Local SEO
Google Business Profile, citations and map pack visibility, usually the biggest lever for a small business.
For small businesses
Affordable SEO for small businesses
Practical, affordable SEO for owner-managed businesses that want more enquiries from Google, Maps and AI search, without agency retainers, long contracts or jargon.
- 8+ years hands-on SEO
- No lock-in contract
- One senior specialist, no juniors
Why small business seo matters
Most customers research before they buy, even locally. They search Google, check the map, read reviews and increasingly ask an AI assistant for a shortlist. A small business that is visible at each step gets the enquiry; one that is not never reaches the phone.
The opportunity
SEO suits small businesses because it keeps paying after you stop spending, which matters when the budget is a few hundred pounds a month rather than a few thousand. A page that ranks keeps bringing in work without a cost per click.
Why it pays off
The risk for small businesses is paying for templated packages that are never tailored, or large agencies that hand you to a junior. Working with one specialist directly means the budget goes on work that actually fits your business.
Not sure where to start? Get a free, no-obligation review of where you stand.
Get a free consultationWhat's included
Everything in small business seo, delivered directly by me, with 8+ years of hands-on experience.
Technical fixes
The crawl, speed and structure fixes that quietly hold small sites back.
On-page & content
Clear service pages and content built around how your customers search.
Direct access
You work with me, not an account manager, with replies usually within one business day.
AI search
Being found and recommended by AI tools, included from the Growth plan.
Plain-English reporting
A clear monthly report on what changed and what it did.
Affordable SEO that gets small businesses found on Google and in AI
Small businesses used to compete on Google and the map pack. Now their customers also ask AI assistants for recommendations. The good news is that the same affordable, foundational work gets you found in both, and it suits a small budget.
The basics, done properly, beat big budgets
A complete Google Business Profile, consistent details and a steady flow of genuine reviews often outrank larger competitors who neglect the basics. For a small business, getting these right is the highest-return work there is, and it also feeds AI 'near me' answers.
AI search is within reach for small businesses too
You do not need a big budget to be recommended by AI. Clear service pages, consistent business facts and genuine reviews are what AI assistants look for, and they are exactly what I put in place. AI search is included from the Growth plan.
The difference it makes for you
- Local SEO that punches above its budget
- The technical and content basics done properly
- AI search included from the Growth plan
- Direct access to me, not a junior
- Plain-English reporting, no lock-in
Want small business seo that covers Google and AI search? Let's talk, it's free.
Get a free consultationMy approach, step by step
Every engagement follows the same clear method, so you always know what is happening and why.
1. Audit and research
I start by understanding your site, your market and your goals, with a genuine audit and research rather than a templated checklist. This tells us where the real opportunity is and whether small business seo is the right priority for you right now.
2. Plan and prioritise
I build a focused plan around the handful of changes that will actually move your rankings and enquiries, in the right order. No busywork, no padding.
3. Deliver the work
I implement the work hands-on, or guide your team if you prefer, keeping you informed at every step. The person who planned it is the person who does it.
4. Measure and refine
Every month you get a clear, plain-English report and a strategy call with me. SEO is iterative, so each month's data sharpens the next.
Who small business seo is for
This service fits best if you recognise yourself in any of these:
- Owner-managed businesses wanting more enquiries from search
- Local businesses competing against bigger, better-funded rivals
- Companies on a few hundred pounds a month, not a few thousand
- Anyone who wants senior work without an agency retainer
Why work with me rather than a big agency
Most businesses looking for small business seo get one of two things: a large agency that hands the work to a junior, or a cheap package that is never tailored. I do neither.
The usual experience
- Sold by a senior, delivered by a junior you never chose
- An account manager relaying messages back and forth
- Templated work that ignores your specific market
- Long lock-in contracts that protect the agency
- Reports full of vanity metrics
Working with me
- The specialist who assesses your site does the work
- Direct access to me, with replies usually within one business day
- A plan built around your business and your customers
- No lock-in: monthly billing, cancel any time
- Reporting tied to enquiries, in plain English
Ready to get started with small business seo? Book a free consultation with me directly.
Get a free consultationHow this works for AI search
Customers ask AI assistants this now, as well as Google. Google's guidance confirms fundamentals apply; for a small business those fundamentals are a complete profile, genuine reviews and clear service pages.
Asked in ChatGPT
“Which local business is best for this service near me?”
AI systems often split one question into several smaller checks. Each should be easy to answer on your site, which is exactly what this work puts in place.
| What the AI needs to establish | What I put in place |
|---|---|
| Which businesses are nearby? | A complete Business Profile and local pages |
| Which offer the service? | Clear service content |
| Who is well reviewed? | A steady, genuine review routine |
| Are the details consistent? | Consistent business information everywhere |
No placement can be guaranteed. The basics, done properly, give a small business the best chance in both Google and AI results.
What to watch out for
Small Business SEO is an area where quality varies enormously. These are the warning signs, and the standards I hold myself to.
Red flags
- Guaranteed rankings or results. No one controls Google, so no one can honestly guarantee them.
- Secret tactics they won't explain. Good SEO is transparent; you should always understand what is being done.
- Pressure and long contracts. Good work retains clients without tying them in.
- Vanity metrics instead of real enquiries and revenue.
What good looks like
- Honest, realistic expectations for your market and timeline.
- Transparency about exactly what is being done and why.
- Direct access to the person doing the work.
- Reporting that ties back to enquiries, not jargon.
Timeline and what to expect
SEO compounds rather than switching on. These are typical ranges, not promises, and the exact timeline depends on your market and starting point.
- 01
Weeks 1 to 2
Audit, research and plan. We agree the priorities that will move the needle.
- 02
Weeks 3 to 6
Foundations put in place, where the first visible gains often come from.
- 03
Months 2 to 3
First movement, as the work starts to take effect.
- 04
Months 4 to 12
Compounding growth, refined each month using real data.
Simple pricing that grows with you
Three plans, billed monthly, with no lock-in contract, starting at £350 a month. AI search optimisation is built into the Leader plan.
Local
Get found locally
£350/mo
- Full technical SEO audit
- Google Business Profile optimisation
- On-page SEO for your core pages
- Local citations and directory listings
- Monthly performance report
Growth
Rank and grow
£650/mo
- Everything in Local
- Full technical SEO implementation
- Content strategy and 2 articles a month
- Off-page SEO and authority building
- Monthly strategy call with me
Leader
Dominate search and AI
£1,200/mo
- Everything in Growth
- Up to 4 articles a month
- Advanced off-page SEO and digital PR
- AI search optimisation (ChatGPT, AI Overviews, GEO)
- Priority support and reporting
Also need social media, paid ads or PPC alongside your SEO? I offer custom pricing for combined services, just ask.
Get a custom quoteSee where you stand on Google and in AI search, for free.
Get a free consultationSmall Business SEO: your questions answered
How much does SEO cost for a small business?
Plans run from £350 to £1,200 a month. Local suits a business that wins customers in one area, Growth adds content and AI search optimisation, and Leader scales further. Billing is monthly with no lock-in contract.
Is SEO worth it for a small business?
Usually yes, if customers search for what you do. SEO works best where people already look for your service and competitors are findable. In the free consultation I will tell you honestly if another channel suits you better.
How long does small business SEO take?
Local searches often start moving within three months, with stronger results over six to twelve. It depends on your area, competitors and starting point.
Can I do SEO myself?
You can handle the basics, like keeping your Business Profile current and asking for reviews. Technical fixes, content and competitive analysis take time and experience, which is where most owners hand over.
Will you handle everything?
Yes. I do the technical and strategic work and ask for your input or approval when needed. You get direct access to me, not a junior or an account manager.
Do small businesses need to worry about AI search?
It is worth planning for. Customers increasingly ask AI tools for recommendations. Clear service pages, consistent details and genuine reviews help you show up, and AI search is included from the Growth plan.
Is SEO worth it for a small business?
Usually yes, if customers search for what you do. SEO works best where people already look for your service and competitors are findable. In the free consultation I will tell you honestly if another channel suits you better.
Do small businesses need to worry about AI search?
It is worth planning for. Customers increasingly ask AI tools for recommendations. Clear service pages, consistent details and genuine reviews help you show up, and AI search is included from the Growth plan.
Can I do SEO myself?
You can handle the basics, like keeping your profile current and asking for reviews. Technical fixes, content and competitive analysis take time and experience, which is where most owners hand over.
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Your next step
Get your free consultation
No obligation, just a clear view of where you stand and the fastest way to improve it. I reply personally, usually within one business day.
- Reply within one business day, from me directly
- No lock-in contract, cancel any time
- A clear view of where you stand on Google and in AI search
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