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Every question, answered in plain English
The questions local business owners actually ask us — answered honestly, without jargon, and free. Steal the playbook, or have us run it for you.
Getting found nearby
How Google Maps decides which businesses locals see — and how to become one of them.
How do I get my business on Google Maps?
The step-by-step way to get a local business listed on Google Maps, verified, and showing up when nearby customers search.
Read the answerWhy doesn't my business show up on Google Maps?
The six most common reasons a local business is invisible on Google Maps, and how to fix each one.
Read the answerDone reading, want it done? Be the first business locals find →
Showing up on Google
Why some websites get found and others stay invisible, in plain English.
How long does it take to show up on Google?
Honest timelines for a local business to appear and climb on Google — what moves in weeks, what takes months, and why.
Read the answerWhy doesn't my website show up on Google?
The real reasons a small-business website is invisible in Google search results, explained without jargon, with fixes for each.
Read the answerDone reading, want it done? Show up when people search for what you do →
Reviews & trust
Reviews are the new word of mouth. How to earn them, use them and handle the bad ones.
How do I get more Google reviews for my business?
A simple, repeatable routine for local businesses to collect five-star Google reviews — without begging, bribing or breaking the rules.
Read the answerHow should I respond to a negative review?
A calm, practical playbook for replying to bad Google reviews — protecting your reputation and sometimes winning the customer back.
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Your website
What a small-business website actually needs to turn visitors into phone calls.
What should a small business website include?
The seven things a local business website must have to turn visitors into phone calls — and the expensive extras it doesn't.
Read the answerDoes website speed really matter for a small business?
What slow loading really costs a local business, why most sites are slow, and what "fast" means in practice.
Read the answerDone reading, want it done? A website that wins you work →
Paid ads
What ads cost, when they make sense, and how to stop them wasting your money.
Should I pay for Google Ads or invest in free rankings?
Paid ads or earning free visibility — an honest comparison for local businesses, and why the real answer is a shifting mix.
Read the answerHow much do Google Ads cost for a small local business?
Real numbers on Google Ads budgets for local businesses — what a click costs, what a customer costs, and when ads make sense.
Read the answerDone reading, want it done? Leads this week — at a price you know →
AI & the new search
Customers now ask ChatGPT and AI assistants for recommendations. How to be the answer.
How do ChatGPT and AI assistants choose which businesses to recommend?
ChatGPT, Google's AI answers and voice assistants now recommend local businesses directly. Here's where their answers come from.
Read the answerHow do I get my business recommended by ChatGPT and AI assistants?
A practical checklist for making your local business the one ChatGPT, Google's AI answers and voice assistants name.
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Prefer answers about your business, specifically?
The free check-up applies everything in these guides to your actual listing, website and market — and tells you what to fix first.
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