If your Sunderland business isn’t ranking in the top 3 Google map results, you’re losing customers every single day. Here are the most common mistakes we see — and how to fix them.
1. Google Business Profile Not Fully Optimised
Many businesses leave half their profile blank. Missing categories, bad photos, and poor descriptions cost you visibility.
Fix: Fill in every field, add weekly posts, and upload fresh photos.
2. Inconsistent NAP Details
If your Name, Address, and Phone don’t match across directories, Google won’t trust you.
Fix: Audit and fix all listings to match your official business info.
3. No Local Keywords on Website
Generic content doesn’t rank for local searches.
Fix: Use phrases like “Sunderland plumber” or “SEO Sunderland” naturally in your content, titles, and alt text.
4. Ignoring Reviews
Reviews are one of Google’s biggest ranking signals.
Fix: Ask for reviews regularly and respond to all of them — good or bad.
5. Poor Mobile Speed
Slow sites push visitors away and drop your ranking.
Fix: Use tools like PageSpeed Insights to improve load times.
6. No Schema Markup
Schema helps Google understand your business location and services.
Fix: Add LocalBusiness schema to your site.
7. No Audit to Spot Hidden Issues
Without an audit, you’re guessing at what’s wrong.
Fix: Book a Local SEO Audit Sunderland with Softplace to get a full breakdown and action plan.
Internal Link: Learn more about our Local SEO Audit Sunderland.
