Right, let’s have a proper chat about getting your business into that coveted Google Maps “Local Pack” in Manchester city centre. You know the one I’m on about: those three businesses that pop up with the little map when someone searches for “coffee shop near me” or “accountant Manchester”.
Getting into that top three spot can genuinely transform your business. I’ve seen it happen time and time again. But here’s the thing: Manchester city centre is competitive. Really competitive. So let’s roll up our sleeves and work through exactly what you need to do.
What Actually Is the Local Pack (And Why Should You Care?) 📍
The Local Pack is those three business listings that appear right at the top of Google search results, complete with a map showing where you are. It sits above the regular organic results, which means it’s prime real estate.
When someone searches for something like “restaurants in Manchester” or “plumber near Deansgate”, Google shows these three local businesses first. And here’s the kicker: according to various studies, these listings get a massive chunk of the clicks. We’re talking about real foot traffic and phone calls, not just website visits.
For Manchester businesses, this is especially crucial because you’re competing with hundreds (sometimes thousands) of other businesses in the city centre alone. But don’t let that put you off: with the right approach, you absolutely can get there.
Step One: Sort Out Your Google Business Profile (Properly) ✅
This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many businesses get this bit wrong. Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the foundation of everything.
Claim and Verify Your Listing
First things first: you need to claim your business if you haven’t already. Head to google.com/business and search for your business name. If it exists, claim it. If not, create a new listing.
The verification process usually involves Google sending you a postcard with a code to your business address. Yeah, it’s a bit old school, but it proves you’re actually located where you say you are. In Manchester city centre, where there are loads of serviced offices and shared spaces, Google is particularly keen to verify genuine business locations.
Fill Out Every Single Detail
I mean it: every single field. Google rewards complete profiles. Here’s what you absolutely must include:
Business Name: Use your actual business name. Don’t stuff keywords in here like “Best Coffee Shop Manchester City Centre”. Google’s onto that and it’ll hurt you more than help.
Address: Be precise. If you’re in Spinningfields, make sure you’ve got the exact building and floor. Consistency is crucial here, which brings me to…
NAP Consistency: Your Name, Address, and Phone number need to be identical everywhere online: your website, directories, social media, everywhere. If your website says “St” but your Google listing says “Street”, that’s a problem. Pick one format and stick to it religiously.
Phone Number: Use a local Manchester number if possible. Mobile numbers are fine, but a 0161 number does give you a bit more local credibility.
Website: Obviously, include this. Make sure it’s the correct URL and that it actually works.
Categories: This is huge. Your primary category should be the most accurate description of what you do. For a coffee shop, that’s “Coffee Shop”, not “Cafe” or “Restaurant”. You can add secondary categories too, but your primary one is the most important for ranking.
Hours: Keep these updated, especially during bank holidays or special events. Manchester city centre businesses often have different hours during Christmas markets or football matches: reflect this.
Description: You get 750 characters. Use them wisely. Write naturally about what you do, what makes you special, and yes, mention Manchester and your specific area. But write for humans, not robots.
Photos Make a Massive Difference 📸
Businesses with photos get significantly more engagement. Upload high quality images of:
- Your storefront (so people can find you easily)
- Interior shots
- Your products or services
- Your team (people like seeing who they’ll be dealing with)
- Action shots of your business in use
Aim for at least 10 to 15 good photos to start, and add new ones regularly. If you’re a restaurant in the Northern Quarter, show off those dishes. If you’re a law firm on King Street, perhaps some professional shots of your office and team.
Step Two: Reviews Are Your Secret Weapon ⭐
Let’s be real: reviews are absolutely critical for Local Pack rankings. Google looks at three main things: quantity, quality, and recency.
Getting More Reviews
You need a steady stream of reviews, not just a bunch all at once (which looks dodgy anyway). Here’s how to do it properly:
Ask at the Right Moment: When a customer is clearly happy (they’ve just had a great experience, they’ve told you they love your product) that’s when you ask. “We’d really appreciate it if you could leave us a Google review” works fine. Don’t overthink it.
Make It Easy: Send them a direct link to your review page. You can get this from your Google Business Profile. The easier you make it, the more likely they’ll actually do it.
Don’t Incentivise: Offering discounts or freebies for reviews is against Google’s rules and can get you in serious trouble. Just don’t.
Train Your Team: Everyone who interacts with customers should know how to politely ask for reviews when the moment’s right.
Responding to Reviews
This is where loads of businesses fall down. You absolutely must respond to reviews: good and bad.
For Positive Reviews: A simple, genuine “Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this review, Sarah! We’re chuffed you enjoyed your visit. Hope to see you again soon.” That’s perfect. Personalise it a bit, don’t use the same template for everyone.
For Negative Reviews: This is actually an opportunity. Respond quickly, professionally, and show you care. “We’re really sorry to hear about your experience, John. This isn’t the standard we aim for. Please could you email us at [email] so we can make this right?”
Never argue, never make excuses. Just show future customers that you take feedback seriously and try to fix problems.
The Manchester Factor
In Manchester, people appreciate authenticity and straight talking. Your review responses can reflect that local personality without being unprofessional. A bit of warmth goes a long way.
Step Three: Optimise for Local Search Terms 🔍
Google needs to understand what you do and where you do it. This means being smart about the content on your website and how you talk about your business.
On Your Website
Create location specific content that’s actually useful. If you’re a dentist in Manchester city centre, don’t just have a generic homepage. Have pages that mention:
- The specific areas you serve (Spinningfields, Northern Quarter, Deansgate, etc.)
- Landmarks near you (“Just round the corner from Manchester Central Library”)
- Local information that’s relevant to your service
But (and this is important) do it naturally. “Our dental practice in Manchester city centre, serving Manchester, near Manchester, for Manchester residents” is rubbish and Google knows it. Write like a human.
Schema Markup
Right, this might sound technical, but stick with me. Schema markup is code you add to your website that helps Google understand your business information better. It’s like giving Google a clear label for everything.
You want LocalBusiness schema that includes:
- Your business name
- Address
- Phone number
- Opening hours
- Price range
- Services
If you’re not technically minded, there are plugins that can help with this, or this is where working with an agency (like us at Minutes Agency, just saying) can make life much easier.
Step Four: Build Local Citations 📋
Citations are mentions of your business name, address, and phone number on other websites. Think online directories, review sites, local blogs, news sites.
Where to Get Listed
Start with the big UK directories:
- Yell
- Thomson Local
- Scoot
- 192.com
- Yelp UK
Then look at Manchester specific directories and sites:
- Manchester Evening News business directory
- Visit Manchester (if you’re relevant)
- Local chamber of commerce
- Industry specific directories
Remember that NAP consistency we talked about? It applies to every single citation. Same format, same details, everywhere.
Quality Over Quantity
Don’t just spam your details across hundreds of random directories. Focus on reputable, relevant sites. One citation from a well respected local site is worth more than ten from dodgy directories.
Step Five: Get Proper Links 🔗
Links from other websites to yours (backlinks) are still important for local SEO. But we’re not talking about buying dodgy links or spamming forums.
Local Link Building That Actually Works
Local News Coverage: Got a story? Opening a new location? Doing something for charity? Reach out to Manchester Evening News, local bloggers, industry publications. Real coverage equals quality links.
Partnerships: Work with other Manchester businesses. Sponsor a local event, collaborate on something, join local business groups. These relationships often lead to natural links.
Content That People Want to Link To: Create genuinely useful resources. “The Complete Guide to Finding Office Space in Manchester City Centre” or “Best Family Friendly Restaurants in Manchester”: if it’s good enough, people will link to it.
Local Suppliers and Customers: If you work with other local businesses, ask if they’d be happy to mention you on their site (and you can do the same for them).
Step Six: Manage Your Online Reputation Everywhere 💬
Google doesn’t just look at Google reviews. They also consider reviews and mentions across the web.
Key Platforms to Monitor
- Facebook reviews
- Trustpilot (especially important for UK businesses)
- Industry specific review sites (TripAdvisor for hospitality, Checkatrade for tradespeople, etc.)
- Social media mentions
Keep an eye on what people are saying and engage with it. Set up Google Alerts for your business name so you know when you’re mentioned.
Step Seven: Create and Share Local Content 📝
This is about showing Google (and customers) that you’re genuinely embedded in the Manchester community.
Ideas That Work
Google Posts: Use the posts feature in your Google Business Profile to share updates, offers, events. These show up in your listing and keep it looking active.
Local Blog Content: Write about local events, news relevant to your industry in Manchester, guides to the area. “Where to Park Near Our Clinic in Manchester City Centre”: boring title, but genuinely useful content.
Social Media with Location Tags: When you post on Instagram or Facebook, tag your location. Check in, use Manchester related hashtags, engage with other local businesses.
Events and Community Involvement: Actually participate in the local community. Sponsor a local sports team, attend Manchester business events, support local causes. This isn’t just good karma: it generates genuine mentions and links.
The Technical Bits (Don’t Skip This) ⚙️
Make Sure Your Website Isn’t Letting You Down
Mobile Friendly: Most local searches happen on mobile. If your site doesn’t work properly on a phone, you’re throwing away opportunities. Test it at google.com/test/mobile-friendly.
Fast Loading: Nobody waits for slow websites, and neither does Google. Compress your images, use good hosting, keep it quick.
HTTPS: You should absolutely have that little padlock in the address bar. It’s not just about security: Google prefers secure sites.
Local Landing Pages: If you serve multiple areas, create separate pages for each. But only if you genuinely serve those areas: don’t create fake location pages for places you don’t actually operate in.
Common Mistakes to Avoid ⚠️
Let me save you some heartache by pointing out what not to do:
Keyword Stuffing: Don’t fill your business name or description with “Manchester Manchester Manchester”. Google’s too smart for that now, and it looks desperate.
Fake Reviews: Seriously, just don’t. Google’s got very good at spotting these. They’ll penalise you, and even if they don’t, savvy customers will spot them a mile off.
Wrong Category: Picking a category with less competition might seem clever, but if it’s not accurate, you won’t rank for what matters or convert the traffic you do get.
Ignoring Negative Reviews: Leaving bad reviews unanswered looks terrible. It suggests you don’t care about customer service.
Being Inconsistent: Changing your business details, hours, or location information frequently makes Google suspicious.
Buying Links: Just no. Build relationships and earn links properly.
How Long Does This Take? ⏰
I won’t lie to you: ranking in the Local Pack for competitive terms in Manchester city centre doesn’t happen overnight. You might see some movement within a few weeks if you’re doing everything right, but more realistically, you’re looking at 3 to 6 months to see significant results.
The good news? Once you’re in, and you keep up the good work, you tend to stay there. It’s much easier to maintain a ranking than to get there in the first place.
Measuring Your Success 📊
You need to know if what you’re doing is actually working. Here’s what to track:
Google Business Profile Insights: This shows you how many people viewed your listing, how they found it, what actions they took (called, visited website, requested directions).
Ranking Position: Use a local rank tracking tool to see where you appear for your key search terms. Check from different locations in Manchester city centre.
Website Traffic: Look at your Google Analytics for traffic from Google My Business and for searches including Manchester or local terms.
Calls and Enquiries: Are you actually getting more business? That’s what matters at the end of the day.
When to Get Help 🤝
Look, I’m going to be straight with you: you can absolutely do a lot of this yourself. Small businesses do it all the time. But if you’re finding it overwhelming, or you’re just not seeing results, or you’d rather spend your time running your actual business, that’s where working with a local SEO agency makes sense.
At Minutes Agency, we work with loads of Manchester businesses on exactly this stuff. We know the local landscape, we know what works in this city specifically, and we can take this entire headache off your plate. But even if you don’t work with us, I hope this guide has given you a proper roadmap to follow.
Your Action Plan for This Week 📅
Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Let’s break it down into manageable chunks. Here’s what to do this week:
Monday: Claim and verify your Google Business Profile if you haven’t already. Fill out every section completely.
Tuesday: Upload at least 10 high quality photos of your business.
Wednesday: Check your NAP consistency across your website, social media, and any directories you’re already on. Fix any inconsistencies.
Thursday: Set up a system for asking happy customers for reviews. Brief your team.
Friday: Respond to every review you currently have (if you haven’t already).
That’s a solid start. Next week, you can focus on citations, the week after on content, and so on.
Final Thoughts
Ranking in the Google Maps Local Pack for Manchester city centre is absolutely achievable, but it requires consistent effort and a genuine commitment to providing a great service. Google’s pretty good at working out which businesses deserve to be at the top: they want to show their users the best, most relevant results.
So yes, do all the technical SEO stuff I’ve talked about. But never forget that the foundation of everything is being a business that people genuinely want to find, visit, and recommend.
Get that right, combine it with smart local SEO, and you’ll get there.
And if you ever want to chat about your specific situation (what’s working, what’s not, where you’re stuck) we’re always happy to have a proper conversation about it. No hard sell, just useful advice from people who know Manchester’s local search landscape inside out.
Good luck! You’ve got this. 🚀
Need a hand with your local SEO in Manchester? Drop us a line at Minutes Agency. We’re based right here in the city and we love helping local businesses succeed.
