Guide · 8-min read
Seven things every local business website must have so search engines understand what you do and where you are. No technical knowledge required.
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Critical elements
60%+
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15 min
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Audit checks them all
Each element is something search engines actively look for. Missing one is like leaving a shelf empty in your shop window.
This is the blue link in search results. Include your main keyword, your location, and your business type. Example: 'Plumber in Belfast | 24hr Emergency | Joe's Plumbing'.
The grey text below the blue link. Write a clear call-to-action. Tell people what they will find on the page and why they should click.
The main headline on the page itself. Should describe the page content clearly. Only use one H1 per page. Use H2 and H3 for sub-sections.
Invisible code that tells search engines your name, address, phone number, opening hours, and service area. Essential for appearing in local map results.
Link between your own pages. Your homepage should link to your services. Your services should link to your contact page. Help visitors (and search engines) find their way around.
60%+ of local searches happen on phones. Your site must be readable, tappable, and fast on a mobile screen. No pinch-zooming, no tiny buttons.
HTTPS is a ranking signal. Without it, browsers show a 'Not secure' warning that scares visitors away. Security headers protect against common attacks.
The number one mistake
Do not write 'Welcome to Our Website' in the title tag. Write 'Plumber in Belfast | 24hr Emergency | Award-Winning Service'. Be specific about what you do and where you do it. Help search engines match you to the people looking for you.
Our free tool shows your title, description, H1, OG tags, and schema in one view. Takes 5 seconds.
Are they the right length? Do they include your location and main service? Would you click on them in search results?
If the Meta Tag Checker shows 'No structured data found', you need to add LocalBusiness schema. Most CMS plugins can do this for you.
Our audit checks all 7 elements plus 23 more signals. It sorts findings by severity so you know what to fix first.
Do not try to fix everything at once. Start with the items flagged as Critical. Re-audit in a week and watch your score move.
Yes. Every page needs a unique title tag. Duplicate titles confuse search engines about which page to show for a given query.
50 to 60 characters. Shorter on mobile. Google truncates longer titles with an ellipsis, which looks sloppy in search results.
No, but they should be closely related. The title tag is for search results. The H1 is for the page itself. Both should describe the page clearly.
Use a canonical tag to tell search engines which version is the 'real' one. Or consolidate the pages if they serve the same purpose.
Run a free Flatline audit. We check all 7 elements and tell you exactly what needs work.