Alan McAleavey

If you want one quick win for your Google Business Profile (GBP) this month, it’s usually not your logo or your wording. It’s your photos. Most people make a decision in a few seconds. They scan the stars, opening hours, distance… then they look at the photos to answer one question: “Do I trust this place?” Google also explains local visibility mainly comes down to relevance, distance and popularity (prominence). You can’t change distance, but photos help with relevance (showing what you...

If your Google Business Profile (GBP) is already set up, the quickest improvement you can make right now (March 2026)  is usually your photos . Not a new logo. Not another “we’re friendly” paragraph. Just clear, current images that help people decide to click, call, or visit. Google is pretty direct about how local results work: rankings are mainly influenced by relevance, distance, and prominence . Your photos won’t change your postcode, but they do  influence relevance  (showing what you...

We’re only a few weeks into 2026, and a lot of conversations with local businesses still sound like this: “Costs are up, margins are thin — we’ll just keep things ticking over and see how the year goes.” You’re not imagining it. UK forecasts still point to slow growth and above-target inflation  in 2025–26, which means most small businesses are juggling rising wages, energy and tax costs with customers who are careful about spending. The British Chambers of Commerce  say over half of firms...