Guide
Small Business SEO: A Straight-Talking Playbook.
What actually gets a service business found on Google, Bing, Siri and ChatGPT in 2026, without spending £2k a month on an agency you don’t understand.
Free 30-min call · we'll map your podcast + visibility plan
See what's included →SEO gets mystified because most agencies want it to stay complicated so they can charge a monthly retainer. The truth is 80% of small business SEO is a handful of decisions done properly, once, then reinforced every week.
Here’s the plain version.
What Google (and Bing) actually reward in 2026.
Topical authority (dense content on one theme), owned content (your domain, not social), fast, mobile-first sites, structured data (schema), and honest, first-person expertise. Everything else is a distraction.
The AI-search layer nobody sets up.
ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude and Gemini now drive a rapidly growing slice of "how did you hear about us". Getting cited by them requires three things: clean schema, an llms.txt / ai.txt on your site, and content structured as answers to real questions, not corporate word salad.
- Article + FAQ + Speakable + Organization schema on every important page
- llms.txt / ai.txt files at the domain root
- Question-based blog titles (How, What, Why, Can I)
- Real facts, real numbers, real quotes, all things LLMs actually cite
The one weekly ritual that beats a monthly retainer.
Every week, open Google Search Console. Look at your top 20 queries where your average position is 5-15 and CTR is below 3%. Rewrite the meta title and description on those pages using a specific number, a local modifier and a promise. That single ritual moves more traffic in 90 days than most £2k/month agencies deliver in a year.
Deep dives on this topic
Read the whole library.
Every post below explores one facet of small business SEO. Read the ones that fit your situation.
Our Visibility Checklist for New Clients
Most coaches and consultants know they need to be more visible, but aren't sure where to start. We use this exact checklist to help our new clients get found on Google and attract the right people.
Read the guide →A 90-Day Small Business Visibility Plan
Trying to improve your small business visibility can feel overwhelming. This practical 90-day plan breaks it down into manageable steps, from fixing your website to getting found on Google.
Read the guide →Get Coaching Clients with a Podcast System
Stop chasing clients and start attracting them. We show you how to build a reliable client acquisition system using the powerful combination of a podcast, SEO, and email marketing.
Read the guide →Business SEO: What to Fix First to Get Found
It’s frustrating when you have a great service but nobody can find your website. Before you spend a penny on ads, there are foundational SEO steps you need to take.
Read the guide →A Visibility System to Fill Your Therapy Practice
Waiting for referrals isn't a reliable strategy to grow your practice. This practical guide outlines a five-part visibility system that helps therapists get more clients by building authority, not by using pushy marketing.
Read the guide →Why Your Competitors Outrank You (And How to Fix It)
It's frustrating when you know you're better than your competitors, but they show up first on Google. The good news is that the fix is often about getting the basics right, not some complex technical wizardry.
Read the guide →A Visibility System to Get Therapy Clients
Most therapists didn't train to be marketers, but getting clients requires visibility. We'll show you a simple, ethical system to build authority and attract the right people to your practice.
Read the guide →Why Your Business is Invisible on Google (and How to Fix It)
You've built a brilliant business, but your website is a ghost town. It's a common and frustrating problem. Here are the honest, fundamental reasons why nobody knows your business exists yet, and the practical steps you can take today to change that.
Read the guide →Get Found on Google Without an Agency
Are you tired of having a brilliant website that nobody can find? Getting found on Google doesn't have to cost thousands. Here are the practical, no-fluff steps you can take today to get your business seen by the right people.
Read the guide →Photographer: Your Portfolio is Not Enough. Google Needs Words Too
Stunning portfolio, zero enquiries? Google can't see your photos. Learn how to add the words your website needs to get found by couples searching right now.
Read the guide →Restaurant and Cafe Owners: Get Bookings Without Paying Deliveroo 30%
Stop paying 30% to delivery platforms. Restaurants and cafes can own their bookings with smart website design, Google optimisation and local SEO.
Read the guide →Estate Agents: Your Next Instruction is Already Searching Google
Estate agents: your next instruction is already searching Google. Learn how to own your visibility, attract direct sellers, and build your brand beyond the portals.
Read the guide →Data Analytics for Small Business: Making Improvements That Actually Work
Learn how to use data analytics for small business growth. Google Analytics and Search Console decoded, no jargon, just practical steps that work.
Read the guide →Salon and Beauty Business: Stop Relying on Walk-Ins
Stop waiting for walk-ins. Your salon needs a website that fills your chair through Google, not Instagram. Online booking, local SEO, treatment menus that rank.
Read the guide →Personal Trainers: Get Clients From Google Not Instagram
Stop posting workout videos all day. Your ideal personal training clients are on Google, not Instagram. Here's how to show up when they search.
Read the guide →Fresh from the blog
What we're writing this week
Daily posts on visibility, podcasts and content for small business owners.
The Coach's 12-Output Content System
Feeling stretched thin by content creation? Many coaches are. We've developed a 12-output framework to turn one piece of content into a dozen assets, saving you time whilst growing your reach.
Why 90% of Podcasts Fail (And How to Fix It)
There's a well-known pattern in podcasting called 'podfading', where most shows stop after just seven episodes. It isn't a lack of good ideas, but a lack of systems.
Your Book: From Pages to £10k Retainers
Most consultants are trapped trading hours for money. A strategically written book is the fastest way to break that cycle, filter for better clients, and move directly to five-figure retainers.
Want an SEO plan you actually understand?
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