK: How To Fill Your Diary From Google In 2026
Landscaping has long lead times and high job values: perfect for SEO. Here's how UK landscapers and gardeners turn local searches into a full diary of profitable work.
11 min read
How To Get Your Local Business Recommended By ChatGPT And AI Search In 2026
45% of consumers used AI for local recommendations in 2026, up from 6% a year earlier. Only 1.2% of local businesses get recommended. Here's how to be one of them.
12 min read
SEO For Roofers UK: The 2026 Guide To Winning High-Value Jobs From Google
Roofing is one of the highest-value trades online: a single re-roof can be worth £8,000+. Here's how to make Google send those jobs to you instead of your competitors.
12 min read
How To Get More Local Customers For A Southwest UK Trade Business In 2026
80% of UK consumers search for local businesses online every week. 76% who search visit or call within 24 hours. If you're not visible in those searches, you don't exist.
13 min read
How Much Does A Website Cost For A UK Tradesman In 2026? (The Honest Breakdown)
Five UK web designers will quote you five numbers between £400 and £8,000 for what sounds like the same job. Here's why the gap exists and what tradesmen should actually pay.
12 min read
SEO For Electricians UK: The 2026 Map Pack And AI Search Playbook
230,000 people search 'electrician near me' every month in the UK. If you're not in the Map Pack, those calls are going to your competitors. Here's the 2026 playbook.
12 min read
Google Business Profile Optimisation 2026: The Complete UK Tradesman Guide
Your Google Business Profile is now the single most important marketing asset you own, not your website, not your Facebook page, not Checkatrade. Here's how to optimise every section.
13 min read
Web Design Exeter: How Much Should A Devon Small Business Actually Pay In 2026?
Three Exeter web designers will quote you £450, £2,000 and £8,000 for the same site. Here's what each tier actually gets you, and the realistic price for a Devon trade business.
11 min read
How To Rank In The Google Maps Top 3 In 90 Days (UK Tradesmen Edition)
42% of all local search clicks go to the top 3 Map Pack results. If you're in position 4, 5 or 6, you might as well be on page 3. Here's the 90-day playbook to fix it.
12 min read
SEO For Plumbers UK: The 2026 Plain-English Guide To Getting The Phone To Ring
When a ceiling leak starts at midnight, the customer doesn't phone a friend. They Google 'emergency plumber near me'. If you're not in the Map Pack, that callout is gone forever.
13 min read
Local SEO Bristol: The 2026 Guide For Tradespeople Who Want The Phone To Ring
If you run a Bristol trade business and your phone isn't ringing, the problem isn't your skill. It's that 72% of customers find local businesses on Google and you're not on it.
11 min read
Why Cheap Websites Cost Tradesmen More in the Long Run
A cheap website builder might seem like a bargain, but the hidden costs (lost leads, poor rankings, and ongoing fees) add up to far more than doing it properly in the first place.
7 min read
How to Get Your First 10 Customers Online as a New Tradesman
Starting a trade business is tough. Getting your first customers online doesn't have to be. Here's a practical, zero-fluff plan to land your first 10 jobs from the internet.
8 min read
Web Design for Window Cleaners: The Complete Guide to Getting More Bookings Online
A professional website is the most powerful sales tool a window cleaning business can have. Here's exactly what yours needs to turn visitors into bookings.
9 min read
Social Media vs a Website: What Bristol Tradesmen Actually Need in 2026
Many Bristol tradesmen rely on Facebook and Instagram instead of a website. Here's why that's a risky strategy, and what actually brings in paying customers.
8 min read
How to Choose the Right Digital Marketing Agency for Your Trade Business
Most marketing agencies don't understand tradesmen. Here's how to find one that does, and how to avoid wasting money on the wrong one.
7 min read
Google Reviews for Tradesmen: How Bristol Businesses Can Get More 5-Star Reviews
Google reviews are the single biggest trust factor for tradesmen. Here's a step-by-step system for getting more 5-star reviews without being pushy.
7 min read
What Makes a Great Tradesman Website? The Features That Win More Jobs in 2026
The best tradesman websites share specific features that turn visitors into customers. Here's exactly what separates a website that wins jobs from one that wastes money.
8 min read
How to Market Your Cleaning Business in Bristol: A Complete 2026 Guide
Running a cleaning business in Bristol? Here's a proven marketing plan to get more regular clients, without relying on word-of-mouth alone.
8 min read
SEO for Plumbers in Bristol: How to Get More Calls Without Paying for Ads
Bristol plumbers are losing thousands in potential work to competitors who rank higher on Google. Here's how to fix that without spending a penny on ads.
9 min read
How to Get More Google Reviews for Your Business (Ethically)
Google reviews are a top ranking factor for local search. Here are proven, ethical strategies to consistently generate 5-star reviews from real customers.
6 min read
What Are Local Citations and Why Do They Matter for SEO?
Local citations are a foundational element of Google Maps SEO. Learn what they are, why they matter, and how to build them properly.
6 min read
How Long Does Local SEO Take to Work? Realistic Timelines
Local SEO isn't instant, but it's faster than most people think. Here are realistic timelines and what factors affect how quickly you'll see results.
5 min read
How to Optimise Your Google Business Profile Photos for More Customers
Businesses with optimised photos get 42% more direction requests. Here's exactly how to use photos to boost your GBP performance.
5 min read
Local SEO for Small Businesses: The Complete 2026 Guide
Everything a UK small business needs to know about local SEO in one comprehensive guide. From absolute basics to advanced strategies.
12 min read