5 Common SEO Mistakes Local Businesses Make (And How to Fix Them)

If your business isn’t showing up on Google, it’s not just bad luck—it’s probably bad SEO.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) helps your business appear in search results when local people are looking for the products or services you offer.

But many local businesses unknowingly make mistakes that stop them from being found online.

Here are the five most common SEO mistakes we see—and how to fix them.

1. No Google Business Profile

The mistake: Not having (or not verifying) your free Google Business Profile.
The fix:

• Go to google.com/business

• Claim your listing

• Add opening hours, categories, photos, and your website
  This boosts visibility in maps and local results.

2. A Website That Isn’t Mobile-Friendly

The mistake: Your website might look okay on desktop but be difficult to use on phones.
The fix:
Make sure your site uses responsive design. Google now ranks mobile-friendly websites higher—and more than half of searches happen on mobile.

3. Slow Page Load Times

The mistake: Large images and messy code slow down your site.
The fix:

• Compress images

• Use faster hosting

• Avoid unnecessary animations or scripts
  Fast sites = happy users = better rankings.

4. No Local Keywords

The mistake: Using generic terms like “plumber” or “cafe” instead of location-based ones.
The fix:
Use local keywords like:

• “Plumber in Barry”

• “Hairdresser near Penarth Marina”
  Add them to your page titles, meta descriptions, headers, and text naturally.

5. No Customer Reviews or Location Tags

The mistake: Missing out on reviews or not asking customers to mention your location.
The fix:

• Encourage happy customers to leave a review on Google

• Ask them to mention your business name + area (e.g., “Best hair salon in Cardiff”)

This builds trust and helps SEO.

Let Us Help You Rank Higher

SEO doesn’t have to be complicated—but it does need to be done right.

At Web It Up, we specialise in helping local businesses in Cardiff and the Vale boost their search visibility with smart, affordable SEO.