Getting found on Google as a local academy
The handful of things that matter for local search, and the ones you can safely ignore.
6 min read
When a parent searches “kids martial arts near me”, Google shows a map with a few local businesses, then a list of websites. You don’t need an agency to show up there; you need a few basics done well, and kept up.
Nobody can guarantee a ranking. Be wary of anyone who does.
Your Google Business Profile comes first
- Claim it, and make sure your name, address, phone and hours match your website exactly
- Choose the most specific category for what you teach
- Add real photos of classes, coaches and the space, and keep adding them
- Post updates for camps, open houses and holiday hours
Reviews, steadily
Recent reviews matter for the map results. The easiest way to get them is to ask at the right moment: after a member has been coming for a while and clearly enjoys it, not on their first day. Asking automatically after a set number of classes keeps the reviews coming without anyone remembering to ask.
Pages that answer what parents search
- Page titles that say what you teach and where, like “Kids Jiu-Jitsu in Ottawa”
- A page for each program, with ages, times, price range and what a first class looks like
- Answers to the questions parents actually ask: “Is it safe?”, “Does my child need experience?”, “What do they wear?”
- Your business details written in the format search engines read, so they can show your hours and address directly
Moving websites without losing your place
If you change website or provider, keep your domain and redirect each old page to its new one. Otherwise years of links and search history point at pages that no longer exist.
What you can ignore
- Paying for “guaranteed” rankings
- Stuffing keywords into every sentence
- Hundreds of thin pages for every nearby town