Getting found locally on Google as a business owner in Antwerp

For many local businesses, most revenue comes from nearby: people googling "hairdresser Borgerhout" or "accountant near me". Being found well in those local search results is therefore often more valuable than ranking high on broad, national search terms. The good news: you can largely lay the foundation yourself.

Start with your Google Business Profile

The most important and free lever is your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business). That's what appears in Google Maps and on the right in the search results when someone searches for your name or your service. Make sure the profile is as complete as possible:

• Fill in everything: name, address, phone, opening hours, website and a clear description of what you do.
• Choose the right categories, and be as specific as possible — that influences when you're shown.
• Add good photos of your business, your team or your work. Profiles with images stand out more.
• Keep everything up to date, especially your opening hours around holidays.

Businesses with a complete and accurate profile appear more often in local searches.

Keep your business details consistent

Google wants to be sure you are who you say you are. That's why consistency matters: use exactly the same business name, address and phone number everywhere — on your website, your business profile, in online directories and on social media. Small differences (an abbreviated street name here, a different phone format there) make it harder for Google to trust your data.

Ask for (and manage) reviews

Customer reviews are one of the strongest local signals, and at the same time something many business owners forget to ask for. The best moment is right after a successful delivery or service. A few tips:

• Ask in person or with a short link, and make it as easy as possible for your customer.
• Respond to reviews — including the less flattering ones. That shows you're engaged.
• Don't force anything and don't buy reviews; genuine, recent ratings weigh most heavily.

Work your location into your website

Your own website plays a part too. Work your town or neighbourhood name into the right places: in the page title, the meta description and the headings. A separate, well-written contact or "where to find us" page with your address and a map helps both your visitors and Google. And write in plain language about what you do and where — not stuffed with keywords, but clear and honest.

Think about AI answers too

More and more people no longer ask their question to a classic search engine, but to an AI assistant. That same foundation helps there as well: clear, factual information about who you are, what you do and where you're located, in plain sentences on your site. Those who describe their offering and location clearly and honestly get cited correctly more easily — by Google and by AI.

How does Kattenberg 118 approach this?

Kattenberg 118 is a web studio in Borgerhout, and local visibility is something we take into account from the start, not as a separate extra afterwards. Setting up a website with tidy titles, a clear contact page, correct structure and clear copy about what you do and where — that's exactly the kind of foundation on which local visibility grows.

We don't sell magic ranking guarantees; nobody honest does. What we do is help you lay the foundation correctly and build your site so you're found by the people in your area. Curious where you stand? Get in touch — and we'll look at your online presence together.