Local SEO Guide For Cornish Businesses |
Boost your local SEOThis is the ultimate Cornish guide to local SEO, follow these steps to improve your websites organic traffic and grow your business!
In this guide you'll learn:
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5 Tips that will boost local SEO instantly
5 Quick Wins for Local SEO (You Can Do These Today) These are five of the easiest ways to start improving your local SEO right now. None of them require special skills, just a bit of time and attention.
1. Claim and Set Up Your Google Business Profile
This is your business’s free listing on Google and it’s the most important local SEO step you can take. Go to google.com/business, claim your business (or create a new one), and complete every detail: name, address, phone number, business category, hours, and link to your website. This puts you in front of local customers searching for exactly what you offer. We'll cover how to optimise your profile a bit later.
2. Add Location Keywords to Your Website
Help Google (and your customers) understand what you do and where you are. Use clear wording like:
3. Ask Customers for Google Reviews
Positive reviews make you more trustworthy in Google’s eyes and more attractive to customers. After you finish a job or serve a happy customer, ask them for a quick review. You can send a direct link to make it easy. Just one new review a week adds up fast.
4. Check That Your Business Info Matches Everywhere
Your name, address, and phone number (NAP) should be exactly the same on your website, Google profile, Facebook page, and directory listings. If they don’t match, Google might get confused and you could rank lower.
Check for:
5. Upload Photos to Your Google Profile
Photos give customers a quick feel for your business and profiles with photos get more views and engagement. Add pictures of your shop, your team, your products, or even a happy customer (with their permission). Update them regularly to keep your listing fresh.
1. Claim and Set Up Your Google Business Profile
This is your business’s free listing on Google and it’s the most important local SEO step you can take. Go to google.com/business, claim your business (or create a new one), and complete every detail: name, address, phone number, business category, hours, and link to your website. This puts you in front of local customers searching for exactly what you offer. We'll cover how to optimise your profile a bit later.
2. Add Location Keywords to Your Website
Help Google (and your customers) understand what you do and where you are. Use clear wording like:
- “Builder in Truro”
- “Café near Falmouth Marina”
- “Mobile dog groomer in St Ives”
- “Architects in Cornwall”
3. Ask Customers for Google Reviews
Positive reviews make you more trustworthy in Google’s eyes and more attractive to customers. After you finish a job or serve a happy customer, ask them for a quick review. You can send a direct link to make it easy. Just one new review a week adds up fast.
4. Check That Your Business Info Matches Everywhere
Your name, address, and phone number (NAP) should be exactly the same on your website, Google profile, Facebook page, and directory listings. If they don’t match, Google might get confused and you could rank lower.
Check for:
- Typos
- Old phone numbers
- Abbreviated addresses (like “St” vs “Street”)
5. Upload Photos to Your Google Profile
Photos give customers a quick feel for your business and profiles with photos get more views and engagement. Add pictures of your shop, your team, your products, or even a happy customer (with their permission). Update them regularly to keep your listing fresh.
How to rank in Googles map pack
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The map pack is the top 3 local results that appear when someone searches for businesses near them, often before they even see your website.
For example, if someone searches for “hairdresser in Newquay” Google will show three local salons, a map, and their contact details. Getting into this top 3 is powerful. It means more visibility, more clicks, and more customers. So, how do you get there? First, your Google Business Profile must be complete including categories, photos, and hours. Optimisation tips coming up! Second, you need recent, consistent reviews. Google wants to show businesses that are both active and trustworthy. Third, your website and Google profile should both use relevant keywords. If you’re a roofer in Redruth, make sure that’s clear on your site and in your Google listing. Also, keep your business info consistent across the web, which brings us to NAP citations. |
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How to optimise your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing potential customers see when they find you. A good one builds trust, shows professionalism, and boosts your chances of showing up in searches.
Start with the basics:
Write a clear, local-friendly description. This should explain what you offer and where you do it.
Description example:
“We’re a family-run café based in St Ives, known for homemade pastries, locally roasted coffee, and friendly service, just a short walk from the harbour.”
Add services or products:
List what you offer, from specific treatments to menu items. This helps Google match your profile to relevant searches.
Post updates regularly:
Use the “Posts” section to share offers, events, or seasonal news. These updates show customers that you’re active and Google notices too.
Use photos strategically:
Show your team, workspace, happy customers, or before-and-after shots (if relevant). Fresh photos tell both people and search engines that your business is active and up to date.
Check your profile strength every month or so, if it isn't all green and says 'looks good' like the image below... you need to make some updates. Top tip: if you have made updates but your profile strength dial still isn't all green, dismiss any recommendations that don't apply to you, this will get your profile looking good!
Start with the basics:
- Make sure your business name is accurate
- Double-check your address and phone number
- Add your website and up-to-date business hours
- Choose the right business category (and subcategories if available)
Write a clear, local-friendly description. This should explain what you offer and where you do it.
Description example:
“We’re a family-run café based in St Ives, known for homemade pastries, locally roasted coffee, and friendly service, just a short walk from the harbour.”
Add services or products:
List what you offer, from specific treatments to menu items. This helps Google match your profile to relevant searches.
Post updates regularly:
Use the “Posts” section to share offers, events, or seasonal news. These updates show customers that you’re active and Google notices too.
Use photos strategically:
Show your team, workspace, happy customers, or before-and-after shots (if relevant). Fresh photos tell both people and search engines that your business is active and up to date.
Check your profile strength every month or so, if it isn't all green and says 'looks good' like the image below... you need to make some updates. Top tip: if you have made updates but your profile strength dial still isn't all green, dismiss any recommendations that don't apply to you, this will get your profile looking good!
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How to build NAP citations
NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. Google uses this info to check if your business is legitimate and consistent across the internet. If a business has multiple address and phone numbers but only one location this isn't natural and it doesn't look trustworthy to Google.
A citation is any place online that lists your NAP even if it doesn’t link to your website.
For example:
A citation is any place online that lists your NAP even if it doesn’t link to your website.
For example:
- Yell.com
- Apple Maps
- Yelp
- Local Chamber of Commerce pages
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When Google sees the same business info across these trusted sites, it builds confidence and helps you rank higher. But if your address is outdated on one platform, or your business name is slightly different in another, Google might not trust the listing which could hurt your rankings.
What you should do:
What you should do:
- Search your business on Google
- Find all the places it appears
- Check that the name, address, and phone number are 100% identical
- Fix any differences
How to build local links
Backlinks! Links from other websites to yours are one of the strongest signals to Google that your business is real, trusted, and relevant. You don’t need hundreds. Just a handful of good, local links can make a big difference. Try these simple tactics:
1. Join Local Business Directories
Register your business on websites like:
2. Partner With Local Businesses
Do you work with suppliers, charities, or other nearby shops? Ask if they’ll mention or link to you on their websites.
Example: A florist might link to a local wedding planner and vice versa. Make sure the link is relevant!
3. Get Featured in Local Press or Blogs
If you’re launching something new, supporting a local cause, or hosting an event tell someone. Local newspapers and community blogs are often looking for stories. If they publish something and link to your site, that’s a big SEO win.
4. Sponsor a Local Event or Team
Small sports teams, school events, and charity fundraisers often include sponsor logos and links on their websites. It’s great for the community and for your search visibility.
5. Create Local-Focused Content
Even writing a simple blog post like “5 Fun Things to Do in St Austell This Weekend” can attract local traffic and give others a reason to link to you.
1. Join Local Business Directories
Register your business on websites like:
- Cornwall Chamber of Commerce
- Local community or industry directories
- Town-specific business listings
2. Partner With Local Businesses
Do you work with suppliers, charities, or other nearby shops? Ask if they’ll mention or link to you on their websites.
Example: A florist might link to a local wedding planner and vice versa. Make sure the link is relevant!
3. Get Featured in Local Press or Blogs
If you’re launching something new, supporting a local cause, or hosting an event tell someone. Local newspapers and community blogs are often looking for stories. If they publish something and link to your site, that’s a big SEO win.
4. Sponsor a Local Event or Team
Small sports teams, school events, and charity fundraisers often include sponsor logos and links on their websites. It’s great for the community and for your search visibility.
5. Create Local-Focused Content
Even writing a simple blog post like “5 Fun Things to Do in St Austell This Weekend” can attract local traffic and give others a reason to link to you.
Final thoughts
Local SEO doesn’t have to be complicated or overly technical to start with but it does require consistency, clarity, and a bit of local focus.
To quickly recap, here are five things you can do today to boost your visibility:
Want to know how your own website is performing in local search?
Get a free local SEO check-up. We’ll review your website and local SEO setup, then get in touch with clear, practical tips to help you improve.
Let’s get your business in front of more local customers. Fill out your details here ↓
To quickly recap, here are five things you can do today to boost your visibility:
- Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile
- Use your town or area name in your website content
- Ask for Google reviews from happy customers
- Make sure your business info matches everywhere online
- Build a few local links to help search engines trust you
Want to know how your own website is performing in local search?
Get a free local SEO check-up. We’ll review your website and local SEO setup, then get in touch with clear, practical tips to help you improve.
Let’s get your business in front of more local customers. Fill out your details here ↓
CHECK YOUR WEBSITES LOCAL SEO
Find Out What's Stopping Your Site From Ranking Higher
