Right Helen — straight to it. SEO for an accountancy firm is mostly local trust, helpful content and making it dead easy for people to contact you. Do these things first and you’ll start seeing more enquiries without faffing about.

1. Own your local listings

Set up and fully optimise your Google Business Profile. Use your real trading name, address, phone, opening hours and services. Add photos, regular posts and encourage happy clients to leave reviews — reply to them. That gets you on the map for local searches.

2. Make your website answer real client questions

Write short pages or blog posts that answer the things potential clients type into Google: “tax help for sole traders”, “bookkeeping for cafes”, “VAT registration Sunderland”. Use clear headings, simple language and local cues (e.g. “Sunderland accountants”).

3. Local landing pages & schema

• Create a local landing page for each area you serve (e.g. Sunderland, Durham).
• Add structured data (LocalBusiness schema) so search engines understand your services and reviews.

4. Fix the basics — speed, mobile, clear CTAs

Make sure the site is quick on mobile, has obvious contact buttons and a simple form. If people can’t find your number in two taps, you’re losing them.

5. Build local backlinks & proof

Get mentioned on local business groups, chamber pages or partner sites. Publish short case studies and client testimonials — social proof wins more than clever words.

6. Track, tweak, repeat

Use Search Console and Google Analytics to see what brings traffic and what converts. Improve pages that get visits but no enquiries. It’s proper DIY optimisation — a bit like getting the crayons out and doing it right.

Quick priority list (do in this order)

1. Google Business Profile — complete it and ask for reviews.
2. Fix mobile & speed, add clear contact CTA.
3. Create 4–6 client-focused pages (services + local pages).
4. Publish 6 helpful blog posts answering common client questions.
5. Gather local links and testimonials.

Do this properly and you’ll see steadier, better-fit enquiries — not just noise. Fancy a chat? We can look at your site, spot what’s quick to fix and what’ll move the dial. Spot on, let’s crack on.