If you are not sure where to start with your business's online presence, this checklist covers the essentials — in order of impact.
The foundations
**Claimed and complete Google Business Profile.** This is the single most important thing. If you have not done this, stop reading and do it now at business.google.com.
**Accurate NAP across the web.** NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number. These three pieces of information should be identical everywhere they appear online — your website, your GBP, Yell.com, Bing Places, Facebook, and every other directory. Inconsistencies confuse Google and hurt local rankings.
**A website that mentions where you are.** Surprisingly many local business websites do not clearly state their location. Your homepage, contact page, and footer should all clearly mention Stirling (or whichever area you serve).
**A website that loads quickly on mobile.** The majority of local searches happen on phones. If your website takes more than three seconds to load on mobile, you are losing customers. Use Google PageSpeed Insights (free) to check.
Reviews and reputation
**At least 10 Google reviews with an average above 4.0.** Below this, you will struggle to appear prominently in local search. Build toward this as a minimum.
**Responses to all reviews.** As discussed in our review guide — respond to every review, positive or negative.
Social media basics
**Active Instagram or Facebook page.** You do not need both. Pick one and maintain it consistently. An abandoned social media account with the last post from 2022 actually hurts trust more than no account at all.
**Profile information complete.** Business description, website link, contact details, and location all filled in on your social profiles.
Local listings
**Yell.com listing.** Still widely used, especially by older demographics. Free to create a basic listing.
**Bing Places.** Often overlooked, but Bing has a meaningful share of search traffic, especially from older users and Windows devices. Claim your listing at bingplaces.com.
**Apple Maps.** Claimable at mapsconnect.apple.com. Used by everyone on an iPhone.
**TripAdvisor.** If you are a café, restaurant, attraction, or accommodation — this is essential.
The things most businesses miss
**Responding to questions on your GBP.** People ask questions on Google Business Profiles. Most businesses never see them and never answer. Check regularly.
**Posting to your GBP.** Google Posts are underused by almost every local business. A post per week keeps your profile active and can surface in search results.
**Checking your own Google results regularly.** Search for your own business name. Search for your services in your area. Know what customers see when they look for you. You would be surprised how often businesses find outdated or incorrect information they did not know was there.
If you would like us to work through this checklist with you and audit your current position, get in touch — we do this for free.
