Frequently Asked Questions

Most websites for trades and local businesses are built and live within 7 days. Simple brochure sites (5–8 pages) can be turned around even faster if you have your content and photos ready. Larger sites with advanced features like online booking or e-commerce typically take 2–3 weeks. We'll give you a clear timeline before we start — no surprises.

Local SEO is the process of optimising your online presence so your business appears when people in your area search for your services. When someone in Cardiff searches 'plumber near me' or 'bathroom fitter Cardiff', local SEO is what puts you in the Google Map Pack — the top 3 results with a map. Studies show 44% of all clicks go to those Map Pack results. If you're not there, your competitors are getting those calls instead of you.

SEO is a long-term investment, not an overnight fix. Most businesses start seeing measurable improvements in 2–3 months, with significant ranking gains by months 4–6. Google needs time to crawl your site, evaluate your content, and build trust. Local SEO tends to move faster than national SEO because there's less competition. We've had clients show up in the Map Pack within 6 weeks — but we always set realistic expectations from day one.

The biggest mistakes we see: missing or duplicate title tags and meta descriptions, no Google Business Profile (or an unclaimed one), slow page load speeds, no mobile optimisation, inconsistent business name/address/phone across directories, thin or duplicate content, and ignoring reviews. A single one of these can tank your rankings. The good news? They're all fixable.

There are several common reasons: your site may not be indexed yet (new sites can take days to weeks), you might have a 'noindex' tag blocking search engines, your content may not target the keywords people actually search for, or your site lacks the authority that comes from backlinks and citations. Sometimes it's a technical issue like a broken sitemap or robots.txt blocking crawlers. We run a full audit to pinpoint exactly what's wrong.

It depends on what you've got. If your current site is mobile-responsive, loads fast, and has a clean structure, we can often optimise it with SEO improvements rather than starting from scratch. But if your site is built on an outdated platform, isn't mobile-friendly, or takes more than 3 seconds to load, a rebuild is usually the smarter investment. We'll always give you an honest recommendation — we'd rather fix what works than sell you something you don't need.

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) builds your organic rankings over time — once you're ranking, the traffic is essentially free. Google Ads puts you at the top immediately but you pay for every click. SEO has a higher upfront cost but compounds over time; Ads deliver instant results but stop the moment you stop paying. For most local businesses, we recommend starting with SEO for long-term growth and adding Ads for immediate lead generation if budget allows.

Very important. Google has confirmed that review quantity, quality, and recency are direct ranking factors for local search. Businesses with more positive reviews rank higher in the Map Pack and get more clicks. But it's not just about SEO — 87% of customers read online reviews before choosing a local business. A steady stream of genuine 5-star reviews is one of the highest-ROI activities for any local business. We help set up systems to make collecting reviews easy and consistent.

Our websites start from £499 for a professional, mobile-friendly site optimised for local search. Ongoing SEO packages start from £199/month and include Google Business Profile optimisation, local keyword targeting, citation building, review management, and monthly reporting. Social media management starts from £99/month. We keep pricing transparent with no hidden fees — you'll know exactly what you're paying before we start.

Absolutely — this is one of the most common situations we deal with. A beautiful website that doesn't generate leads usually has one or more issues: poor SEO, no clear calls to action, slow loading speed, or it's not targeting the right keywords. We'll audit your site for free, identify exactly what's blocking leads, and give you a clear action plan. Sometimes small changes — like adding a phone number above the fold or optimising your page titles — can make a dramatic difference.

NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. Google cross-references your business details across dozens of directories — Yell, Thomson Local, Yelp, Checkatrade, and hundreds more. If your name is 'Cardiff Plumbing Services' on your website but 'Cardiff Plumbing Ltd' on Yell and 'Cardiff Plumber' on Facebook, Google sees three different businesses and splits your ranking power between them. Consistent NAP across every listing consolidates that authority into one business — yours. It's one of the foundational ranking factors for the Map Pack, and it's one of the first things we check in every local SEO audit.

If you serve customers in a local area — yes, absolutely. Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the single most powerful free tool available to any local business. It's what appears in Google Maps, the Map Pack, and the knowledge panel when someone searches your business name. A complete, optimised GBP can generate more enquiries than your website. Without one, you're essentially invisible to the majority of local searchers. We set up and optimise GBPs as standard in every SEO package — it's that important.

Google recommends posting at least once a week, and businesses that do consistently outperform those that don't. GBP posts signal to Google that your business is active and engaged — which feeds directly into your local ranking. Posts can be offers, updates, photos of recent work, or seasonal tips. The key is consistency rather than volume. We include weekly GBP posting in our SEO packages because most business owners simply don't have time to think about it — but Google notices when you stop.

A Facebook page doesn't directly boost your Google rankings — Google doesn't treat social signals as a ranking factor in the traditional sense. But it helps in several indirect ways. A well-maintained Facebook page appears in branded Google searches, giving you more real estate on page one. It builds trust with potential customers who check your social presence before calling. And the links, citations, and engagement from social media contribute to your overall online authority. Think of Facebook as a trust signal and a customer touchpoint rather than an SEO lever — it works best alongside a proper website and GBP, not instead of them.

A blog is one of the most effective long-term SEO strategies — when it's done right. Each blog post is a new page that can rank for specific keywords your customers are searching for. A plumber writing 'How to fix a leaking tap' or 'Signs you need a new boiler' is capturing search traffic from people who may not need a plumber today but will remember the business that helped them. Blog content also builds topical authority in Google's eyes — the more expert content you have about your industry, the more Google trusts your site overall. The catch: it needs to be regular, relevant, and genuinely useful. One post a month is enough to make a difference over 6–12 months.

That's exactly what we do. Most trades and local business owners don't have time to write blog posts, update their Google Business Profile, respond to reviews, post on social media, and monitor their rankings — and they shouldn't have to. Our monthly SEO and digital marketing packages cover all of it: GBP management, review generation, social media posting, blog content, citation building, and monthly performance reports. You focus on your trade, we focus on making sure customers find you online. No long contracts, no jargon — just consistent work that moves the needle.

The Map Pack is the block of three local business results that appears with a map at the top of Google when you search for a service — like 'plumber Cardiff' or 'bathroom fitter near me'. It sits above the regular organic results, which means it gets seen and clicked first. Google shows it for almost every local service search, and it's where the majority of phone calls and enquiries come from for trades and local businesses. If you're in the Map Pack, you're effectively on page one above everyone else. If you're not, you're relying on people scrolling past it — and most don't.

There's no shortcut, but there is a clear formula. First, claim and fully optimise your Google Business Profile — every field, correct categories, photos, services listed, and a proper description. Second, make sure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is identical across your website and every online directory. Third, build genuine reviews — Google weighs review quantity, quality, and recency heavily. Fourth, have a fast, mobile-friendly website with local keywords. Fifth, build citations in relevant directories like Yell, Checkatrade, and TrustATrader. All five work together — skip any one of them and your competitors who haven't will outrank you.

Without question. Research shows that 42% of local searchers click on a Map Pack result, and the conversion rate is significantly higher than regular organic results — because people searching locally are usually ready to hire someone right now. A plumber appearing in the Map Pack for 'emergency plumber Cardiff' isn't getting casual browsers — they're getting people with a burst pipe who need someone today. We've seen clients double their monthly call volume within weeks of breaking into the Map Pack. It's the single highest-ROI position in local search.

It varies depending on your competition and starting point. If you already have a Google Business Profile and some reviews, optimisation work can get you into the Map Pack within 4–8 weeks for less competitive keywords. For more competitive terms — like 'plumber Cardiff' or 'electrician near me' — it can take 3–6 months of consistent work on your profile, reviews, citations, and website. The businesses that get there fastest are the ones that commit to doing everything properly rather than cutting corners. We set realistic timelines based on your specific area and competition — no false promises.

Yes — Google has confirmed that reviews are a direct local ranking factor. They look at three things: quantity (how many you have), quality (your average star rating), and recency (how recently you received them). A business with 50 reviews averaging 4.8 stars will consistently outrank a competitor with 5 reviews at 5.0 stars — because Google sees volume and freshness as signs of a trusted, active business. Reviews also increase your click-through rate from the Map Pack, which creates a compounding effect on rankings. They're not just nice to have — they're one of the strongest signals in local search.

Google reviews should be your priority, but a spread of reviews across multiple platforms strengthens your overall online presence. Facebook reviews appear in branded searches and build social proof. Industry-specific platforms like Checkatrade, TrustATrader, and MyBuilder carry weight because customers actively use them to find trades. Yell and Yelp reviews contribute to your citation profile. The ideal strategy is to have a strong Google review count as your foundation, then layer in reviews on the platforms your customers actually use. We help businesses build a review strategy that covers all the bases without spreading themselves too thin.

Absolutely — and most businesses don't bother, which is a missed opportunity. Google has publicly stated that responding to reviews improves your local ranking because it signals that you value customer feedback and are actively engaged. But it goes beyond rankings: 88% of consumers say they're more likely to use a business that responds to reviews, positive or negative. A thoughtful reply to a 5-star review reinforces trust. A professional, calm response to a negative review can actually win you more customers than a positive review alone — because people judge businesses on how they handle criticism, not just on praise.

Don't panic — and don't ignore it. First, flag the review through Google's reporting tool if it genuinely violates their policies (spam, fake, or from someone who was never a customer). Google does remove reviews that break their rules, though it can take a few days. Second, respond publicly and professionally — explain the situation calmly without being defensive. Potential customers reading the review will see your response and make their own judgement. Third, bury it with genuine positive reviews. One negative review among thirty 5-star reviews barely registers. We help clients navigate negative reviews as part of our review management service.

The key is making it easy and asking at the right moment — immediately after a job well done, when satisfaction is highest. A simple text or WhatsApp with a direct link to your Google review page removes all friction. We set up automated review request systems that send a friendly message to every completed customer, personalised to your business. The system handles the follow-up too — a polite nudge if they haven't left a review after a few days. Our clients typically see their review count double within the first month. It runs in the background so you never have to think about it — the reviews just keep coming.