A big city means a crowded map
Google says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance and prominence. In a city as dense as Manchester, distance does a lot of the work: a customer in Chorlton and one in Prestwich can see a different set of businesses for exactly the same search.
That’s good news if you’re a heating engineer in Stockport or an electrician in Bolton. You don’t have to beat every firm in Manchester, just the ones near the customers you want. Local SEO is about being the obvious choice in the areas you actually cover.
Local SEO built around the areas you cover
Before I quote, I look at
- The towns and postcodes you want more work from
- Who shows in the map for your main searches there
- Your Google Business Profile categories and services
- Your name, address and phone across your website and directories
- Your service and area pages
- Reviews: how many, how recent, and your replies
- Mobile speed and the technical basics
- Easy wins you can do yourself
Built for trades who cover their own patch
I focus on tradespeople: heating engineers, plumbers, electricians and landscapers. Most of them work from home or a yard, travel to customers, and want jobs from particular towns rather than the whole city.
I also designed, built and manage Manchester Heating Experts, a heating website covering Greater Manchester, so I know how competitive these local searches can be.
Local SEO Manchester questions
Can’t find your answer? Drop me a message.
Do you cover all of Greater Manchester?+
Yes. I’m based in Altrincham and work with businesses in all ten boroughs: Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton and Wigan. Most of the work happens by email, so you don’t need to be near me, and I work with businesses across the UK too.
Can I show up in towns where I don’t have a base?+
Your Google Business Profile is strongest close to your address or base, so it’s harder to appear in the map for towns further away. Good area pages on your website, reviews from customers in those places and consistent business details all help. I’ll be honest about which areas are realistic.
I work from home. Will my address be shown?+
No, not if you don’t want it. Service-area businesses can hide their address on Google and show the areas they cover instead. I set that up for you.
How long does local SEO take in Manchester?+
It depends on where you’re starting from and how busy your searches are. Some fixes, like a wrong category, can make a difference fairly quickly. Climbing in competitive Manchester searches usually takes a few months of steady work, and I’ll give you a realistic view before you start.
How much does local SEO cost?+
Local SEO plans start from £250 a month, with no long contract. Google Business Profile set-up is £125 and 30 local citations are £195. You get a fixed quote before I start.
Do I need a new website as well?+
Not always. Often your current site just needs better service and area pages, clearer contact details and a few technical fixes. If your website really is holding you back I can build a new one, but I’ll tell you honestly either way.
