Before we talk about how to do SEO for Liverpool businesses, let me give you a scenario.
Picture this:
You own a little bike shop tucked away in the heart of the Baltic Triangle.
You’ve got everything from lightweight road bikes and BMXs to hybrids that are perfect for commuters battling through Liverpool’s cobbled streets.
You know your derailleurs from your drop bars, and you can tune up a chain so smoothly it purrs like a well-fed cat.
But none of it matters if people don’t know where to find you.
Sure, you might get a few wandering cyclists who stumble across your shop, lured in by the bright yellow fixie hanging in the window or the sight of you tinkering with a wheel out front.
Maybe a satisfied customer posts a picture of their custom ride with your logo in the background, or someone mentions your name when their mate complains about a squeaky brake.
That’s great — it really is. The buzz, the referrals, the old-school flyers pinned up in other local businesses — it all plays a role.
But SEO?
SEO is how your shop gets found when someone in Liverpool Googles bike repair near me after their chain snaps halfway down Hope Street.
It’s how your name pops up when a tourist wants to rent a bike for a spin along the waterfront.
It’s how you keep being discovered long after that custom ride photo fades into their Instagram archives.
Let’s talk about how to make that happen.
How SEO can grow your Liverpool business
Sure, social media posts and word of mouth can get the ball rolling, but SEO is what keeps your business front and centre, day after day.
And that’s just one example.
Whether you’re running a bakery, a bike shop, or a roofing business, the same principle holds true:
SEO gets you in front of more customers right when they need you.
And if there’s a city where SEO can work like a charm, it’s Liverpool.
People here are searching for everything —whether it’s the best chippy in town, a local bike repair shop, or someone to sort their boiler before the cold hits.
If your business isn’t showing up for these local searches, you’re missing out (don’t worry—we’ll dig into local keywords later in this guide).
I’m a freelance SEO consultant with over 4 years of experience.
I’ve helped dozens of businesses use SEO to grow their sales and reach more customers.
So, you could say I know a thing or two about helping businesses stand out.
Need help brushing up your SEO strategy for the Liverpool area? Check out my services below:
But if you’re looking for a more DIY approach, I’ve put together a no-nonsense guide to show you exactly how to nail SEO in the area.
Thousands of hours worth of research packed into a simple, practical guide. No fluff.
Let’s get started.
Use the Table of Contents below to navigate to the areas you’re interested in.
How to analyse your competitor's Liverpool SEO strategy
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s take it back to square one.
There’s a mountain of info out there about how to do SEO, so much that it can feel overwhelming. Where do you even begin?
I’ll make it simple for you: break it down into bite-sized, practical steps. And before you lose sleep over keywords, there’s something more important to tackle first.
You need to know who you’re up against.
Competitor analysis is hands down one of the best places to start.
It shows you where your competitors are crushing it and where they’re falling short. It’s like getting a peek behind the curtain to see their strengths and their slip-ups.
Let’s go back to that bike shop scenario we talked about earlier.
Imagine there’s another bike shop in Liverpool that dominates the search results because their local SEO strategy is strong, but their website takes forever to load.
That’s your chance to take their spot.
By understanding what your competitors are doing right — and wrong — you’re setting yourself up to figure out exactly what you need to do to rank higher.
The takeaway? Don’t rush into your SEO strategy without a game plan.
Take a breather, maybe grab a cup of tea, and start by scoping out the competition.
Here’s how you do it:
Start by Googling your own keywords
Fire up Google and type in the keywords you think people in Liverpool are using to find businesses like yours.
Take a look at who’s sitting pretty at the top of the search results.
These are your main competitors — the ones you’ll need to outshine.
Make a note of their website URLs, because we’re about to take a closer look.
Find areas for improvement in your competitor's content
Visit their websites and take a proper look around.
What kind of content are they putting out there? Are they churning out blog posts, sharing free guides, or stacking up glowing testimonials?
Pay attention to the tone they’re using, the topics they’re covering, and how they’re keeping their audience hooked.
Your job here is simple: figure out what’s working for them and do it better.
Take Giant Store Liverpool, for instance. They’re one of the best bike shops in Liverpool, but if you check out their blog section, it’s a bit sparse.
Now, imagine if they started rolling out valuable, long-form content — something tailored to locals who are already close to buying or ordering a bike.
Think about what people ready to buy a bike might care about:
- A comparison of the best bikes for city commutes versus weekend rides.
- A guide to choosing the right size and style of bike for Liverpool’s unique streets.
- Tips for financing a bike or getting the most value for your money.
- A breakdown of why professional assembly and tuning (which you offer) make all the difference.
By writing content that answers the exact questions potential buyers have before pulling the trigger, you’d be positioning yourself as the obvious choice.
And that’s exactly how you outdo the competition.
I spent the good part of an afternoon writing a guide that explains how to analyse your competitor’s content and use that insight to write better content.
Dig into data with SEO tools
SEO tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Mangools are every SEO’s right-hand man.
They come packed with all the features you need to save yourself from hours—maybe even days—of manual research.
These tools give you insights you’d never uncover on your own—competitor strategies, traffic stats, keyword opportunities, and more.
If growing your site’s traffic is a top priority, getting one of these tools in your corner is a must.
Personally, I swear by Semrush.
Just plug in your competitor’s URL, hit go, and watch as the tool spills the beans:=.
You’ll uncover exactly what keywords they’re ranking for, where their backlinks are coming from, and which pages are pulling in the most traffic.
With this intel, you can refine your own keyword strategy and pinpoint areas on their site where you can do better.
Don’t want to spend your money on a premium SEO tool?
No problem — you can still do keyword research for free.
Here are a couple of free tools to get you started:
- Hoth Rank Checker – analyse a site’s ranking keywords.
- Ahrefs Backlink Checker – dive into a site’s backlink profile.
These tools might not have all the bells and whistles of the paid ones, but they’re still a great way to gather some solid data without spending a dime.
Keyword research for your Liverpool business
Let’s go back to our bike shop scenario.
Let’s say someone in Liverpool is searching for their next set of wheels.
They’re not Googling best bikes uk.
No, they’re typing in best bike shops in liverpool.
The latter is what we call local keywords.
Local keywords matter because they connect you with the customers who are right there in your city, ready to stroll into your shop and check out your selection.
They cut through the noise of the internet, putting your business in front of the people who are most likely to become your next customers.
Let me break it down for you.
If your goal is to attract more local customers, targeting local keywords should be your top priority.
Why? Because it’s all about quality over quantity.
A keyword like best bikes uk might pull in a bigger search volume, but those searches are coming from people scattered across the country who probably aren’t hopping on a train to visit your shop.
On the other hand, someone Googling best bike shops in liverpool is much more likely to walk through your door.
Long story short: local relevance trumps high search volume every time.
I’ve already shared how SEO tools can help you discover local keyword ideas, whether you spring for a paid option or stick to the free tools I’ve recommended.
But here’s an extra tip — there are two more quick and free ways to uncover local keyword ideas:
Related searches
Related searches are like free keyword ideas that Google serves up on a silver platter.
You know when you’re typing something into Google and you scroll down to the bottom of the search results page?
There’s this handy little list of searches that other people have made, all closely connected to what you just typed in.
That’s what we call related searches.
They reveal what else people are curious about, what other words they’re using, and sometimes, the exact questions they’re asking.
And the beauty of it? It’s ridiculously easy.
Just type in a keyword related to your business, scroll down, and there it is — a whole list of keyword ideas, ready for you to dig into.
So, if you’re looking for an easy way to expand your keyword list, start with related searches.
It’s free, it’s fast, and it’s right there waiting for you to take advantage of it.
Answer Socrates
Here’s a tool not enough people talk about: Answer Socrates.
It’s a free, no-nonsense way to uncover the questions people are asking about your service or product.
1. Go over to the Answer Socrates website
First, head over to Answer Socrates.
The site is super straightforward, letting you dive right into the research without a hitch.
It’s perfect for anyone who wants to skip the fluff and get straight to the good stuff.
It used to be unlimited searches, but now they’ve limited it to 5 free searches per day 🙁
2. Plug in your keyword
Type your seed keyword into the search bar.
What’s a seed keyword, you ask?
The clue’s in the name.
A seed keyword is your starting point — a broad keyword that branches out into all the other keywords you’ll dig up.
It’s the foundation of your entire keyword strategy.
For example, bike shops liverpool would be the seed keyword for my bike shop based right here in Liverpool.
3. Pick your country and language
Since we’re focusing on the Liverpool audience, select the UK as your country and English as your language.
Getting the country and language right ensures you’re pulling keyword data that actually reflects your local audience.
Set your country to the United States by mistake, and you could end up looking at search results for Liverpool, New York, instead of Liverpool, Merseyside!
4. Analyse the results
Answer Socrates will serve up a list of questions, prepositions, and comparisons people are searching for related to your keyword.
Cross-reference the keyword data from Answer Socrates with data from an SEO tool like Ahrefs or Semrush.
On Page SEO
How to set up location pages
Crafting great location pages is one of the best ways to pull in customers from Liverpool and the surrounding areas.
Here’s a few approaches you can take:
Pages that target cities
Let’s say you run an insulation installation business based in Liverpool but also serve customers in Bootle, Crosby, and Wirral.
Here’s the move: create individual location pages for each of these areas.
Why? Because each location page lets you target the exact keywords people in those towns are Googling when they need your services.
Think along these lines:
- liverpool insulation services
- insulation services bootle
- crosby home insulation
- wirral loft insulation
All of these keywords are spot-on for the job.
Sure, we’d like to imagine all our customers live in a tight circle in the main city we serve, but in reality, they’re also scattered across surrounding areas.
So why not dedicated pages for each of those surrounding towns and cities?
By zeroing in on these specific keywords, you’ll show up when people in these areas are hunting for insulation services.
It’s a smart way to expand your reach without straying from your local focus.
You’re staking your claim in each of these places so that when winter hits and homes start leaking heat, yours is the first name they find.
Of course, you should only target these types of keywords if you actually provide services to neighboring towns and areas.
Most insulation contractors wouldn’t turn down a £2,000 job just because they can’t be bothered to drive the extra 7 miles from Liverpool to Crosby. That’s like flushing money down the drain.
I once worked with an external wall insulation contractor based in Coventry who happily served customers within a 50-mile radius.
Most local businesses can afford to stretch their boundaries a little, going beyond Liverpool to areas like Wirral, St Helens, or Southport.
But if you’re running a brick-and-mortar business — say, a hair salon or nail bar — you’re probably more concerned about attracting customers who are already in Liverpool.
If that sounds like you, stick to the strategy below:
Pages that target local neighbourhoods
Liverpool is made up of so many different neighborhoods.
If we were running a restaurant in Liverpool, you’d want to create location pages that speak directly to these pockets of the city, like:
- Allerton
- Wavertree
- Aigburth
People often search for services right in their own neighborhood.
So, if someone’s on the hunt for a restaurant in Allerton, your Allerton-focused page has a much better chance of showing up in the search results.
Now, you might be thinking, these super-specific keywords probably don’t get much traffic.
But here’s the thing—they do:
Sure, they’re not setting any records for search volume, but they are being searched.
And here’s the kicker — the more specific the keyword, the higher the chance the person searching is ready to walk through your door and buy.
Local landmark pages
This is one of the most underrated ideas for nailing on-page SEO as part of your local SEO strategy.
If we had a restaurant tucked near Albert Dock, we could create a location page titled Restaurant near Albert Dock.
Landmarks like Albert Dock are magnets for pulling local search traffic.
When you optimise your content around these landmarks, you’re tapping into searches from both locals and visitors, giving you an edge over competitors who aren’t this precise.
Basic on-page SEO for your Liverpool business
Remember these tips for your on-page SEO:
Nail the URL
Keep it short, sweet, and to the point: Think of your URL like an address—it should tell people exactly where they’re headed.
If you’re running a bike shop in Allerton, your URL should look something like this:
Have another location in Crosby? Easy:
This way, Google knows exactly where to send folks, and your customers can find you without any hassle.
Write killer titles and headings
Just because you need to sneak keywords into your headings doesn’t mean they have to put people to sleep.
- Use unique titles: Your page title is your first impression. Make it count. Be clear, be specific, and don’t forget to add that location.
- Example: ‘Best Bikes in Liverpool – Your Bike Shop Name.’
Speak their language
This is how I’d make my bike shop more relatable to Scousers:
- Local lingo: Every now and then throw in some local lingo into your website copy – ‘In Allerton, we’re known for our boss bikes and friendly service. Whether you’re after a hybrid or a road bike for a spin to Sefton Park, we’ve got you sorted, la.’
- Mention nearby parks, communities and events: Show why your shop fits right in with Liverpool’s community. Mention nearby cycling routes like Sefton Park, the waterfront, or local cycling events.
- Show, don’t tell: Use photos that show off your business in all its glory. Bikes parked against Albert Dock, happy customers ready for a ride, or even your team in action fixing a bike. Make your shop feel like a home away from home for anyone who loves cycling in Liverpool.
Let the locals do the talking
Pop in some testimonials from folks who live just around the corner.
Nothing says “we’re your spot” quite like hearing it from locals who swear by you.
- Example: “Allerton’s best-kept secret! I wouldn’t go anywhere else for my bike needs.” — Jamie, Allerton Local
Give them a map and directions
- Drop a pin: Add a Google Map to your page so customers can see exactly where you are. Whether they’re walking, driving, or cycling, make it a breeze for them to find you.
- Landmarks and directions: Make it even easier by mentioning local landmarks or well-known streets. It’s like giving directions to a mate— ‘We’re just off Penny Lane, right by Sefton Park.’
Add ALT text to images
For every image, make sure to add descriptive alt text that includes relevant keywords.
Good alt text not only improves your website’s accessibility but also boosts its SEO by making your images more relevant to your target keywords.
For example:
- Instead of generic alt text like ‘bike’ go for something like ‘electric bike in our Liverpool bike store’.
It’s a small detail that can make a big difference.
How to set up Google Business Profile
Complete every section
Fill out every section completely—business name, address, phone number, website, and operating hours.
Use a local phone number to bump up your local SEO.
When you miss out on info you miss out on customers.
An incomplete profile is like leaving the front door open; people can wander in but might not find what they need.
Use posts
Don’t overlook Google Posts.
Use this feature to share news, special offers, or tips related to your services.
Highlighting seasonal promotions or community involvement can really capture attention.
These posts appear in your profile, keeping it engaging.
Collect reviews
After a job well done, ask satisfied customers to leave you a glowing review.
A simple follow-up email can do wonders.
Respond to every review—thank them for their feedback and address any concerns.
This shows you care and builds credibility like nothing else.
Choose the right categories
When it comes to categories, be strategic. Pick categories that describe your business accurately.
If you’re a plumber, make Plumber your primary category, and add secondary options like Emergency Plumber or Drainage Services.
This helps Google serve you to the right crowd.
Use booking features
If you can, enable online booking.
This makes it easy for customers to schedule your services directly.
The simpler you make it for them, the more likely they are to buy.
How to hire an SEO for your Liverpool business
So, maybe you skimmed through all that and thought, “Ain’t nobody got time for that.”
If that’s the case, it might be time to call in an SEO.
But when someone pitches you their SEO services, don’t just nod along.
Listen carefully, and more importantly, make sure their pitch actually makes sense.
If some slick-talking consultant promises you that your tiny e-commerce website is going to outrank Amazon by next Tuesday, don’t take the bait.
That’s like saying you’re going to outsell Coca-Cola with your homemade lemonade stand.
You should know what you want before sitting down with your SEO.
Many small businesses say they need SEO but can’t explain what that even means to them.
They don’t know who they want to attract, what they want those people to do, or why any of it matters.
They’re just tossing cash at a problem they don’t understand, hoping something sticks.
Spoiler alert: it usually doesn’t.
Yes, you want more people to visit your site. But let’s be real — what you really want is the right people.
The ones who will stick around, engage with your content, maybe even buy something (bottom of funnel traffic).
Or maybe you want them to remember your name, change their mind about your brand, or learn something new (top of funnel traffic).
You don’t want them dropping by, skimming a few lines, and bouncing without a second thought.
That’s how you end up wasting a boatload of cash on traffic that doesn’t do squat for your bottom line.
So be prepared to do some vetting.
These are some questions you should ask before hiring an SEO:
"What's your pricing structure?"
When it comes to SEO, asking about the pricing structure is non-negotiable.
The way an SEO charges can tell you a lot about their approach and the value they bring to the table.
Most SEOs use one of two pricing models:
Retainer-based pricing and one-off packages.
- Retainer-based pricing
First up is the retainer model.
This is like having an SEO expert on speed dial.
You pay a fixed monthly fee, and in return, you get ongoing support and strategy adjustments.
This is great for businesses that need a steady hand at the wheel.
The benefits:
- Consistency: Your SEO is in it for the long haul, adapting strategies as needed and keeping your website fresh.
- Proactive improvements: They can continually monitor your site’s performance, jump on issues before they become problems, and make ongoing adjustments to keep you competitive.
- Access to expertise: You get to leverage their knowledge and expertise regularly, which can lead to better results over time.
2. One-off packages:
This is perfect for businesses that may not need full-time SEO support but want to tackle specific projects or objectives.
Whether it’s a website audit, a keyword research report, or a content overhaul, you pay for what you need when you need it.
The benefits:
- Cost-effective: If your budget is tight or you’re just dipping your toes into SEO, this option is more manageable.
- Flexibility: You can choose services that align with your immediate goals. If your focus shifts or your budget changes, you aren’t locked into a long-term contract.
- Quick wins: One-off services can often lead to immediate improvements, whether it’s optimising a specific page or revamping your entire site.
"How do you handle reporting and communication?"
When you’re spending hard-earnt cash on SEO services, the last thing you want is to be left in the dark, wondering if your investment is paying off.
So you need to know exactly how your SEO plans to keep you in the loop.
- Reporting:
You want reports that tell a story — something that shows not just what’s happening, but why it matters.
What to look for:
- Practical insights: Great reports don’t just show you numbers—they show you what those numbers mean. You’ll see why some keywords are bringing in clicks, how your content resonates with Liverpudlians, and where you can pedal harder to beat the competition.
- Custom dashboards: These keep a constant eye on your site’s performance. Whether it’s spotting dips in traffic or opportunities in rising searches, custom dashboards let you adjust quickly to stay ahead.
- Contextual understanding: Look for an SEO who can explain the bigger picture — how trends in Liverpool (like more people commuting by bike) impact your rankings, why seasonality matters, and how your performance stacks up against local competitors.
A great SEO report helps you to navigate where your business stands and shows you exactly where to go next.
2. Communication:
Now, let’s talk communication.
SEO is an ongoing process that requires regular check-ins and updates.
You want someone who’s proactive in keeping you informed.
What you should expect:
- Regular check-ins: Whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, you should have a scheduled touchpoint to go over what’s been done, what’s coming up, and any adjustments that need to be made. These meetings are your chance to ask questions, get clarification, and steer the strategy if needed.
- Transparent communication: A solid SEO will be straight with you — if something isn’t working, they’ll say so and suggest a pivot. They won’t sugar-coat the challenges or gloss over the setbacks; instead, they’ll involve you in finding solutions.
- Availability: You want an SEO who isn’t a ghost. If you have a question, they should be reachable via email, or even a quick Zoom call. And when they do get back to you, it shouldn’t feel like you’re pulling teeth to get a straight answer.
"How do you measure success?"
When it comes to SEO, measuring success isn’t as simple as watching your website climb the search rankings.
That’s just one piece of the puzzle.
You want to know if the time, money, and effort you’re pouring into SEO are actually moving the needle for your business.
So, when I measure success, I look at a full spectrum of metrics that tell a deeper story about your website’s progress.
- Rankings:
Sure, rankings matter.
Seeing your website climb to the top of Google for your target keywords feels good — it’s a sign that the technical side of SEO is working.
But rankings alone are just the tip of the iceberg.
It’s what’s beneath the surface that counts.
What I track:
- Target keyword rankings: I’ll monitor how your site ranks for your most important keywords over time. This gives us a clear picture of your performance in the search engine.
- Competitor rankings: I’ll also keep an eye on how you’re stacking up against your competitors in Liverpool.
And that is how you do SEO for your Liverpool business.
That’s all, folks.
That’s all he wrote.
Thanks for reading.
