Why Northern Businesses Struggle to Rank (And What You Can Do About It)

Running a business in the North of England isn’t easy.

Whether you’re based in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, or Liverpool, you’ve likely said this to yourself at some point:

“We offer better service than our competitors…
So why aren’t we ranking on Google?”

You’re not alone. At Rank Up SEO Agency, we work with businesses across the North — and we see recurring SEO challenges that hold great companies back from getting found online.

Here’s what’s really happening behind the scenes — and how you can fix it, starting today.

⚠️ Common SEO Challenges in the North – Region by Region

1. London-Dominated SERPs

The problem:
Search results for “SEO agency,” “plumber,” “solicitor,” or “coach” are often dominated by London-based websites, even when the user is in Manchester or Leeds.

Why it matters:
Your local customers may never scroll far enough to see your business — even if you’re more relevant to them.

How to overcome it: ✅ Create hyper-local landing pages for boroughs, suburbs, and postcodes
✅ Use Google Business Profile with accurate service areas
✅ Collect reviews that mention location (e.g., “best roofer in Burnley”)
✅ Add location schema to your pages
✅ Build backlinks from regional blogs, directories, and media

Remember: Google won’t rank you locally if your site feels generic or too broad.

2. Lack of Local Content & SEO Investment

The problem:
Many Northern businesses still rely on word-of-mouth, print ads, or social media — not real SEO. Their websites are outdated, with no local optimisation, thin content, and zero tracking.

How to overcome it: ✅ Create borough-level pages (e.g., /garage-door-repair-oldham)
✅ Write blogs that solve region-specific problems
✅ Invest in a basic SEO package with technical, on-page, and local setup
✅ Start with low-hanging keyword targets, then scale up

3. Google Business Profiles That Are Barely Touched

The problem:
Many Northern businesses claim their Google Business Profile (GBP)… and then forget it exists.

Without:

• Service areas

• Weekly posts

• High-res photos

• Reviews

• Accurate info

…you’ll never show up in the Local Pack — even for “near me” searches.

How to overcome it: ✅ Fully optimise your GBP
✅ Post 1–2 times per week
✅ Add photos from real jobs/clients (geo-tagged)
✅ Respond to every review
✅ Use category + service keywords naturally

4. Limited Backlinks from Local Sources

The problem:
Ranking in Google requires trust — and trust is built through backlinks.
But Northern UK businesses often don’t have access to PR teams, content partnerships, or digital sponsorships like big-city firms do.

How to overcome it: ✅ Submit to trusted local directories:

• ManchesterOnline

• LeedsIndex

• SheffieldBiz

• LiverpoolChamber
  ✅ Partner with local blogs or newspapers
  ✅ Write “guest” blog content for nearby service providers
  ✅ Offer expert quotes for regional articles or business roundups

🎯 Local links don’t just help with rankings — they boost your brand too.

5. Technical SEO Gaps (Slow Sites, Mobile Issues, Schema Missing)

The problem:
Many local websites are slow, outdated, and not mobile-friendly — especially in construction, trades, legal, and healthcare.

Google now measures things like:

• Mobile responsiveness

• Site speed

• Core Web Vitals

• Structured data (schema)

• Crawlability & indexability

How to overcome it: ✅ Run a technical audit (we offer a free one!)
✅ Compress images, fix redirects, remove unused scripts
✅ Implement schema for local business, services, FAQs, and reviews
✅ Use tools like PageSpeed Insights or Screaming Frog

🧩 Bonus: Region-Specific Ranking Challenges

🏙️ Manchester

• High competition in trades, clinics, legal, and ecommerce

• Need detailed landing pages by suburb (e.g., Didsbury, Chorlton, Ancoats)

🏙️ Leeds

• Strong competition in digital, financial, and marketing sectors

• Local authority links and blogging can give you the edge

🏙️ Newcastle

• Fewer SEO-optimised businesses — but Google defaults to national brands

• Great opportunity for GBP optimisation + reviews

🏙️ Sheffield & South Yorkshire

• Trades and home services dominate — but many don’t have proper websites

• Building structured content + GBP + reviews = fast wins

💼 Real Case Snapshot: From Invisible to Top 3 in 60 Days

Client: Property Maintenance Business in Greater Manchester
Before:

• Ranked #37 for “emergency plumber in Rochdale”

• GBP not showing in Maps

• No reviews, no service pages

What We Did:
✅ Built borough-specific pages for Oldham, Rochdale, Bury
✅ Collected 15 local reviews
✅ Posted weekly to GBP
✅ Secured backlinks from two local blogs and a directory

📈 After 60 days:

• Ranked #3 in the Local Pack

• +210% increase in phone calls

• £6.4k in new business from organic alone

🏁 Final Thoughts: The North Deserves Better SEO — And We’re Leading the Way

At Rank Up SEO Agency, we’re not just another London agency offering “nationwide SEO.”
We understand the Northern market — because we work in it, every day.

✅ Local-first strategy
✅ Affordable SEO packages
✅ Results-driven content and ranking systems
✅ Support for businesses in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, and beyond

🚀 Ready to Rank in the North?

We help businesses just like yours overcome SEO challenges and own their local search results.

👉 Get a Free Local SEO Audit
👉 Explore SEO Packages for Northern Businesses
👉 See Real Results from Businesses in the North

Let’s help your business Rank Up — and get the recognition it deserves.