Local SEO Basics for Service Businesses in South London & Kent

When someone searches "plumber Streatham" or "accountant Tunbridge Wells", you want your business to appear. That's local SEO — and it's essential for service businesses in South London and Kent.

Why Local SEO Matters

46% of all Google searches have local intent

78% of local mobile searches result in offline purchase

Local results show before regular results

For service businesses, local SEO is often the highest-ROI marketing activity. People searching "near me" or "[service] [location]" are ready to buy.

The Three Pillars of Local SEO

1. Google Business Profile (Essential)

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the foundation of local SEO. It's what shows up in the map pack — those top 3 listings with the map.

Set up properly:

Claim and verify your listing

Choose the right categories (be specific)

Add complete, accurate information

Upload quality photos (exterior, interior, team, work)

Set service areas correctly

Keep it active:

Post updates weekly

Respond to all reviews (good and bad)

Add new photos regularly

Keep hours and info current

Answer questions

Get reviews:

Ask happy customers to leave reviews

Make it easy with a direct link

Respond to every review professionally

Aim for consistency over spikes

2. On-Page SEO (Your Website)

Your website needs to tell Google where you operate and what you do.

Location pages:

Create pages for each area you serve:

/south-london/streatham/

/kent/tunbridge-wells/

Each page should have unique content about serving that area — not just swapping place names.

NAP consistency:

Name, Address, Phone number must be identical everywhere — website, Google Business, directories, social media.

Title tags and meta descriptions:

Include location in titles: "Emergency Plumber in Streatham | 24/7 Service | Your Company"

Schema markup:

Add LocalBusiness structured data to help Google understand your business information.

Mobile-first:

Google uses mobile version for ranking. Make sure your site works perfectly on phones.

3. Off-Page SEO (Citations & Links)

Citations:

Get listed in relevant directories with consistent NAP:

Yell.com

Thomson Local

Yelp UK

Industry-specific directories

Local business directories

Local links:

Links from local sources carry extra weight:

Local news sites

Community organisations

Local business partnerships

Chamber of commerce

Sponsorships

Quick Wins for South London & Kent Businesses

Week 1: Foundation

Claim/verify Google Business Profile

Complete all GBP information

Add 10+ quality photos

4. Ensure NAP consistency on website

Week 2: Reviews

Identify 10 happy customers

Create a direct review link

Send personalised review requests

4. Set up review monitoring

Week 3: On-Site

Create/optimise location pages

Add LocalBusiness schema

Optimise title tags with locations

4. Check mobile performance

Week 4: Citations

List on major directories

Find industry-specific directories

Ensure NAP consistency everywhere

4. Set up citation monitoring

Measuring Results

Track these metrics:

Google Business Profile views

Direction requests

Phone calls from GBP

Website visits from local searches

Keyword rankings for "[service] [location]"

Give it time — local SEO typically takes 3-6 months to show significant results, but it compounds over time.

Common Mistakes

**Inconsistent NAP** — One wrong phone number can hurt rankings

**Ignoring reviews** — Unresponded reviews look bad

**Keyword stuffing** — "Best plumber Streatham plumber cheap plumber" doesn't work

4. **Duplicate content** — Location pages must be genuinely unique

5. **Neglecting mobile** — Most local searches are mobile

Getting Help

Local SEO is ongoing work. If you don't have time to manage it yourself, consider:

Monthly SEO retainer (we offer these)

One-time setup with training

Quarterly audits and adjustments

The most important thing is consistency. A little ongoing effort beats occasional intensive work.

**Want help with local SEO?** Book a free call to discuss how to improve your local visibility.