These are our standard frequently asked questions. For a full list of industry-specific frequently asked questions, please scroll to the bottom of this page and select your industry.
What is 3local and why should I care?
3local is a do‑it‑yourself local SEO platform designed to help local businesses be discovered across the towns, villages and suburbs they serve—without needing technical skills, developers or ongoing agency retainers. It connects to your Google Business Profile and your domain, then generates SEO‑optimised service pages that clarify who you are, what you do and where you serve.
How is 3local different from other SEO tools or services?
3local is straightforward to set up (often around 15–30 minutes for most users), runs alongside most website platforms without replacing your site, and focuses on creating location‑specific pages at scale so you don’t need to manage complex software or long retainers. It’s a standalone platform that connects through your domain rather than a plugin that alters your existing site.
Why does local SEO matter for businesses right now?
Search behaviour has become hyper‑local, shifting from generic terms to neighbourhood and “near me” searches. If you don’t appear for the micro‑locations around you, potential customers may not find you. 3local is designed to help you be visible where people are actually looking.
Why exactly does 3local work to get my business found everywhere?
It generates a focused page for each service in each location you want to serve, including structured data (schema) that helps search engines understand your business, connection to your Google Business Profile and content aligned to common local queries. The aim is broader, more consistent visibility across your service area.
What am I losing by not ranking everywhere my customers are searching?
You could be missing many local searches each month from surrounding towns, villages and suburbs. It’s like having a shop on one quiet street while nearby streets are full of ideal customers who simply don’t see you—3local helps extend your visibility across the map.
Aren’t Google Ads, Facebook Ads and word of mouth enough?
They can work well, but ads stop the moment the budget pauses and word of mouth can be unpredictable. 3local adds an always‑on layer of organic visibility so you can continue to be discovered without paying per click.
How exactly does 3local work?
You log in, connect your Google Business Profile, choose your services, set a sensible service radius and submit. 3local then creates search‑ready service pages for the towns, villages and suburbs in that area, links relevant schema and aligns each page to how customers search—no code or plugins required.
What makes 3local a straightforward way to improve local search coverage?
You don’t need to be a developer, copywriter or SEO expert; you don’t have to change your existing website; it works alongside most platforms with your domain; one configuration can generate large numbers of search‑optimised pages; and day‑to‑day management is simple. Some WordPress‑only plugins assume more technical setup, whereas 3local is a standalone hosted platform.
Can 3local help me appear in searches for nearby locations even without a physical address there?
Yes—3local supports service‑area businesses by using schema to indicate where you operate, not only where you’re based. While no tool can guarantee rankings everywhere, many users target surrounding locations and see improved visibility in those areas, subject to competition and relevance.
Who’s already using 3local, and what results are they seeing?
Local businesses across the UK, US, Australia and Canada use 3local for service‑area coverage. Reported outcomes include appearing for more nearby searches and winning work from surrounding towns, but timelines and results vary by market, competition and site history.
Why should I trust 3local to deliver when other SEO services have let me down?
3local is a system you control. It focuses on the same strategic building blocks a typical agency would deliver—multiple location pages, structured data and clear service coverage—without long lead times or hidden fees, and you can edit details such as phone numbers, hours and offers directly from your dashboard.
Do you have examples of how this works in practice?
Yes—we share walkthroughs and example searches that demonstrate how pages are structured and how they can appear in results. These are illustrations rather than promises, and your performance will depend on factors like competition, content quality and domain authority.
Can this be done any other way—and is it harder or more expensive?
You can build similar location coverage manually or via plugins and freelancers, but it typically requires significant time, WordPress‑specific setups or ongoing oversight. 3local offers a guided, hosted approach designed to reduce the technical lift.
How is 3local different from hiring an SEO agency or doing it yourself?
It’s comparable to asking an agency to create a large set of location‑based pages, except you configure it yourself in a single session and keep full control over edits and costs. Agencies and DIY can work well too, but they usually involve longer timelines and more hands‑on effort.
How much time and effort will this take?
Most users complete the initial setup in around 30 minutes and can carry out fuller customisation in half a day. Once live, pages don’t require daily maintenance, though periodic updates are a good idea—actual time and outcomes vary by business and market.
Is this safe? Could Google penalise me?
3local creates pages with real content and widely used structured data, which aligns with common best practices. As with any SEO activity, using a realistic service radius and avoiding aggressive tactics is recommended, and search engines ultimately determine visibility—results and risk depend on how you use the tool.
What if I already have a website and SEO setup?
3local runs alongside your current setup on a subdomain (for example, locations.yoursite.com) and doesn’t replace or interfere with your existing site, so you can add coverage without disrupting what you already have.
Is this only for certain industries, or will it work for my business too?
3local is designed for businesses that win customers in defined local areas—whether you visit customers, they visit you or both—including trades, shops, clinics, professional services and more. If you’re unsure about a specific setup, we can check compatibility.
How do I get started, and what’s the first step?
Choose a plan, log in, connect your Google Business Profile, pick your services and set your service radius. You can have 3local running the same day; visibility improvements will depend on factors such as competition, domain strength and content relevance.
What exactly do I get when I sign up?
You’ll have access to the 3local platform, connection with your Google Business Profile, AI‑assisted generation of SEO‑optimised service pages, schema‑based location coverage and a dashboard to manage content and updates yourself.
Is there a guarantee or a risk‑free way to try 3local?
Yes—every account includes a 30‑day money‑back guarantee. If you decide 3local isn’t right for you within 30 days, contact support and we’ll arrange a full refund.