If you're running a business in Eastbourne, you already know how important it is to show up on Google. Whether you're a builder in Meads, a therapist in Hailsham or a café near the seafront, local customers are searching for what you offer.

The good news? You don’t need to hire an agency to start improving your search ranking. Here are a few practical things you can do right now to help more people find you online.

1. Get Your Google Business Profile in Shape

This is the first step. When someone searches for a local service, your Google Business Profile is often the first thing they’ll see.

Make sure to:

• Double-check that your address, phone number and opening hours are correct
• Add a short, clear description of what you do
• Upload recent photos of your business, products or team
• Ask happy customers to leave a review

This small piece of real estate can make a huge difference in local visibility.

2. Use Eastbourne-Focused Keywords on Your Website

Your website needs to clearly say what you do and where you do it. This helps Google match you with people searching nearby.

How to do it:

• Mention Eastbourne and surrounding areas naturally in your text
• Include those place names in headings and page titles
• Create service pages that are specific to what you offer

Don’t overdo it. Just keep your writing clear and helpful with a local focus.

3. Write Useful, Local Content

Google loves fresh, relevant content. Publishing blog posts about your area shows you're active, local and knowledgeable.

Ideas for posts:

• A guide to your service in Eastbourne
• Case studies or recent projects with local clients
• Local tips or how-to articles tied to your industry
• Coverage of events or partnerships in the community

This kind of content helps people find you and builds trust.

Get Links from Local Websites

Links from other trusted websites help Google see your site as credible. The more good-quality links you have, the better.

Where to look:

• Local business directories (but only the reputable ones)
• Partner businesses or suppliers who can link to your site
• Sponsorships, events or charity work in the area
• Articles in local news or blogs

Just focus on links from real businesses or organisations that are actually based here.

5. Make Sure Your Website Works on Phones

Most people looking for local services use their phones. If your website looks off on a mobile, visitors won’t stick around.

Check that:

• Your site loads fast on mobile data
• Everything fits properly on a smaller screen
• Menus and buttons are easy to tap
• Your contact details are quick to find

Google rewards mobile-friendly websites, especially for local searches.

6. Ask for Reviews (and Reply to Them)

Reviews are a key trust signal. They can also improve your visibility on search results and map listings.

Best approach:

• Ask every happy customer to leave a Google review
• Make it easy by sending them a direct link
• Reply to each review with a short, polite message
• Keep collecting them steadily over time

People trust local recommendations, especially when they’re recent.

Final Thoughts

Improving your search visibility doesn’t need to be expensive or overwhelming. You know your business, and with a few focused actions, you can help it get discovered online.

Start with your Google Business Profile, tidy up your website content and make sure you’re showing up for local searches. If you’ve already got a site but you’re not sure what to do next, we’d be happy to take a look.

Need help with the next step? Get in touch here.

Let’s put your business on the map, literally.