Digital Marketing, Websites.
If you’re a small business owner in New Zealand, chances are your customers aren’t across the country, they’re just down the road. Whether you’re an accountant in the city, a plumber in Papanui or a builder in Ashburton, local SEO is what helps customers in your area find you online. Plus, people love going local when it comes to the businesses and services they use.
Here’s how to boost your visibility right in your own backyard.
This is step one for local SEO, and it’s totally free. Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is what shows up when people Google your service, especially in the map pack (the top 3 listings under the map).
● Add your business name, address, phone number, website and hours
● Upload high-quality photos (of your team, work, location, etc.)
● Encourage reviews from happy clients (they really help!)
● Answer FAQs and respond to reviews
Tip: Make sure your address is accurate, Google uses this to place you in local results
Make sure your business is listed (with identical info: business name, address, website) on popular New Zealand directories like:
● Yellow
● Finda
● Localist
● Neighbourly
● NoCowboys (for trades)
Google uses these as extra signals to verify your business is real and active in your are
Reviews are a major trust signal, and they influence how Google ranks you.
After you’ve done a great job for a client, send them a direct link to your Google profile and ask for a quick review.
Pro tip: Include the name of the service and the suburb in the review if they’re happy to.
Example: “Sarah created our new website for our café in Wigram, it looks amazing and we’ve had loads more bookings already!”
Most local searches happen on a phone. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, loads slowly, or the contact button is hard to find, you’re losing customers.
We always recommend:
● A fast-loading, mobile-optimised site
● Easy navigation and clickable phone numbers
● A clear call to action (“Call us”, “Get a quote”, etc.)
Local SEO doesn’t have to be overwhelming, but it does need to be done right. At Webmad, we help Kiwi businesses improve their online visibility where it counts most: in their neighbourhoods.
From Google Business Profiles to website content and local SEO audits, we’re here to help you stand out on the street, and on the screen.
Ready to get found in your suburb and need some help updating your website? Contact us today
1st September 2025
Branding & Design, Software & App Development, Websites.
We’ve lost count of the number of business owners who’ve come to us saying “I thought I owned my website… until I realised I didn’t.” It usually starts small - you can’t log in to make a quick change, or you have to email your agency for every little update. Then you find out your domain is registered in their name, not yours. Before you know it, your own website is effectively behind bars, and the only way to get to it is through them.
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30th October 2023
Branding & Design, Websites.
24 percent of New Zealanders are disabled, and yet few considerations are made for them when building websites. Find out what you can do to help.
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18th August 2025
Digital Marketing.
Let’s be honest, times are a bit uncertain right now, and many businesses are wondering how best to spend their marketing budgets. Should you cut back? Hold steady? Or get creative? The truth is, smart marketing now can set you up to win big later. It’s not about throwing money at ads blindly but spending wisely on what actually connects with people.
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69 Corsair Drive, Wigram, Christchurch
PO Box 16760, Christchurch 8441