Blog Archives - Local Pages

Does Your Website Work on Mobile?

Just over 60% of users in the UK, surf the web on their mobile, not computers or laptops. So if your website doesn’t load or display very well on mobile, you can say goodbye to them becoming a paying customer!

Whether you’re looking to build a new website or simply looking to try and update an old one, here are the key things to think about when making sure your website is mobile-friendly.

Making your website mobile responsive is also going to boost your SEO! As Google and other search engines will penalise you for having a poorly optimised website.

✅ Make Sure It All Fits on One Screen

On your mobile, space is a lot less of a luxury compared to you big computer screen. If users have to swipe and scroll just to read the content, then they are just going to take their business to the next website.

Tip:
Your website should automatically resize to fit the screen — this is called a responsive design. Everything (text, images, buttons) should stack neatly and be easy to use with one hand.

🔎 Use Readable Fonts and Text Sizes

Having tiny, unreadable text is one of the most common mistakes websites fall prey to. If people have to squint or pinch the screen just to read your content, they won’t stick around.

Tip:
Use a clear and easy to read font, and make sure the size adjusts properly on smaller screens. Headings should be bold and stand out, and paragraphs should be short and well spaced.

🍔 Use a Hamburger Menu

You’ve probably seen the little three lined icon (☰) in the top corner of mobile websites, that’s a hamburger menu. It hides your navigation links in a tidy dropdown that’s easy to tap, without squishing your options into a jumbled mess!

Tip:
Instead of cramming all your links across the top, use a hamburger menu to keep things clean and simple. It helps your site look modern and keeps users focused on what matters.

🖱️ Buttons Should Be Big and Clickable

If buttons are too small or close together, they can be hard to tap on a phone, especially for the more clumsier of us!

Tip:
Make sure buttons and links are easy to tap with a thumb. Leave plenty of space between them so users don’t click the wrong one by accident.

📷 Optimise Images and Load Time

Big images look great on desktop, but they can slow down your site on mobile, especially on slower connections such as mobile data. Using smaller image formats such as SVG’s and JPG’s instead of PNG’s can help this.

Tip:
Use compressed images that still look sharp but don’t take forever to load. A faster site means a better user experience (and helps with your Google rankings too!).

💡 Prioritise the Most Important Info

Mobile users are often in a hurry. They want quick answers, not to scroll through endless content. Push the CTA’s they want, such as a “call now” or “enquire now” towards the top of the page, perhaps even put in a whatsapp link!

Tip:
Put the key stuff first: your services, contact details, opening hours, or whatever matters most. Keep it simple and make it easy to act.

Leave a commentBlog, Business Tips, digital marketing, Help & Advice, Websites

Is Your Website Secure? Here’s What You Should Be Looking Out For

In an age where cyber attacks are becoming more sophisticated and common, website security is no longer just a concern for big businesses — it’s something every website owner should be thinking about. Whether you run a small business site, an online store, or a personal blog, keeping your website secure helps protect your visitors, your data, and your reputation.

Recently, even major brands like The North Face, M&S, and others have fallen victim to high-profile cyber attacks in 2025 — proving that no one is completely immune. But the good news is: there are straightforward steps you can take to help secure your own website.

What Should You Look Out For?

✅ 1. Check for SSL and HTTPS

One of the most basic and important security features your site should have is an SSL certificate. This is what enables the little padlock icon in the browser address bar and changes your web address to start with https:// instead of just http://.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts the data sent between your website and your visitors, helping protect against data theft and interception. Without it, sensitive information like contact details or payment information could be vulnerable.

You can easily check if your site is secured with SSL:

Look for the padlock icon in the address bar
Make sure your site loads as https://yourdomain.co.uk

If your site still loads as http://, it’s time to get that sorted!

2. Keep Everything Updated

Whether your site runs on WordPress, another CMS, or uses plugins and themes, it’s important to keep everything up to date. Outdated software is one of the most common ways hackers gain access to websites.

Updates often include security patches to fix newly discovered vulnerabilities, so skipping them can leave your site exposed.

3. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

Services like Cloudflare offer protection that acts as a shield between your website and potential threats. They can help block malicious traffic, prevent DDoS attacks, and add an extra layer of defence without slowing down your site.

4. Watch Out for Suspicious Activity

Keep an eye out for things like:

New admin users appearing without your knowledge
Strange or spammy comments
Pages or content you didn’t create
Unusual traffic spikes or slow loading times

These could all be signs that something’s not quite right.

5. Use Strong Passwords and Limit Access

This might sound obvious, but weak passwords are still one of the most common reasons for website hacks. Always use strong, unique passwords and only give admin access to people who really need it.

Peace of Mind: We’ve Got Your Back

If you’re unsure whether your website is as secure as it should be — or if something just doesn’t feel quite right — give us a call and schedule a checkup with one of team, who can help guide you to getting secure online. We’re happy to check things over and point you in the right direction.

If you already host your website with us, you can rest a little easier. We automatically follow key security protocols, including:

SSL installed on all sites
Full HTTPS encryption
Use of Cloudflare for additional security and performance

And if you’d still like a little extra support or a more in-depth look at your website’s safety, we offer additional security services to give you total peace of mind.

Stay safe, stay secure – and if in doubt, we’re always here to help.

Leave a commentBlog, Business Tips, Help & Advice, Websites

Why Local Marketing Matters

And How You Can Use Local Marketing To Boost Your Business

Local marketing, or hyper-local marketing, targets customers within a specific area. This approach allows businesses to stand out and be more accessible to potential customers nearby. For example, when people in your area search for services, having strong local visibility ensures your business is one of the first they see.

There are several reasons to consider a local marketing strategy:

Cost-Effective: Local marketing efforts can be more budget-friendly than broad campaigns, allowing you to focus on the most relevant audience for your business.
Higher Engagement: Customers often feel a stronger connection to local businesses, making them more likely to engage, leave reviews, and spread the word.
Better ROI: With targeted campaigns, you’re reaching people more likely to need your service, resulting in better conversions and a higher return on investment.

How can you Advertise Locally?

Leverage Local SEO for More Visibility

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is essential for helping your business show up in online searches within your area. By optimising your website and online presence for local search, you’ll reach customers who are actively searching for services you provide.

Google My Business: Setting up or optimizing your Google My Business profile is a crucial step. Ensure your information is complete and accurate, including your business hours, contact info, and location.

Local Keywords: Include location-specific keywords on your website and blog to improve search engine visibility. For example, a dog groomer in Bristol might use keywords like “Bristol dog grooming” or “dog groomer near me.”

Customer Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews. Positive reviews boost credibility and improve your ranking on Google’s local search results.

Use Print Marketing to Reach Local Audiences

Print marketing remains an impactful way to reach local customers directly. Flyers, business cards, and local directories are all effective ways to advertise your business within the community.

Direct Mail Campaigns: Target neighborhoods in your area with promotional offers, service updates, or seasonal deals.

Flyers & Posters: Partner with other local businesses, like cafes or community centers, to display your materials in places where your target audience frequents.

Local Directories: Listing your business in a local directory like Local Pages can significantly boost your visibility and reach in nearby areas, making it easier for customers to find you.

Get Involved with the Community

Engaging with your community not only builds a strong local reputation but also establishes trust with potential customers. Here are some ways to connect:

Sponsor Local Events: Support local sports teams, schools, or community events. Sponsorships show that you’re invested in the community, increasing goodwill and brand awareness.

Partner with Local Businesses: Collaborate with other local businesses on joint promotions or events. For example, a dog groomer could team up with a pet store for a co-hosted pet care day.

Volunteer: Get involved in community service projects or volunteer for local initiatives. This not only helps your community but also builds relationships with residents and other local businesses.

Run Geo-Targeted Digital Ads

Geo-targeted digital ads allow you to focus your advertising budget on a specific geographic area, ensuring your message reaches local customers. Platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads make it easy to set up location-based targeting.

Google Ads with Location Targeting: Run pay-per-click (PPC) ads that focus on users within a specific radius of your business. You can also optimise ad copy to mention your city or region.

Social Media Ads: Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow for highly specific location targeting. You can run ads that only show up for users within certain zip codes or even miles from your location.

Localised Offers: Promote special deals or discounts to those in the immediate area. Localised offers make your ads even more relevant, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversions.

Optimise for Mobile Users

Many local searches are performed on mobile devices, so it’s essential that your website and ads are optimised for mobile users. Mobile-friendly content makes it easy for customers to find you on the go.

Responsive Website Design: Ensure your website looks and functions well on mobile devices. A mobile-optimised site loads quickly and has a clean, easy-to-navigate layout.

Clickable Contact Info: Make it easy for mobile users to contact you by adding clickable phone numbers and map links to your website.

Mobile Ads: Consider running mobile-optimised ads, especially on social media, to capture users who are searching for services in the area.

How Local Pages Can Help

At Local Pages, we specialize in helping small businesses strengthen their local presence through a mix of print, digital, and design services. We understand the needs of businesses and work closely with you to tailor strategies that suit your unique goals. From listing your business in our directory to creating targeted ads, we’re here to help you connect with your community and grow your brand.

Ready to attract more local customers and expand your business? Contact us today for a free consultation, and let’s work together to give your business the local advantage!

Visit The Little Blue Blog for more insights and tips on growing your business through local marketing. Let’s make your brand the go-to in your community!

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Does Your Business Need a Makeover?

How Print, Digital, and Design Services Can Transform Your Brand

In a competitive marketplace, your business needs to stand out more than ever. Whether you’re a tradesman, dog groomer, or small business owner, staying fresh and relevant is key to attracting new customers and keeping existing ones engaged. But how do you know if your business is in need of a makeover? More importantly, what changes can you make to give it the boost it needs?

In this blog post, we’ll explore how giving your business a makeover with print, digital marketing, and design services can enhance your brand, improve customer experience, and drive growth.

Signs Your Business Might Need a Makeover

Before diving into solutions, let’s first identify some common signs that your business might need a refresh:

Outdated branding: If your logo, business cards, or website design look outdated, it could be time for a fresh new look.

Inconsistent customer experience: If your print materials don’t align with your digital presence, customers might feel confused or disengaged.

Lack of online visibility: Struggling to get noticed online or rank well in search results? You may need a digital marketing boost.

Declining engagement: If fewer people are interacting with your business, whether on social media or in person, a new marketing strategy might help re-energise your brand.

If any of these signs sound familiar, a makeover could be exactly what your business needs.

The Power of Print: A Tangible Connection with Customers

Even in our digital age, print marketing remains a powerful tool for small businesses. Printed materials like business cards, flyers, brochures, and direct mail provide a physical connection between your brand and your customers. They can leave a lasting impression, especially when they’re well-designed and professionally produced.

Here’s how a print makeover can help your business:

Professional designs: Well-designed print materials immediately elevate your brand, making it appear more polished and trustworthy.

Consistency: Updating your print designs to match your digital branding creates a seamless customer experience across all touchpoints.

Targeted marketing: Use flyers or direct mail campaigns to target specific local areas and reach potential customers who might not be online.

With fresh, cohesive print materials, your business will look modern and professional, which can inspire more trust from potential clients.

Digital Marketing: Expanding Your Reach Online

If your business isn’t taking full advantage of digital marketing, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to reach new customers. A digital marketing makeover could include everything from a revamped website to a new social media strategy and even paid advertising campaigns.

Here’s how we can help you modernise your digital presence:

Website redesign: Your website is your digital storefront, and it needs to reflect the quality of your services. We offer custom website designs that are user-friendly, mobile-optimised, and tailored to your brand.

Search engine optimization (SEO): Improving your website’s SEO will help you rank higher in search engine results, making it easier for potential customers to find you.

Paid digital advertising: Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and other paid advertising platforms allow you to target your ideal audience with precision, driving more qualified traffic to your business.

Social media management: A consistent, engaging social media presence is essential for connecting with today’s customers. We can help you craft posts that not only promote your services but also foster engagement with your audience.

With the right digital strategies in place, you can reach more customers, grow your brand, and increase inquiries.

Design Services: Make a Lasting Impression

A strong brand identity starts with great design. From your logo to your website layout and marketing materials, design plays a huge role in how your business is perceived. If your brand looks inconsistent, unprofessional, or outdated, it may be time for a design refresh.

Here’s how we can help transform your brand’s design:

Logo redesign: If your logo looks old-fashioned or doesn’t represent your business anymore, a logo redesign can breathe new life into your brand.

Brand identity overhaul: We create cohesive branding packages, ensuring that your colors, fonts, and overall style are consistent across all platforms—online and offline.

Website design: A visually appealing, easy-to-navigate website is essential for making a great first impression. We’ll work with you to design a site that reflects your unique business and attracts customers.

Whether it’s a fresh new logo or a complete rebrand, investing in high-quality design services can significantly improve how customers view and interact with your business.

How We Can Help You Transform Your Business

At Local Pages, we specialise in offering print, digital marketing, and design services that give your business the makeover it needs to thrive. We know that every business is unique, so we work closely with you to understand your goals and create a plan tailored specifically to your needs. Whether you’re looking for a small refresh or a complete rebrand, we’re here to help.

Ready for Your Business Makeover?

If you think it’s time to give your business a fresh new look and attract more customers, we’re here to help. With our print, digital, and design services, we’ll work with you to create a brand identity that’s modern, cohesive, and effective.

Visit The Little Blue Blog for more insights or contact us today for a free consultation at 0117 923 1122 or info@localpages.co.uk. Let’s give your business the makeover it deserves!

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Reaching Success

Birch Hall Pennant Quarry and Cotswold Quarry's Digital Transformation with LP Digital

In today’s digital landscape, having a strong online presence is crucial for business success and visibility. Birch Hall Pennant Quarry and Cotswold Quarry, two sister businesses with a rich history, recognized this need early on. Their journey with LP Digital began with the creation of the Little Blue Books, marking the beginning of their shift from traditional print advertising to a dynamic digital approach.

The Challenge

As Birch Hall Pennant Quarry and Cotswold Quarry sought to modernize their advertising strategy, they faced several key challenges:

Building a Dual-Function Website: They needed a sister website that could effectively split into two distinct but interconnected platforms, each fully operational and optimized for search engine visibility.
Transitioning to Digital Advertising: Moving away from print to embrace digital advertising required a strategic overhaul.
Ensuring Optimal SEO Performance: Comprehensive and transparent SEO services were essential to boost their Google rankings and attract more traffic.

The Solution

LP Digital stepped in with a tailored solution to address these challenges:

Development of a Comprehensive E-Commerce Website: We built a fully operational e-commerce website for both quarries, designed to handle their unique needs while facilitating a seamless user experience.
Ongoing Monitoring and Optimization: To ensure the website’s effectiveness, we implemented continuous tracking of footfall and held monthly meetings with the clients. This proactive approach allowed us to make timely adjustments and keep everything running at peak efficiency.
Immediate Positive Impact: Within just two weeks of launching the new digital strategy, both quarries began seeing a surge in enquiries and positive results.

Insights

Throughout this journey, several key insights emerged:

Exclusive Digital Presence: Birch Hall Pennant Quarry and Cotswold Quarry have chosen to focus solely on digital advertising, forgoing other advertising channels.
Hands-On Support: Our team’s commitment to ensuring the highest standard of work was a significant factor in their satisfaction with our services.
Proactive Partnership: The relationship between LP Digital and the quarries has been described as exceptionally positive and proactive, highlighting the effectiveness of our collaborative approach.

‘Held our hand all the way through.’

Birch Hall Pennant Quarry and Cotswold Quarry’s transition to digital advertising has been a resounding success. Thanks to LP Digital’s expertise and dedicated support, both businesses now enjoy enhanced online visibility, increased customer engagement, and a robust digital presence. This success story underscores the power of embracing digital solutions in today’s business environment and the value of a proactive, supportive partnership.

You can view their website here.

Schedule a free consultation about your digital advertising needs here.

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Brand Identity: How to Build and Maintain Your Brand

Tactics and Tips for a Stronger Online Presence

Brand Awareness is, in short, the extent to which your business is recognized. Brand identity is your logo, colours, what you offer, your message, services, among other features.

Why is it important? Your brand identity is your first touchpoint with a potential customer – the stronger the image of your brand in someone’s mind, the more likely they are to engage with you. Unknown businesses aren’t seen as trustworthy – so how do you go about raising the profile of your business and gaining more loyal customers?

Brand Accessibility
Building Your Brand
Strengthening Your Brand
Examples of Strong Brand Identity

Brand Accessibility

When developing or auditing your brand identity, be sure to read the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that your published content (text, images, sound, etc.) is accessible to everyone. This will ensure you don’t lose potential customers due to flaws in design and adaptability for mobile phones.

Building Your Brand

So – how do you actually go about building a brand?

Audience: A good first consideration is always your audience. The content you post online, the logo and the colours should resonate with your audience as much as possible. For example, pink and purple are probably not the best colours for an accounting firm, but will resonate with women and younger teenage girls when purchasing handmade products or clothing. Considering and weighing audience behaviors might be tricky at first, but the more previous customer interactions you had the easier this should be. Analyzing age, income, occupation and location is a good first step.

Visual Identity: That is the nitty gritty of design – your logo, colours, pictures, mottos, theme songs; anything you can think of that represents your brand. Deciding on design features might be a little daunting, but originality that reflects audience behaviours will yield results. Ask yourself the following questions:

What is the mission of your brand?
What makes you different from your competitors?
How do you want customers to experience your brand/product/service?
What kind of emotions are you hoping to evoke?

Consistent Message: That is, your tone and message across all platforms. Contradicting statements, message or voice will decrease your brand awareness. Tone should reflect the uniqueness of your business/service and communicated appropriately across all platforms you use.

Strengthening Your Brand

So, you built your logo, decided on a colour palette and the purpose is clear in your mind. How do we them strengthen it?

Multi Channel Presence: that is a secure foothold in the door with different social media apps, emails, SMS and non-digital tools is the key to growing your brand as you will reach more customers and start building a trusting relationship. Remember – your presence and content should be adapted to each medium accordingly.

Community Connection: The easiest way to build trust between potential customers and your business is community connection; that is the way your brand interacts with the world around us and the community. This could be as simple as customer testimonials that show your brand is trustworthy, or could stretch beyond that into social causes or local, community-oriented issues. This could simply be acknowledgement of community struggles, a recent event or issue or contribution to the community through donations or other aid.

Face to your brand: Adding a face to your brand will humanize your business and make you seem more approachable and trustworthy. Whether through pictures of your employees or using personal language, any form of direct interaction will bring you closer to your customers.

Examples of Strong Brand Identity

Apple

The first thought that comes to mind when thinking Apple, or so Apple would like, is innovation and reinvention. Through every update and new product launch, at the forefront we see the portrayal of creating something new and different every time, whether the products released are actually innovative is a different story. Their entire brand is cutting-edge, inviting their customers to join them at the brink of innovation and always breaking the mold.

Coca-Cola

Besides being the most established and longest-going fizzy drink company, their brand identity is so strong that just the colour red is often associated with Coke. They’ve aligned themselves with the feeling of happiness and enjoyment through their advertising and presence online, which is often kept lighthearted and casual. The motto ‘A Coke and a smile’ sums up their values very clearly, and even if you are not an avid enjoyer of the drink, ask yourself how often do you think of coke on a daily basis.

Ikea

Ikea created an image of themselves as simple and family-oriented, and they stay in that category. From simple instructions when building the furniture to the simple and lighthearted advertising, Ikea is the first stop when shopping for furniture as it is meant to appeal to everyday people. Their tagline ‘Wonderful Everyday’ reflects their one-stop-shop ideology.

Dove

A very simple yet elegant brand targeted towards woman and girls is a prime example of effective branding. Their campaigns focus on empowering women and addressing issues such as self-esteem, body image and equality. They are a prime example of involvement in social issues to strengthen their community presence. Dove promotes honesty and optimism, embracing natural beauty through their products.

How Can We Help?

If you’re struggling with brand identity and developing your business identity, Local Pages is here to help! You can schedule a free consultation by clicking here.

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What Makes a Good Website?

Top Tips for Beginners

You might find yourself asking – why do I need a website?

A website in the digital age is essential – it’s how you build trustworthy relationships with your customers, how you get found online and how you grow your business. Creating a good website is easier than you think, and you don’t have to be a graphic designer to pull it off! We’ve put together a beginner friendly guide to get your website in tip top shape in no time.

Know Your Audience
Brand Identity
Optimised for Search Engines
Adapted for Mobile
Design and Structure
Website Builders
How Local Pages Can Support Your Website

Know Your Audience

Identifying a clear audience will automatically provide clear structure to your website, and make it much easier to design it later on. Start by asking yourself – who is your audience? How old are they? What do they look like? What do they do for a living? For example, 30-50 year-olds might be more interested in artisan goods because of their disposable income than young adults aged 20-30. A roofing company won’t be of much interest to 15-20 year olds, but to older couples who are homeowners it will be. From there figuring out what they like, what other products they might be using and what other websites they’re visiting will be much easier. Taking inspiration from other websites that resonate with your audience is a great start when it comes to figuring out design later on.

Brand Identity

Sticking true to your brand identity will build a solid presence across multiple platforms and will ensure your business is easily identifiable. A consistent brand makes you seem more trustworthy and guarantees more business from online prospects. So, what does consistent brand identity entail? Using the same fonts, logos and colour palette across all platforms, perpetuating the same message while adapting to the individuality of different platforms. Different people might browse through Facebook than your website. We’ve put together a guide on building brand identity, so you can read more about it by clicking here.

Optimised for Search Engines

SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is the process of ensuring your website will appear as one of the first in a browser search. Using keywords throughout your page and title that are specific and relevant to your business, as well as ensuring every part of the website has a clear purpose will rank your website higher in search engines. For example, if you’re a soap-making company, the word soap should be included in the title of your website and sprinkled throughout. For a more in-depth look at how you can optimise your SEO, head to our previous blog entry by clicking here.

Adapted for Mobile

How often do you search things on your mobile? How often do you search on your laptop? The vast majority of people tend to use their phones more so than laptops, so a website that is adaptable to mobile phones is crucial. Most website building apps will automatically transform your website for mobile, but be careful when using automotive tools as they could be cutting some of your information. It’s always best to go over it yourself and ensure your website reads clearly on mobile devices.

Design and Structure

First and foremost, your website should be intuitive and easy to use. It won’t matter how pretty the design is if your potential customers can’t find what they need. The customer journey should be as short as possible from the point they enter the website to finding the information they’re after.

According to research, an average user takes about 54 seconds from the moment they enter the website to the moment they leave. That’s less than a minute to figure out how to make the journey from A to B as short as possible, whether that be sending an email, making a phone call or purchasing your product.

Once you’ve figured out a good structure for your website, then you can start thinking about the design of it. Taking inspiration from existing websites that work well is a good idea, but be sure you stick to your brand guidelines!

Website Builders

If you don’t have a website or are looking to move your website, you can do so through various free platforms such as Wix, WordPress or SquareSpace. These tools will be fairly straightforward to use, and given some practice you will have a website all of your own in no time! A lot of these platforms will allow a form of paid upgrade, such as owning your own domain name (that is the URL, or website link, name) or adapting for mobile.

How Local Pages Can Support Your Website

Local Pages offers you the opportunity to not worry about designing your website – because we can do that for you. Our custom-built websites are designed with you and your customers in mind, and are built for SEO optimisation. Not only that, but we’ll host the domain for you, and ensure it’s up and running smoothly in no time. To schedule a free website consultation, click here.

What is SEO and How it Can Grow Your Business

5 things you should be doing to be noticed online.

SEO, or search engine optimisation, is the practice of orientating your website to appear higher on the internet results page so that you receive more traffic. In short, it attracts more people to click on your website and brings you more business. When searching up ‘plumbers’ do you click the first link that appears? The answer is probably yes, as most people tend to do, so you want your website to appear as high up as possible so that more people click on it. SEO is essential if you want more website visitors.

SEO is critical because it ensures organic traffic to your website. The vast majority of visitors will find you through looking something up on the internet. Ranking high in search results is key to achieve your business goals and builds trust – the first results that pop up are seen as more trustworthy. So how can you trick Google into boosting your website to the top?
Trillions of searches are conducted every second, so it’s essential that your website is search engine friendly. We’ve put together a short beginner friendly guide to help you optimise your website.

There’s a few different types of SEO:

Technical SEO: Optimising the technical aspects of a website
On-site SEO: Optimising the content on your website for visitors and for search engines
Off-site SEO: Activities not on your website that will ultimately increase your search rankings – such as backlinks, branded searches and coherent brand awareness and recognition on other platforms like social media.

While you have full control over the Technical and On-site aspects of your website, controlling Off-site SEO isn’t always possible. For example, you cannot control which websites use your link, or if the websites you link to shut down or change.

Optimising the technical aspects of your website will take practice and knowledge of website building, so we’re going to focus on the On-Site SEO for now.

Identifying Keywords:

A good place to start with SEO is optimising your keywords. By keywords we mean identifying key phrases that relate to your business. If you are a roofing company based in Cheddar, a good place to start would be ‘roofing Cheddar’ and ‘Cheddar thatcher’. These should be as relevant as possible and location-based, while being specific. For example, ‘roofing Cheddar’ will work better than ‘professional roofing’ or just ‘roofing’. You can use a tool to help identify them, such as Google Keyword Planner or Google Trends.

Adding Keywords to Page Title:

The next step is adding those keywords to the title of your page. This is also known as tagging. Take the example of our roofing company in Cheddar, who we’ll call Excellent Roofing, we want the title page to read:

Excellent Roofing: Roofing Cheddar | Thatchers

Google Autocomplete is a tool that generates suggestions for relevant keywords you can use. Free versions of these tools will generate suggestions, but won’t be that helpful when trying to analyse how often those keywords are used, or to what extent. Delving into SEO marketing yourself can be costly, especially when you are just starting out optimising your website.

Sprinkle your keywords throughout the website as well, but don’t force it! Remember your priority is to be user-friendly, so over-use of keywords might deter potential customers.

Clean Structure:

If your website is overly complicated, you might be attracting initial traffic, but potential customers might be leaving before they have a chance to contact you. Make sure your contact details are displayed visibly, along with an easy to navigate menu and relevant pictures. Adding internal links (links from one side of your website to another) will give Google more clues about what your website is about, and will display it to those that are searching for similar services.

You can read more about structuring websites here.

Content:

Relevant, substantial content that answers the keyword search is the way to go. While skimmable, to the point content is great, it doesn’t rank as highly as more lengthy, in-depth content does. We’re aiming for 200 words and above on every page that answers a question. For example, finding the ‘about us’ section should be easy and organic, and actually tell potential customer enough about your business for them to gage if they want to do business with you.

Tags:

We’ve briefly mentioned tagging when talking about keywords above. Keywords in your title and the description of the page (that’s the short blurb of text that appears under the title on the results page) are key to a website ranking high, but you will also need to tag your images correctly. Google can’t interpret images, so adding a short description not only helps visitors learn what the image is if it isn’t loading, but also helps Google identify and rank your content.

Think of the internet like a big sea of fish, and you’re trying to catch tuna. It’s difficult to narrow down which fish you’ll catch, but using the correct fishing rod, bait and fishing in the right spots can greatly increase your chances of catching the fish you want. There’s a lot you can do for your business, but so much happens behind the scenes, from coding to technical improvements to offsite presence that it can get quite overwhelming. Local Pages is here to help! Here’s how we can help with your company’s SEO:

Strategy: Content Creation and Organisation

Everything starts with strategy. We can’t expect results without planning, setting out specific objectives and really understanding the audience we’re trying to reach. That’s why we work with you to develop a strategy that will work for you, your customers and your business, and evaluate the strategy on a regular basis.

Technical: Coding Errors and the Back End of SEO

All those paid services listed above like Google Keyword Planner that analyse how often keywords are put through a search engine and how widely used they are – we’ll take care of that for you. We’ll research how to optimise your online presence and take care of everything from behind the scenes – from coding to technical improvements.

Offsite: Backlinks and Social Media

Linking social media to your website proves to search engines that your website is credible. We can help with linking, designing and optimising content, all within your brand.

Ongoing Support

Even after we do the boring bits, we’re here to support and optimise your SEO. Let us do what we do best, so you can do what you do best.

You can find out more about SEO and other digital services we offer by clicking here.

You can also schedule a free consultation by clicking here.

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Marketing Coordinator

Salary; Up to £24k DOE + Company Performance Bonus + Incentives

Location: Unit 6, Eclipse Office Park, Staple Hill, Bristol BS16 5EL

Contract type; Part-time, Full-time or Term time.

A bit about us; Local Pages (LP) has been generating local enquiries for local businesses for the past 42 years. We are still a family business with a team of 17 based in North-East Bristol. We predominately work with companies based in the New Forest, South-West & South Wales area. Business owners make up 90% of our customers, service businesses being our primary clients.

Job Purpose: This is an independent role, being supported with extensive marketing experience. We are looking for a Marketing Specialist with the discipline and attention to detail to strategise and execute through social media, email and SMS marketing. The role is for internal marketing selling Local Pages (LP) & Residents’ Handbook (RH) products and services.

Summary of Job Accountabilities:

1. To communicate through marketing channels (social media, email and SMS) with existing and prospective clients, to secure interest in all our products and services.

2. To be a consistent voice for the brands over all social media platforms and look for opportunities to increase awareness.

3. Studio support, competent in Adobe Creative Cloud, in particular InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator & WordPress

4. To ensure that everything published is accurate, compliant & up to date

Qualifications:

Essential: GCSE or equivalent in English & Maths

Desirable: Graduate or equivalent

Experience:

Essential: At least 2 years’ experience in the same or a similar role

Desirable: Advertising/Media sales

Skills:

Essential: PC literate using Microsoft outlook, Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Email Marketing Platform & Adobe.

Desirable: Full UK Driving license

Competencies & Behavior:

Essential: Customer focused, innovative, organised, team player, strong communicator & meticulous. Excellent written & spoken English.

Desirable: Previous customer service experience

Other:

Essential: The role will require a flexible approach with regards to workload & working See Essential

To apply for this role please send your CV, a covering note and where you found the job advertised, to sasha@localpages.co.uk, Closing date January 31st 2024, call 0117 9231122 for more details.

Christmas Countdown

Christmas is on its way and, to help you prepare and get ready for the festive season, we’ve prepared a little checklist to keep you on track.

4 Weeks Before Christmas:

1 – Create a Budget:

Determine how much you can afford to spend on gifts, decorations, food, and other holiday expense

2 – Make a Gift List:

Write down everyone you need to buy gifts for and any gift ideas you have for each person.

3 – Decorate Your Home:

Start decorating your home with lights, wreaths, and other festive decorations.

4 – Plan Holiday Meals:

Outline your holiday menu and make a shopping list for ingredients.

3 Weeks Before Christmas:

5 – Send Out Holiday Cards:

Write and send out holiday cards to friends and family.

6 – Purchase Gifts:

Begin shopping for gifts. Take advantage of sales and discounts.

7 – Wrap Gifts:

Wrap the gifts you’ve purchased, and label them with recipients’ names.

8 – Plan Holiday Activities:

Schedule any holiday events, parties, or activities you want to attend.

2 Weeks Before Christmas:

9 – Finalise Meal Plans:

Confirm your holiday meal plans and make any necessary adjustments to your shopping list.

10 -Send Invitations:

If you’re hosting a holiday gathering, send out invitations.

11 – Check Christmas Lights:

Ensure all your holiday lights are working correctly.

12 – Finish Gift Shopping:

Complete your gift shopping and wrap any remaining presents.

1 Week Before Christmas:

13 – Prepare for Guests:

Clean and organise your home if you’re expecting guests.

14 – Grocery Shopping:

Do a final grocery shopping trip for perishable items.

15 – Confirm Plans:

Confirm any reservations or plans you have for the holiday.

16 – Bake Cakes, biscuits or Treats:

Start baking any cakes, biscuits or treats that can be frozen or stored for later.

Christmas Eve:

17 – Set the Table:

Set the table for your holiday meal.

18 – Prepare Make-Ahead Dishes:

Prepare any dishes that can be made ahead of time.

19 – Charge Devices:

Ensure your camera, phone, and any other devices are fully charged for capturing memories.

20 – Enjoy the Evening:

Relax and enjoy the holiday spirit with family and friends.

Christmas Day:

21 – Enjoy the Festivities:

Take time to enjoy the holiday festivities, food, and time with loved ones.

22 – Exchange Gifts:

Open presents with family and friends.

23 – Take Photos:

Capture memorable moments with photos and videos.

24 – Express Gratitude:

Take a moment to reflect on the meaning of the holiday and express gratitude.

25 – Relax:

After all the celebrations, take some time to relax and enjoy the rest of the day.

Feel free to adjust this checklist based on your personal preferences and traditions.

Merry Christmas from all at the Residents’ Handbook and Local Pages.