2 Common SEO Mistakes Local Businesses Make (and How to Fix Them)

Hello,

Told you i'm back lol :) these are very small things that any any small business can do:

1. Forgetting About Google Business Profile (GBP)

Think of your Google Business Profile as your digital shopfront. It’s the first thing people see when they search “plumber near me” or “best café in [your town]”.

But too many businesses:

• Haven’t even claimed their profile

• Don’t bother adding photos, opening hours, or services

• Or worse — leave it sitting with a single review from 2019

That’s like having your shop sign half-hanging, the lights off, and the door locked. Not a great first impression.

How to fix it:

• Claim and verify your Google Business Profile (takes minutes).

• Upload decent photos, update your services and hours.

• Ask happy customers for reviews — they’re SEO rocket fuel.

💡 Pro tip: Post updates or offers every couple of weeks. Google notices when your profile looks alive.

2. Chasing Keywords Instead of Customers

Ranking for “best Italian restaurant Glasgow” sounds great. But if your website reads like it was written by a robot in 2003, nobody’s sticking around to book a table.

Google doesn’t reward keyword stuffing anymore. It rewards useful, human-friendly content. That means menus that load quickly on a phone, directions that actually work, and pages that answer the questions real customers are asking.

How to fix it:

• Write for people first, search engines second.

• Use keywords naturally — once or twice per page is plenty.

• Focus on intent: what does the customer actually need when they land on your page?

💡 Pro tip: Add an FAQ section. They often rank for long-tail searches and give customers the quick answers they want.

Finally ...

SEO isn’t about tricks. It’s about making sure when someone searches for what you do, they find a business that looks active, trustworthy, and ready to help.

The good news? Both of these mistakes are easy to fix — and fixing them could mean more calls, more enquiries, and more customers.

That wasn't too hard was it? :)

- Graham