Ranking globally is hard. Ranking locally is absolutely achievable, even for small businesses. If you serve a specific city or region, "Local SEO" is your best marketing channel.
1. Google Business Profile (formerly GMB)
This is non-negotiable. Claim it, verify it, and fill out every single field. Add photos of your shop or team. Post updates weekly. This map listing is often the first thing users see.
2. Schema Markup
Help search engines understand your data. Use 'LocalBusiness' schema to explicitly tell Google your address, hours, and price range. It's code that operates behind the scenes but has a huge impact.
3. Reputation Management
Reviews signal trust. Encourage happy clients to leave a review. And importantly—reply to them! Replying shows active management and care for customer feedback.