When someone searches “web designer near me” or “plumber in Chester”, the first thing they see — above the normal results — is a map with three businesses. That's the local pack, and getting into it is one of the highest-value things a local business can do online. Here's how it works.
It starts with Google Business Profile
Your free Google Business Profile is the single biggest factor in local rankings. Claim it, verify it, and complete every field: correct category, services, opening hours, photos, and a genuine description. An incomplete profile simply won't compete.
Reviews are the engine
Businesses with more, and more recent, genuine reviews tend to rank higher and get clicked more. Build a simple habit of asking happy customers for a review and sending them the direct link. Ten honest reviews will do more than almost any other single thing.
Consistency across the web
Google cross-checks your name, address and phone number across directories — Yell, Bing Places, FreeIndex, local listings and so on. Keep them byte-for-byte identical everywhere. Inconsistent details confuse Google and hold you back.
Your website still matters
- A fast, mobile-first site supports your local rankings.
- Pages targeting your service and town (e.g. ‘web design Wrexham’) reinforce relevance.
- LocalBusiness schema helps Google understand who and where you are.
- Genuinely useful local content earns links and trust over time.
It compounds
Local SEO isn't a switch you flip; it's a position you build and keep. The businesses in the map pack are usually the ones who set the foundations properly and kept the reviews coming. If you'd like help getting there in Wrexham or Chester, that's exactly the kind of work we do.