TL;DR:
- Be findable: The goal is to show up on Google when people in your area are already looking for your exact service.
- Know your keywords: Figure out the simple phrase people type to find you (e.g., “wedding photographer Charlotte”). This is your compass.
- Your Google Business Profile is a gold mine: It’s often the first thing people see. Fill out every single field.
- One service = one page: Don’t lump all your services together. Give each one its own dedicated page on your website.
- Help, don’t just sell: Write blog posts that answer your customers’ real questions. This builds trust with both them and Google.
You are amazing at what you do. You pour your heart into your craft, your service, your business. But some days, it feels like you’re shouting into the wind. You know there are people out there who need you, but the question is: how do they find you?
The answer is simpler than you think. You don’t need a massive marketing budget or complex, confusing strategies. You just need to stop chasing clients and start making it easy for them to find you.
Most of your future customers are already looking for you. They’re typing questions into Google like, “best plumber near me” or “natural light photographer in my city.” This guide is your map. It’s a nine-step plan to make sure you’re the answer they find.
Step 1: Find the Words They Use (Keyword Research)
Before you do anything else, you need to know what your customers are actually typing into Google. Don’t guess.
The formula is usually very simple: [Your Service] + [Your City or Niche]
- Instead of just “photography,” it’s “newborn photography in Austin.”
- Instead of “contractor,” it’s “kitchen remodel services in Portland.”
This phrase is your keyword. It’s the foundation for everything else you do. Write it down.
Step 2: Look at Who’s Already Winning
Type your keyword into Google and see who shows up on the first page. These businesses are your real competitors online. They are getting the clicks and the calls right now.
Open their websites. Look at their Google Business Profiles. Don’t just glance. Study them.
- What words do they use on their homepage?
- How many reviews do they have?
- Do they have a page for the specific service you searched for?
Your goal isn’t to copy them. It’s to understand what’s working and then do it even better, with your own unique voice and care.
Step 3: Claim Your Digital Storefront (Google Business Profile)
Your Google Business Profile (the box that shows up with a map) is the most valuable piece of online real estate for a local business. It’s a gold mine.
Your only job here is to fill out every single section completely.
- Add your services.
- Upload real, high-quality photos.
- List your exact hours.
- Make sure your phone number and address are correct.
- Encourage happy customers to leave reviews.
An incomplete profile is like a shop with a dusty, unreadable sign. Make yours clean, bright, and welcoming.
Step 4: Give Each Service Its Own Home
This is a mistake almost everyone makes. Do not lump all your offerings onto one generic “Services” page.
If you are a designer who offers “branding,” “web design,” and “packaging,” each one needs its own page on your website.
- YourWebsite.com/branding
- YourWebsite.com/web-design
- YourWebsite.com/packaging
This tells Google exactly what you do, making it much easier for you to show up in searches for those specific services.
Step 5: Be the Helpful Guide (Blogging)
Only a tiny fraction of your potential customers are ready to buy today. The rest are still learning, asking questions, and gathering information. Your blog is where you connect with them.
Write simple posts that answer their most common questions.
- A wedding planner could write: “5 Things to Look for in a Wedding Venue in Chicago.”
- An electrician could write: “When Should I Upgrade My Home’s Electrical Panel?”
This builds trust. It shows you’re a generous expert, not just a salesperson. And over time, Google sees this and starts showing your website to more people.
Step 6: Tune-Up Your Pages (On-Page SEO)
This sounds technical, but it’s simple. It’s just about making your webpages clear for both humans and Google. Here are a few things to check on each of your service pages:
- Place your keyword in key spots: Put the keyword you found in Step 1 in your page title, the main heading, and in the first paragraph.
- Have a clear call to action: What do you want people to do next? “Call Us,” “Book a Consultation,” “Get a Quote.” Make the button big, friendly, and obvious.
- Show off your reviews: You can embed your Google reviews directly on your site. This shows new visitors that you’re trusted and do great work.
- Add an FAQ section: At the bottom of your service page, list 3-5 common questions you get and answer them simply. This keeps people on your page longer, which Google loves.
Step 7: Connect to Google’s Free Tools
Google gives you free tools to see how your site is doing. You need to set up two:
- Google Search Console: This is how you tell Google your website exists and is ready for visitors.
- Google Analytics: This shows you how people are finding your site and what they do when they get there.
Setting them up is a one-time task that gives you valuable information forever.
Step 8: Build Connections (Backlinks & Citations)
A backlink is simply a link from another website to yours. When a reputable website links to you, it’s like a vote of confidence. It tells Google that you are trustworthy.
You can get these links by:
- Partnering with other local businesses.
- Guest writing for a local blog.
- Getting featured in local news.
Also, list your business in reputable online directories. Each listing is a small signal that confirms you are a real, legitimate business.
Step 9: Tend to Your Garden
Getting found online isn’t a one-time trick. It’s a gentle, ongoing process. It’s like tending to a garden.
Once a month, check in.
- Can you write a new, helpful blog post?
- Can you get one or two new reviews?
- Are your top competitors doing anything new that you can learn from?
You don’t need to do everything at once. Just keep taking small, steady steps. By following this path, you build something real and sustainable. You create a system where the right clients find their way to your door, naturally and without force. You just need to show them the way.
What’s your next step?
Which of these 9 steps feels like the biggest hurdle for you right now? Share it in the comments below. We read and reply to every single one and would be happy to offer a helpful idea to get you started.