Ads: visible from launch.
Google Ads often appear at the very top of the page, marked “Sponsored.” You choose the searches to target, the area and the budget, and you usually pay when someone clicks. It is the fastest way to be visible, but your visibility stops when the budget stops.
The map: your local storefront.
For a search such as “plumber” or “restaurant” followed by a city, Google often shows a map and a few businesses. This spot depends on your Google Business Profile, which is free. Google says it takes three criteria into account: relevance to the search, distance and the prominence of the business.
- Choose the right business category
- Keep your opening hours, address and phone number up to date
- Add real photos of your work
- Ask your satisfied customers for a review
Organic results: visibility that lasts.
Below the ads and the map come the standard results. This is called organic SEO. You do not pay for the click, but it takes time: often several months, depending on your sector and your competition. The most useful thing is to have one clear page per service, answering your customers' questions and stating where you work.
Where to start?
Start with your Google Business Profile, because it is free and often decisive for a local business. Then work on the pages of your website. Add ads if you need contacts quickly or if your competitors already hold the top spots. Be wary of any promise of a guaranteed first place: nobody can guarantee it.