Local SEO Checklist for Devon Businesses

If you run a business in Devon and you're not showing up on Google Maps or local search results, you're invisible to customers actively looking for what you offer. Local SEO is how you fix that.

This local SEO checklist Devon businesses can follow covers everything from Google Business Profile setup to on-site optimisation, citations, reviews, and local link building. Whether you serve one town or cover Devon as a service-area business, these steps will help you improve local visibility.

No theory. Just the practical actions that move the needle.

The complete local SEO checklist

Google Business Profile fundamentals

Your GBP is your most powerful local ranking signal:

• Claim, verify, and fully complete your Google Business Profile
• Choose the most specific primary category (not "General Contractor" when "Plumber" fits)
• Add 5–9 secondary categories only if you genuinely offer those services
• Write a 750-character description with your services and service areas (avoid keyword spam)
• Add every service you offer to your services list (up to 100)
• Set accurate business hours and update them for bank holidays
• Upload at least 15 photos: exterior, interior, team, work examples, products
• Add new photos every 2–4 weeks minimum
• Enable messaging and respond within 24 hours
• Post weekly updates, offers, or news (Google Posts)
• Seed 5–10 Q&A questions and answer them yourself
• Monitor for spam edits or duplicate listings weekly

On-site local signals (your website)

Google needs clear location signals on your website to rank you locally:

• Add your town/county to your homepage title tag (e.g., "Web Design Agency | Devon")
• Mention your service area naturally in your key page copy (intro paragraphs and service pages)
• Add your full NAP (name, address, phone) in your footer on every page
• Create dedicated location pages for each town you genuinely serve (avoid thin content—add 300+ words per page)
• Embed a Google Map on your contact page showing your location or service area
• Add LocalBusiness schema markup with your NAP, opening hours, and service areas
• Include "Devon" or specific town names in your meta descriptions where relevant
• Add location-aware alt text only where it's genuinely accurate
• Create content targeting location-specific queries where it makes sense for your business
• Link internally between your service pages and location pages

Reviews and trust

Reviews are a direct local ranking factor and a conversion driver:

• Ask every satisfied customer for a Google review within 24 hours of completing work
• Send a direct Google review link via SMS or email (search "Google review link generator")
• Aim for 2–4 new reviews per month as a baseline
• Respond to every review within 48 hours (positive or negative)
• Thank reviewers by name and mention specifics from their review
• Address negative reviews professionally: acknowledge, apologise if warranted, offer resolution
• Never incentivise reviews (violates Google's terms)
• Diversify reviews across platforms: Facebook, Trustpilot, industry directories
• Display recent Google reviews on your website using a plugin or widget
• Flag fake or spam reviews through your GBP dashboard

Citations and NAP consistency

Citations tell Google where you're located and validate your business:

• Audit your NAP across your website, GBP, and all directories—must match exactly
• Claim and optimise your core listings (key UK directories + Bing Places)
• Submit to UK industry directories relevant to your sector
• Add your business to relevant Devon-specific directories where appropriate
• Use the same NAP format everywhere (e.g., "Suite 4, 10 High Street" not "10 High St, Suite 4")
• Use your primary business phone number (not numbers that change often)
• Don't list your home address if you're service-area only (set service areas in GBP instead)
• Fix or remove old citations from previous addresses if you've moved
• Monitor for duplicates and incorrect listings periodically
• Build core citations first, then add a small number over time as needed

Local content that actually ranks

Content marketing for local SEO is about solving local queries:

• Write guides answering local buying questions relevant to your service
• Create town-specific landing pages with unique, helpful content (not duplicate templates)
• Publish case studies or project pages mentioning client locations (with permission)
• Write seasonal or event-based content relevant to Devon if it fits your business
• Answer common local questions in blog posts
• Create location-specific service pages where appropriate
• Add maps, local photos, or mentions of local context where it's genuinely relevant
• Avoid thin content: every location page needs unique, useful information
• Target "best [service] in [town]" queries only if you can write something genuinely helpful
• Update older pages annually with current info, photos, and improvements

Local links (safe, realistic ideas)

Local backlinks signal relevance and authority in your area:

• Get listed in reputable local directories and business listings
• Sponsor a local sports team, charity, or community event (often includes a link)
• Partner with complementary local businesses (natural mentions)
• Offer guest posts or interviews for local blogs/business sites
• Get featured in local roundups or awards where legitimate
• Join local business organisations that include directory links
• Offer workshops/talks and get mentioned by the host organisation
• Create linkable local resources your audience would actually use
• Reclaim broken mentions of your brand where possible

Tracking and measurement (GSC/GBP Insights basics)

You can't improve what you don't measure:

• Set up Google Search Console and verify your website
• Check GSC monthly for local queries ("Devon", town names, "near me")
• Monitor impressions and clicks for your location pages
• Review GBP Insights monthly: views, clicks, calls, direction requests
• Compare performance month-over-month and year-over-year
• Set up Google Analytics 4 and track key actions (forms, calls, bookings)
• Add UTM parameters to your GBP website link if needed (?utm_source=gbp)
• Export key data quarterly to spot trends
• Monitor review velocity (how many reviews you get per month)

Common mistakes that keep Devon businesses invisible

Even small errors can kill your local visibility. Avoid these:

Quick wins you can do this week

Want fast results? Start here:

• Upload 10 new photos to your Google Business Profile (team, workspace, recent projects)
• Ask 5 recent customers for a Google review via text or email
• Write one Google Post about a recent project, offer, or tip
• Fix NAP inconsistencies across your website footer, contact page, and GBP
• Add LocalBusiness schema markup to your homepage
• Create or update an "Areas We Serve" page with your Devon coverage
• Respond to every unanswered review from the last 90 days
• Check Google Search Console for local queries where you rank on page 2 and improve those pages
• Claim your Bing Places and core directory listings
• Make sure your homepage title tag includes your main service area if appropriate
• Embed a Google Map on your contact page
• Seed 3 Q&A questions on your GBP and answer them
• Check for duplicate GBP listings on Google Maps
• Add "Devon" or your town name to a small number of image alt texts where accurate

FAQ