Local SEO Kent: A Beginner’s Guide That Works

Local SEO Kent: A Beginner’s Guide That Works

Want More Local Customers? Start Here.

If you’ve ever searched for your service and seen other businesses show up, but not yours, that’s a local SEO problem.

The good news? You can fix it.And you don’t need to be technical, hire an agency, or spend months learning how Google works.

This is a beginner-friendly guide to help Kent-based businesses improve their visibility in local search results, and actually get found by people nearby.

What Is Local SEO (And Why Should You Care)?

Local SEO is how your business shows up in Google when someone searches for:

• “plumber near me”

• “web designer Ashford”

• “dog grooming Folkestone”

If your business serves customers in a specific location (even if you don’t have a shopfront), then local SEO matters.

You’re not just competing for clicks, you’re competing for local trust.

Step 1: Set Up (or Optimise) Your Google Business Profile

This is non-negotiable. Google Business Profiles (formerly Google My Business) are what power:

• Map listings

• The 3-pack that shows before normal search results

• Reviews, photos, contact info, all in one place

Make sure yours is:

• Fully filled in (hours, services, areas, photos)

• Verified by post or phone

• Consistent with your website details

• Updated regularly

Set up your Google Business Profile

Step 2: Use Location-Based Keywords on Your Website

If your site doesn’t mention where you are, Google can’t always tell.

Add clear mentions of:

• Your main location (e.g. Ashford, Kent)

• Nearby towns you serve

• Your postcode (at least on the contact page)

Don’t overdo it, just work it in naturally.

Step 3: Get a Few Real Reviews

Genuine Google reviews help you rank higher and help customers feel confident contacting you.

Tips:

• Ask every happy customer to leave one

• Send them a direct link (Google gives you this)

• Reply to reviews politely, even the awkward ones

Step 4: List Your Business in Local Directories

Places like:

• Yell

• FreeIndex

• Bing Places

Make sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) is exactly the same everywhere. No formatting differences.

Step 5: Make Your Site Mobile Friendly

Most local searches happen on a phone. If your site’s clunky or unreadable on mobile, it won’t rank, and even if it does, no one will stay.

Check your site here: Google Mobile-Friendly Test

What a Business Website Should Actually Do

Step 6: Create Pages or Blog Posts for Local Areas

If you serve multiple areas, consider writing content that mentions them directly.

Example:

“We provide garden maintenance across Kent, including Ashford, Tenterden, and Canterbury.”

This helps you rank in more places, not just your home base.

Step 7: Be Patient, But Keep at It

Local SEO takes time. But with consistent updates, useful content, and a strong presence on Google and other directories, you’ll start to see results, and better quality leads.

Need a Hand Getting Found Locally?

You can do a lot of this yourself, and this guide gives you the steps. But if you’re short on time or not sure where to start, we help Kent businesses get seen on Google without the fluff or false promises.

Talk to us about Local SEO support