Top SEO Tips For Small Businesses in Northamptonshire
If you run a small business in Northamptonshire, you already know what it feels like.
You’re brilliant at what you do.
You care about your customers.
But online? It can feel like you’re competing with companies that have bottomless budgets and entire marketing departments.
Here’s the truth:
You don’t need thousands of pounds to get found on Google.
You need strategy.
And that’s where SEO comes in.
Because when someone searches:
“Emergency plumber Kettering”
“Best pizza near me”
“Wedding photographer Northampton”
They’re not browsing.
They’re ready.
If your business isn’t showing up, you’re invisible to people actively looking for you.
Let’s fix that.
What Local SEO Actually Means (And Why It Matters)
Local SEO is simply making it crystal clear to Google:
Where you are
What you do
Who you help
It’s not about ranking nationally.
It’s about being visible to the people who can actually walk through your door or pick up the phone.
And for small businesses? That’s powerful.
Because instead of competing with the entire UK, you’re competing locally.
Google looks at three core things in local search:
Relevance – Does your business match what someone is searching for?
Distance – How close are you to them?
Prominence – Do you look established and trustworthy online?
When you understand these three pillars, SEO stops feeling complicated and starts feeling manageable.
A small bakery in Brackley can absolutely outrank a national chain for “fresh bread Brackley.”
Why?
Because they’re more relevant to that local search.
And Google cares about that.
Your Google Business Profile Is A Must-Have
This is the first thing I tell every small business owner:
If you haven’t claimed and optimised your Google Business Profile, stop everything and do it.
It’s free.
It’s powerful.
And it means that people find you.
When setting Google Business Profile up:
Make sure your business name is consistent everywhere
Use your full, accurate address
Keep your phone number consistent
Choose specific categories (not vague ones)
If you’re a wedding photographer in Northampton, don’t just choose “photographer.”
Choose:
Wedding photographer (primary)
Portrait photographer
Event photographer
Be intentional.
Your description should sound like you. Clear. Human. Local.
Mention the areas you serve. Mention how long you’ve been established. Talk about what makes you different.
And please — add high-quality photos.
Businesses with photos receive significantly more direction requests and website clicks.
That’s visibility. That’s growth.
Local Keywords: Stop Guessing, Start Thinking Like Your Customer
SEO isn’t about clever phrases.
It’s about using the words your customers already type into Google.
Instead of targeting “plumber,” think:
Plumber Northampton
Emergency plumber Kettering
Boiler repair Daventry
Add location to service. Always.
Then go deeper.
If you’re a roofer, your customers aren’t searching “roofing services.”
They’re searching:
Leaky roof repair
Roof tile replacement
Storm damage roof fix
Now combine that with location.
That’s how you become visible.
Use Google’s autocomplete. Start typing your service + town and see what appears. Those suggestions exist because real people are searching for them.
Long-tail keywords (longer, more specific phrases) are your advantage.
“Best fish and chips in Daventry town centre” is far more powerful — and less competitive — than “fish and chips.”
Specific wins.
Create a focused list of 15–20 keywords that actually reflect your services and the areas you serve.
Not everything.
Just the right things.
Create Content That’s Actually Useful (Not Just “SEO Content”)
Content doesn’t need to be complicated.
If you’re a gardening centre, write about:
Best plants for Northamptonshire weather
Preparing your garden for winter in the East Midlands
If you’re a tradesperson, answer the questions customers ask every week.
Local content creates trust.
Trust builds visibility.
You can also:
Write about local events you’re involved in
Share community partnerships
Highlight local projects
This shows Google — and your customers — that you’re rooted in the community.
If you serve different towns, create separate pages for each area.
For example:
House Cleaning Northampton
Office Cleaning Kettering
Commercial Cleaning Wellingborough
Each page should feel tailored, not copied.
Clear. Local. Specific.
Citations & Reviews: Your Digital Reputation
Citations are simply mentions of your business name, address, and phone number across the internet.
Consistency is everything.
If your address is written one way on Google and another way in other directories, it creates confusion.
And Google doesn’t reward confusion.
Get listed on:
Major directories
Industry-specific platforms
Then focus on reviews.
Reviews are powerful.
Encourage happy customers to leave honest feedback. Don’t script it. Don’t pressure. Just ask.
And respond to every review.
Positive? Say thank you.
Negative? Handle it professionally.
That shows leadership.
And Google notices active businesses.
The Technical Bits
You don’t need to become a developer.
But you do need:
A mobile-friendly website
Fast loading speeds
Clear navigation
Visible contact details
Most local searches happen on phones.
If your website is difficult to use on mobile, you’re losing customers.
Keep your site structure straightforward:
Services
About
Contact
Location
Make sure your address, phone number, and business hours are easy to find.
Make it easy for people to choose you.
The Reality of SEO (That No One Talks About)
SEO is not instant. It’s not a quick fix.
It’s consistent, strategic action over time.
You won’t see dramatic overnight results. But over months? The compounding effect is powerful.
When you focus on genuinely serving your local community well, everything strengthens.
➟ Your reviews improve.
➟ Your word-of-mouth increases.
➟ Your visibility grows.
SEO supports real businesses doing real work. so don’t try to do everything at once.
Pick two or three areas:
Optimise your Google profile
Gather reviews
Improve your website basics
Do them properly. Then build from there.
Because most of your competitors? They’re not doing this consistently.
Which means the opportunity is there.
And if you’re a small business owner in Northamptonshire who wants growth — not fluff — this is where it starts.
➟ Strategy first.
➟ Consistency second.
➟ Results follow.
