Where should I start with free marketing?
Start with your Google Business Profile. It's free, it's often the first thing people see when they search for a business like yours, and an incomplete or unclaimed profile is one of the most common reasons local businesses get skipped over.
What is local SEO and why does it matter?
Local SEO means optimizing your website and online listings to show up when nearby customers search for what you offer — "electrician in [city]" instead of just "electrician." It includes consistent business information across the web, location-specific pages, and a website that loads quickly and works well on mobile.
Does content actually bring in customers?
Yes, over time. Blog posts and service pages that answer real questions your customers are searching for — like this one — give Google more reasons to rank your site, and give potential customers a reason to trust you before they've ever spoken with you.
How much do reviews really matter?
A lot. Reviews influence both your ranking in local search results and a potential customer's decision to choose you over a competitor. Actively asking satisfied customers for a review — rather than waiting for it to happen on its own — is one of the highest-return, zero-cost habits a small business can build.
Why does all of this depend on your website?
Google Business Profile clicks, local search results, content, and reviews all eventually point somewhere — usually your website. If that site is slow, outdated, or hard to navigate on a phone, all that free traffic goes to waste. A well-built site is what turns organic visibility into actual customers.