Straight answers
for local
businesses.

A professionally built small business website typically costs anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a template DIY build to $10,000 or more for a custom agency site. Reputo website builds are a one-time price based on page count, from up to 7 pages to up to 15. See our pricing page for current options.

Most local service businesses need 10 to 20 pages: a home page, one page per core service, a page for each main town or area you serve, an about page, reviews, and a contact or quote page. Dedicated service and location pages give Google and AI tools a clear page to match to each search.

At minimum: what you do, where you do it, how to contact you, and proof you’re good at it. That means clear service descriptions, your service area, click-to-call and a quote form on every page, real reviews, photos of your work, licensing or insurance details where relevant, and accurate hours.

Yes. Google uses the mobile version of your site for indexing and ranking, and most local searches happen on a phone. A mobile-first site with large tap targets and fast load times makes it easier for customers to call you.

A typical small business website takes two to six weeks, depending on the number of pages and how quickly content and feedback are provided. Reputo writes the content for you, which removes the most common source of delay.

A builder like Wix or Squarespace works if you have time to write content, handle SEO settings and keep the site updated. Hiring a team makes sense when you want the site built around conversions and search from day one and don’t want to manage it yourself.

You should always own your domain name. Before signing with any provider, confirm in writing who owns the domain, the content and the design, and what happens if you cancel.

Structured data (also called schema markup) is code that describes your business in a format search engines read directly, such as your name, address, hours, services and reviews. Google uses it to understand pages and to enable rich results. Every Reputo website includes LocalBusiness structured data.

Local SEO is the work of helping a business show up when people nearby search for its services, for example “plumber near me” or “roof repair in [city].” It covers your Google Business Profile, your website’s service and location pages, reviews, and consistent business information across the web.

Google says local results are based mainly on three factors: relevance (how well your profile matches the search), distance (how far you are from the searcher or the location in the search), and prominence (how well known your business is, including reviews and links). You can’t change distance, but you can improve relevance and prominence.

Most businesses see early movement in three to six months, with stronger results building over six to twelve months. Timelines depend on competition, how established your site already is, and how consistently new content and reviews are added.

The map pack is the group of usually three local business listings shown with a map near the top of Google results for local searches. Listings come from Google Business Profiles, so a complete, active profile is essential for appearing there.

NAP stands for name, address and phone number. Keeping it identical on your website, Google Business Profile and directories helps search engines trust that the information is correct, which supports local rankings.

Usually, yes. A dedicated page for each core service and main service area gives Google a specific page to rank for that search. Each page should have genuinely useful, unique content rather than the same text with the city name swapped.

No. Google states that no one can guarantee a #1 ranking. Be cautious of any provider that promises specific rankings; a good SEO partner will explain what they’ll do and how progress is measured.

Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that shows which searches bring people to your site, which pages are indexed, and any technical problems Google finds. Every Reputo website is connected to Search Console at launch.

AEO is the practice of making your business easy for AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and Google’s AI Overviews to find, understand and recommend. Where SEO aims for a spot in a list of links, AEO aims for your business to be named in the answer itself.

SEO helps you rank in search results; AEO helps you get mentioned in AI-generated answers. They share the same foundation: crawlable pages, clear and accurate content, strong reviews and consistent business information. AEO adds a focus on direct answers and on tracking how each AI tool describes you.

AI tools draw on information they can find and trust: your website, your Google Business Profile, reviews, directory listings and mentions elsewhere online. Businesses with clear, consistent, well-reviewed information are easier for AI to recommend with confidence.

No. Google says there are no additional technical requirements for AI Overviews or AI Mode beyond being indexed and eligible to show a snippet in Search. Structured data is still recommended because it helps Google understand your pages, but there is no special AI-only markup.

Not for Google. Google has said its Search does not use llms.txt files. Focus instead on crawlable, well-structured pages with clear answers and accurate business details.

Yes, by asking the kinds of questions your customers ask, such as “best roofer near me,” rather than searching your business name. Because AI answers vary between runs, the question should be asked several times and tracked per tool. Reputo’s AEO plan does this and scores each engine separately.

For most local businesses, no. Blocking AI crawlers in robots.txt can keep AI tools from reading your site, which makes it harder for them to describe or recommend you accurately. Reputo websites allow major AI crawlers by default.

Not entirely, but it is changing how people choose businesses. Many customers now see an AI summary before any links, so being named in that summary matters alongside traditional rankings.

A Google Business Profile is the free listing that shows your business on Google Search and Maps, including your hours, phone number, location or service area, photos and reviews. For most local businesses it’s the first thing customers see.

Yes. Creating and managing a Google Business Profile is free. Be wary of calls claiming to be from Google that ask for payment to keep or verify your listing.

Google chooses the verification method based on your business. Options can include a video recording, phone or text, email, or a postcard. Verification is required before your profile can appear and be fully edited.

Yes. Service-area businesses, such as plumbers or landscapers who travel to customers, can hide their address and list the areas they serve instead. Don’t use a virtual office or mailbox as your address; Google doesn’t allow it.

Fill in every relevant field: the right primary category, services, service area, hours, phone, website, business description and photos. Keep it accurate and up to date, including holiday hours. Google says complete, accurate information helps you match more searches.

Common causes include keyword-stuffed business names, using a virtual office address, multiple profiles for the same location, or a service-area business showing an address. If suspended, fix the issue and submit a reinstatement request through Google.

Review it at least monthly and whenever something changes, such as hours, services or phone number. Regularly adding photos and responding to reviews also keeps your profile active and accurate.

Yes. You can add managers to your profile without giving away ownership. Always remain the primary owner yourself.

Yes. Google lists prominence as a local ranking factor and says review count and rating factor into it. Reviews also influence whether a searcher chooses to call you.

Yes. Google allows businesses to ask customers to review a genuine experience, as long as you don’t offer incentives or try to influence the rating or what they write. The safest approach is to ask every customer the same way.

Review gating is asking customers how their experience went first, then only sending happy customers to Google. It is not allowed: Google prohibits discouraging negative reviews or selectively soliciting positive ones. Reputo sends every customer the same request.

No. Google prohibits reviews posted because of an incentive, such as payment, discounts or free services. The FTC’s rule on consumer reviews, in effect since October 21, 2024, also bans offering incentives for reviews that express a particular sentiment.

They shouldn’t. Google treats reviews from people with a conflict of interest, such as employees and relatives, as policy violations. The FTC rule also sets disclosure requirements for reviews solicited from insiders.

Yes, ideally. Replying to positive reviews shows appreciation, and calm, specific replies to negative reviews show future customers how you handle problems. Keep replies short, personal and free of customers’ private details.

Thank the customer, acknowledge the issue without arguing, keep private details out, and offer a way to resolve it offline. A professional reply often matters more to future customers than the review itself.

Only if it breaks Google’s policies, for example if it’s spam, off-topic, from a conflict of interest, or contains hate speech. You can report it from your Business Profile. Google won’t remove a review just because it’s negative, and the FTC prohibits using threats or intimidation to get reviews removed.

No. Google’s policy says businesses shouldn’t request that specific content be included in reviews. Ask for honest feedback and let customers write in their own words.

No. Reputo’s software plans are month-to-month and you can cancel anytime. Website builds are a one-time purchase, separate from your monthly plan.

No. Aria drafts each reply and nothing is posted until you approve it.

Reputo currently supports Google Business Profile.

Yes. Start on Presence and move up to Momentum or Command whenever you need more locations, AI search visibility or a fully managed service. Website builds can be added at any time.