SEO for Mobile Businesses: Rank Without a Fixed Location
If your business doesn’t have a fixed address—maybe you’re a mobile dog groomer, a handyman in a van, or a food truck always on the move—you might be wondering how on earth you’re meant to rank on Google.
“Do I even stand a chance?” you ask. “Will Google just ignore me because I don’t have a shopfront?”
The good news is: no, Google won’t ignore you. In fact, you can absolutely rank without a physical location. It just takes a different strategy.
In this blog post, we’ll break down exactly how to optimise your SEO as a mobile business. Whether you're cruising around Chelmsford or fixing boilers across Basildon, this guide will show you how to get found by local customers—even if your office is your car boot.
We'll also share tips, relatable examples, and answer the most common questions small UK business owners ask us at our Essex SEO company. Grab a cuppa, this one’s going to be useful.
Why SEO Matters for Mobile Businesses
First things first—let’s clear something up.
Mobile doesn’t mean invisible.
Just because you don’t have a shopfront doesn’t mean your business shouldn’t be showing up when someone searches “car valet near me” or “mobile hairdresser Southend”.
If anything, you need SEO more than anyone else—because your business relies on people being able to find you quickly, when they need you, and ideally while they’re still holding their phone.
Example: Take Tony, a mobile mechanic who serves the wider Essex area. Before he had an SEO-optimised website and Google Business Profile, his leads came from word of mouth and a few Facebook posts. But after we optimised his local SEO setup, Tony’s calls doubled—and so did his bookings. He now ranks for “mobile mechanic Essex” and even gets jobs from people just passing through.
How to Do SEO Without a Fixed Location
Let’s break it down into bite-sized, practical steps.
1. Set Up a Service-Area Business on Google
When you don’t have a storefront, Google gives you the option to list yourself as a service-area business (SAB). This means instead of showing a pin on the map where customers can visit you, your listing shows the areas you serve.
How to do it:
Go to Google Business Profile
Sign in or create your profile
Select "I deliver goods and services to my customers"
Add the regions, towns, or postcodes you cover
You don’t need to list a physical address if you’re a service-area business. You can still appear in local results.
💡Tip: Choose your service areas carefully. Don’t just put “the UK”—pick the specific towns and areas you actually serve.
2. Optimise Your Website with Location Pages
If you serve multiple towns (say, Romford, Brentwood, and Billericay), you need pages that speak directly to those areas.
These are called location landing pages, and they’re one of the most powerful tools in your SEO toolkit.
Each page should include:
Town-specific keywords (e.g., “mobile dog grooming in Romford”)
A bit about the services you offer there
Local landmarks or references
Testimonials from customers in that area (if you have them)
Example: Let’s say you’re a mobile nail tech covering Basildon, Southend, and Wickford. Rather than having just one page that says “I cover Essex”, you’d have three pages:
Mobile Nail Services in Basildon
Nail Technician in Southend-on-Sea
At-Home Nails in Wickford
Each page acts like a magnet, pulling in local traffic.
3. Use Your Blog Strategically
Blogging isn’t just for foodies and fashionistas. It’s for any business that wants to show up on Google—including mobile services.
Write about:
“What to expect from a mobile X service in [your area]”
“5 Things to Know Before Booking a Mobile Hairdresser in Brentwood”
“How a Mobile Mechanic Can Save You Time and Money in Essex”
Each of these blog posts will help you get found for different keyword combinations—and they build trust too.
💡Tip: Use real examples. If you fixed a car in Colchester or did a dog groom in Clacton, write about it (without breaching any privacy). People love reading about work you’ve done in their area.
4. Get Reviews From Every Location
You might not have a physical premises, but reviews still matter—a lot.
Ask happy customers to leave a review on your Google Business Profile, and encourage them to mention:
The service
The location
Why they chose you
Example review:
“Brilliant service! Needed an emergency boiler repair in Brentwood and Kevin was there within 90 minutes. Friendly, fast, and didn’t cost the earth. Highly recommend!”
That mention of “Brentwood” helps your local rankings, as Google picks up on these place names.
5. Use Schema Markup to Tell Google What You Do
Schema is code you add to your website to help Google understand your business better.
For mobile businesses, use LocalBusiness schema with a service area rather than a single address.
If this sounds too techy—don’t worry. A good Essex SEO company (like us) can sort it for you, no headaches involved.
6. Get Local Citations
Citations are online mentions of your business name, phone number, and service area. Think directories like:
Yell
FreeIndex
Checkatrade
Bark
TrustATrader
Make sure your business details are:
Consistent across every site
Accurate with your service areas
Complete with photos and reviews
💡Pro tip: Even if a directory asks for an address, some let you hide it after verification.
Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
Let’s address the big ones.
❌ “I’ll just use my home address”
Tempting, but risky. Google doesn’t like residential addresses that aren’t clearly marked as business premises. It could get you suspended.
If you must use one for verification, hide it after setup.
❌ “I serve the whole UK”
You might, but Google prefers businesses that serve specific areas. Broad coverage = diluted SEO power. Narrow it down to a handful of areas you genuinely serve and can travel to quickly.
❌ “I don’t need a website – I’ve got Facebook”
That’s like saying you don’t need a business card because you’ve got a phone. You absolutely need a website. Google doesn’t rank Facebook pages in the same way it does websites. A website gives you control, credibility, and higher rankings.
FAQs: Mobile Business SEO
Q: Can I still appear in 'near me' searches if I don’t have a fixed location?
Yes. Google uses your service area and the searcher’s location. If you’re the best match, you’ll show up—no shopfront needed.
Q: How long does SEO take to work for a mobile business?
It depends, but most mobile businesses start seeing results within 3-6 months of consistent SEO work—especially with local pages and reviews in place.
Q: Do I need a separate location page for every area I serve?
Ideally, yes—but only for areas where you actually get or want business. Don’t spam 50 pages just to try and rank.
Q: What if I move around a lot?
Stick to core service areas where you’re regularly available. If you tour or do seasonal work, use your blog or events page to highlight where you are and when.
Q: Can I run ads if I don’t have a fixed location?
Yes, Google Ads allows service-area targeting. But ads work better alongside strong organic SEO, not as a replacement.
Q: What’s the easiest thing I can do today to improve my SEO?
Claim your Google Business Profile and set your service areas. It takes 10 minutes and can make a massive difference.
Real-World Example: Leah’s Mobile Beauty Business
Leah runs a mobile beauty business covering South Essex. She offers spray tans, lashes, and brows—right from her fully equipped van.
When Leah came to us, she had an Instagram following but wasn’t showing up on Google.
We helped her:
Set up her Google Business Profile with “Brentwood”, “Billericay” and “Hornchurch” as service areas
Create three location pages for those towns
Write blog posts about seasonal beauty trends in each area
Encourage happy clients to mention their town in reviews
Six months later, Leah had a waitlist—and was getting found on Google for phrases like “mobile spray tan Brentwood” and “at home lashes in Hornchurch”.
Now she’s expanding into more areas—and yes, we’re helping her with those new pages too.
Mobile Doesn’t Mean Invisible
If you’re always on the move, it can feel like you’re one step behind businesses with bricks and mortar.
But the truth is, mobile businesses have a huge opportunity with SEO. Google wants to show people the most relevant, convenient option. If that’s you—make it easy for Google to find and recommend you.
From setting up your Google Business Profile to creating local content and collecting targeted reviews, every step helps you get seen, trusted, and booked.
And if you’d rather not wrangle schema markup or figure out keywords yourself—we’ve got you.
We’re an experienced Essex SEO company that specialises in helping small businesses rank locally—fixed address or not.
✅ Ready to Get Found?
If you’re a mobile business in Essex (or beyond) and you want more leads from Google, let’s talk.
📞 Call us 07816 528421 or drop us a message to see how we can help you rank—without needing a physical shop.
Because your business deserves to be seen, no matter where the wheels take you.
