Show up when people search near them
Most local customers search on their phone, look at the map results and the first few websites, and contact one of them. Local SEO is about making sure your business is one of those names, in every town you serve and not just the one on your address.
What local SEO involves
- Google Business Profile. The right categories, services and service areas, good photos, regular posts and questions answered, so your profile has every chance of reaching the map results. I've written a step-by-step guide for hire firms if you want to see the detail.
- Reviews. A simple routine for asking happy customers for a review, and sensible replies to the ones you get. More on this in my reviews guide.
- Area pages. A useful page for each main town or district you cover, with local detail that a template can't fake. See how I write town pages.
- Consistent business details. Your name, address, phone number and website the same everywhere they appear, from Yell and Bing Places to industry directories.
- Local links. Mentions from local news sites, clubs, schools, suppliers and events you're involved with, which also send real visitors.
- On-page basics. Page titles, headings, opening hours, contact details and internal links that tell Google where you are and what you do.
Two kinds of local business
| Type | What matters most |
|---|---|
| You have premises customers visit | Your address on Google Maps, opening hours, photos of the place, reviews |
| You travel to customers or deliver | Service areas, a page for each town you cover, reviews that mention places |
Hire companies, trades and mobile services are in the second group. They often rank well near their base and nowhere else, which is usually fixable with better area pages and a properly set-up profile.
Who I do this for
Most of my clients are bouncy castle, marquee and event hire businesses, but local SEO works the same way for plumbers, cleaners, skip hire firms and anyone else who serves a patch. I'm based in Manchester and work with businesses across the UK and Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rank in a town where I don't have an address?
In the normal results, yes, with a good page for that town. The map results lean heavily on distance from your address, so they're harder outside your home area, but a strong profile and plenty of reviews help.
Should I use a virtual office address to appear in more towns?
No. Google's guidelines don't allow it, and profiles using them can be suspended. It's safer to set service areas and build good pages for each town.
Do directory listings still help?
The well-known ones do, mainly by confirming your business details. A handful of accurate listings on sites that suit your trade is worth more than hundreds of low-quality ones.
Get started with local SEO
Email info@kevinburkeservices.com with your website and the towns you want to be found in, or use my contact page.
More SEO services for hire businesses
Bouncy Castle SEO
Town pages, product pages and links that put your castles in front of local parents.
Event Hire SEO
SEO for firms supplying marquees, rides, toilets, fencing, AV and more to events.
Bounce House SEO
SEO for US bounce house, water slide and party rental companies.
Party Rental SEO
Content and SEO for party hire firms: inflatables, furniture, photo booths and more.
Inflatable Hire SEO
Rank for inflatable hire across every town you deliver to.
Soft Play Hire SEO
Get found by parents planning first birthdays, christenings and toddler parties.
Marquee Hire SEO
Rank for weddings, garden parties and corporate events across your area.
Funfair Hire SEO
Reach councils, schools, festivals and corporate planners searching for rides.
Portable Toilet Hire SEO
Rank for wedding, event and construction site toilet hire searches.
Seasonal Event SEO
Pages that rank in time for Christmas, Halloween, summer and every other busy season.
Manchester SEO
A Prestwich-based SEO who knows Greater Manchester and does the work himself.
Ready to get more bookings?
Tell me about your business, the areas you cover and what you hire out, and I'll come back with ideas. You can also read how I work, see what my clients say or find out about my directory network.