How to get your small business found on Google

Most people find a business the same way now: they Google it. If you're not showing up when someone searches for what you do, you're invisible to them — no matter how good you are. The good news is that the fundamentals of getting found aren't complicated. Here's what actually matters for a small business.

Start with a site Google can trust

Before anything clever, Google needs a site it can read and rank:

• It has to be fast, and work properly on a phone — that's where most searches happen.
• Every page needs a clear title and description so Google (and the person searching) knows what it's about.
• The structure should make sense — proper headings, real text, not everything buried in images.

If the basics are broken, no amount of extra effort will help. This is exactly what a website audit checks.

Claim your Google Business Profile

For a local business, this is the single biggest free win. A Google Business Profile is what puts you on the map — literally — when someone searches for your service near them. Claim it, fill in everything (hours, area, services, photos), and keep it current. For many small businesses it drives more enquiries than the website itself.

Get reviews — and keep getting them

Reviews do two jobs: they build trust with the person reading them, and they're a strong local ranking signal for Google. A handful of genuine, recent Google reviews can lift you above competitors who have none. Ask happy customers, make it easy, and reply to the ones you get.

Be consistent everywhere

Your name, address and phone number should match exactly wherever they appear — your site, your Google profile, directories, social pages. Inconsistencies confuse Google and dilute your local ranking. Pick one format and stick to it.

Answer the questions people actually ask

Google rewards pages that genuinely help. Think about what your customers type before they buy — "how much does X cost", "do I need Y", "best Z near me" — and answer those questions honestly on your site, in a blog or an FAQ. This is how you show up for searches beyond just your business name.

Common mistakes to avoid

• A slow, image-heavy site that takes forever to load.
• No Google Business Profile, or one that's half-filled and out of date.
• Thin, salesy content that answers none of the questions people search for.
• Chasing tricks and shortcuts instead of the fundamentals above.

Where to start

You can't fix what you can't see. The first step is an honest look at where your site stands — speed, mobile, and how well it's set up to be found. From there it's a short, prioritised list.

We'll run that audit for free and tell you exactly what to fix first — no cost, no obligation.

Want to know where your site stands?

We'll run a free, no-strings audit of your current website and send you the report — speed, SEO, mobile and what we'd fix first.