Technical and On-site SEO
The foundations that let your site actually rank
Site speed, mobile performance, page structure and local schema are the technical foundations that help Google rank you, and turn visitors into enquiries.
You can't rank a site Google struggles to read
95% of websites get no traffic because most websites are built to look right, not to perform. A new startup, or even small businesses, will focus on how good the website looks visually, not how well it will work. That's usually where the rankings are being lost.
What we normally find
- Pages taking four seconds or more to load on 4G
- A site that technically "works" on mobile but is painful to use
- No proper page structure
- Google left guessing what the business is and where
- Service pages issues
- Images straight off a phone
- Issues with Title tags and meta descriptions
- Issues with H1 headers
These issues are just a few of the many factors that can contribute to your website's lower ranking in search engine results. As a result, you may find yourself scratching your head, puzzled and frustrated, as you wonder why potential leads are not coming through your site as you had hoped. Understanding these aspects is crucial for improving your online presence and ultimately attracting the audience you deserve.
These are the areas that move rankings for local businesses. We fix them in this order because each one makes the next more effective.
Four foundations, done properly
Site speed
Google measures real visitor experience through Core Web Vitals, and a slow site loses people before your copy gets a chance.
- Largest Contentful Paint under 2.5 seconds
- Cumulative Layout Shift under 0.1
- Image compression, lazy loading, script clean-up
Mobile performance
Google indexes the mobile version of your site, and most local searches happen on a phone, often outdoors, on a poor connection.
- Mobile-first indexing checks
- Tap targets, font sizes and spacing
- Click-to-call and tap-for-directions
Page structure
Clear structure tells Google what each page is for and stops your own pages competing with each other for the same searches.
- Titles and meta descriptions corrected
- One H1 per page, logical heading structure
- A page per service and per location you serve
- Internal linking, clean URLs, no duplication
Local schema
Structured data spells out who you are, where you are and what you do, in the format Google and AI search read directly.
- Local Business and Service markup
- Address, opening hours and service areas
- Review, FAQ and breadcrumb markup
- Monitored and kept current
Schema is how you talk to
Google
directly
Most local sites leave Google to guess. Schema removes the guesswork, and it's increasingly how AI search decides which local business to recommend.
What Google shows as a result
Stars, hours and review counts in the result make your listing bigger and more clickable
What Is Local SEO
Helping Your Business Appear When Local Customers Are Searching
Local SEO (Local Search Engine Optimisation) is the process of improving your business's visibility in location-based search results.
When potential customers search for products or services in their area, Google prioritises businesses that demonstrate strong local relevance, authority, and trust.
When someone searches for:
- Mortgage Broker Near Me
- Health Insurance Broker Cheltenham
- Travel Agent Swindon
- Electrician Gloucester
- Solicitor Cirencester
Google aims to show the most relevant and trustworthy local businesses. Local SEO helps ensure your business appears prominently in these search results, making it easier for potential customers to find and contact you. By improving your local search visibility, you can attract customers actively searching for the services you offer.
Local SEO Helps You:
- Rank higher in Google Search
- Appear more often in Google Maps
- Increase website traffic
- Generate more local enquiries
- Improve online credibility
- Attract customers who are ready to buy
How It Works
From a blank page to a prioritised keyword plan.
Audit
A full technical crawl plus real-device testing. You get a prioritised list, ranked by impact, not by how impressive it sounds.
Fix
We work through quick wins first, speed and mobile usually move the needle before anything else.
Structure
Titles, headings, internal links and schema, so every page has a clear job and Google can tell what it is.
Monitor
Monthly checks on Core Web Vitals, indexing and schema validity, reported in plain English.
Poor Technical SEO
Costs You Customers
From slow-loading pages to indexing issues, technical problems can stop potential customers from finding your business online. Not sure how fast your site is? Try our free speed test
50%
Visitors abandon slow websites
50%
Websites have poor loading performance
6 in 10
Websites fail Google's Core Web Vitals
46%
Of all Google searches have local intent
Increase Local Visibility
Ensure your business stands out when potential customers search for local products or services. Optimising your online presence boosts visibility and attracts more visitors seeking what you offer, enhancing your chances of converting searches into sales and building a loyal customer base.
Generate Qualified Leads
Connect with customers actively seeking your services. By targeting those already looking for solutions in your area of expertise, you can effectively engage potential clients and meet their needs. This focused approach enhances visibility and increases conversion likelihood, as these motivated customers are ready to explore your offerings.
Stay Ahead Of Competitors
Enhance your online presence in competitive local markets with tailored marketing strategies. By optimising content and engaging with communities, you can boost brand recognition and attract more customers, helping you stand out from competitors and drive business growth.
Build Trust
To stand out as a credible business, utilise strategies like customer reviews, local content, and strong online signals. Authentic reviews build trust and show your commitment to quality, while local content makes your business relatable. Active social media, a professional website, and consistent branding enhance your reputation and authority.
How The Local SEO Company Helps Your Business Grow
Our Local SEO services are designed to improve your rankings, increase visibility, and generate measurable business results.
Local SEO Audits
We analyse your website, Google Business Profile, competitors, and current rankings to identify opportunities for growth.
Google Business Profile Optimisation
We optimise your Google Business Profile to improve your visibility in Google Maps and local search results.
Local Keyword Research
We identify the keywords your customers are searching for and build a strategy around those opportunities.
Website Optimisation
We improve website structure, page speed, user experience, internal linking, and technical SEO performance.
Local Content Creation
We create location-specific and service-specific content that helps search engines understand your expertise and relevance.
Citation Building
We strengthen your local authority through consistent business listings across trusted online directories.
Strategy Review
We help improve your online reputation by encouraging and managing customer reviews.
AI Search Optimisation
We optimise content to improve visibility in AI-powered search platforms, helping future-proof your online presence.
What Makes The Local SEO Company Different?
Many SEO agencies focus purely on rankings. We focus on helping businesses generate enquiries, leads, and revenue.
Specialist Local SEO Expertise
Our strategies are specifically designed to improve local search visibility.
Google Maps Focus
We optimise your business to perform strongly within Google's local map results.
AI Search Ready
Our approach incorporates Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) to prepare your business for the future of search.
Transparent Reporting
Clear monthly reporting so you always understand your progress and return on investment.
Why Businesses Choose The Local SEO Company
Many SEO agencies focus purely on rankings. We focus on helping businesses generate enquiries, leads, and revenue.
- Local knowledge, not guesswork
We know Swindon and Wiltshire, the areas, the competition, and how local customers search.
- Part of Digital Optimus
Backed by a full-service digital marketing agency, so your SEO aligns with everything else you do online.
- Transparent reporting
Rankings, calls and enquiries — not vanity metrics. You'll always know what you're getting for your money.
- No long lock-in contracts
We keep your business by getting results, not by tying you down.
- Built for AI search, too
We optimise for Google today and AI-driven search tomorrow, so you stay ahead.
Putting effort into content but getting little recognition?
Most local businesses create content that never gets found. We turn your knowledge into pages and posts that rank for the searches your Swindon customers are actually making — so your effort finally pays off.
Keyword Research FAQs
Common questions about local keyword research.
For an onsite technical website review, will you need access to my website?
Yes — we'll need login access to your site and Google Search Console. We'll walk you through granting it, and we never make changes without telling you first. If your site was built by someone else, we can work alongside them
How long before I see a difference in my website?
Speed and mobile improvements are immediate and measurable the same day. Ranking movement typically starts showing within four to eight weeks, once Google has recrawled and reassessed the site. We'll show you both.
Do I need a new website?
Usually not. Most sites can be fixed rather than rebuilt, and we'll always tell you honestly which one you're looking at. If a rebuild genuinely is the better route, we'll say so rather than charging you to patch something that can't be saved or looks dated.
Is this included in your packages?
On-page optimisation is included in every package from Map Pack Starter upwards. Full technical SEO, site speed, crawl issues, indexation and mobile are part of Accelerate, or available as standalone project work.
Want to Know What Your Customers Search?
Get a free SEO audit for your business and see how well your website is set up to attract visitors and leads