Asked Rob: "What's the Secret to Getting Found Online?"

Hello! Dave here. You know what I've noticed? The Hoomans here at Blue Penguin Digital are always talking about 'SEO' and how it helps Yorkshire businesses get found online. I kept hearing about it, so I decided to figure out what all the fuss was about. I asked Rob to explain the secret, and it turns out it's actually much simpler than it sounds!

Claim Your Google Business Profile

Rob showed me some examples of businesses that were missing out on customers, and it made me sad! The first thing he told me about is claiming your Google Business Profile. It's like putting up a signpost that says "Hey Google, I'm here!"

Fill it out completely - add photos (customers love seeing what you do), respond to reviews (even the grumpy ones), and keep your hours updated. When someone searches "web design Leeds" or "SEO Sheffield", Google shows local businesses in a special box. You definitely want to be in that box!

Use Local Keywords Naturally

I asked Rob about this one, and he told me something really important. Don't stuff your website with "Leeds web design Leeds web design Leeds" - that's not helpful and Google will penalize you for it. It's like barking too much - eventually, people stop listening!

Instead, write naturally about your services and mention your location where it makes sense. "We help Yorkshire businesses grow their online presence" sounds much better than "Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire" repeated 50 times. Rob's been doing this for years, and it shows!

Get Reviews (The Right Way)

Reviews are huge for local SEO, and Rob demonstrated how this works with some real examples. But don't buy them or ask your mum to write fake ones - that's like pretending you're a good dog when you've just eaten the sofa!

Instead, provide great service and then politely ask satisfied customers to leave a review. Make it easy for them - send them a direct link to your Google Business Profile review page. The easier you make it, the more likely they are to do it. I've seen this work for so many businesses!

Create Local Content

This one really excited me! Rob told me something really interesting about writing content that matters to your local community. You should write about local events, news, or issues that matter to your community. "5 Things Every Leeds Business Owner Should Know About GDPR" or "Sheffield's Digital Transformation: What It Means for Local Businesses".

This shows Google that you're a real part of the community, not just someone trying to game the system. It's like being a good neighbor - you participate in the community, and people remember you for it!

Speed Up Your Website

Rob told me something really important about this. Google loves fast websites - it's like how I love treats! If your site takes forever to load, you'll rank lower. Optimize your images, use a good hosting provider, and keep your code clean.

Test your site speed with Google's PageSpeed Insights tool. Aim for a score above 90 on both mobile and desktop. Rob knows what he's talking about when it comes to this stuff!

Remember, SEO is a long-term game. You won't see results overnight, but if you consistently provide value to your local community, Google will notice. That's what Rob always says, and it works!

Found this helpful? If you're still feeling a bit stuck, just give us a bark and let's get your business found online. The Hoomans are always happy to chat!