You're good at what you do. You shouldn't have to be good at Google too.
ScottishLocal gives independent Scottish businesses a properly built, search-optimised page — free. Here's exactly what that means and what it can realistically do for you.
Why good local businesses stay invisible online
None of this is your fault. The system genuinely is stacked against small independents.
Ads cost more than you make
Search ads for terms like "café near me" are bid up by chains and booking platforms. A village business can't outspend them, and shouldn't try.
A Facebook page isn't a website
Social pages rarely rank for the searches that matter, and you don't control what gets shown. Many small businesses have no indexed web presence at all.
SEO is a full-time job
Structured data, page speed, mobile layout, internal linking. It's real work, and you already have one of those.
We build the page properly, so search engines can read it
Every listing — including the free one — is built to modern technical SEO standards. That's not marketing language; these are the specific things on the page:
- Schema.org structured data marking you up as a LocalBusiness, so Google understands what you are and where.
- Real HTML, not JavaScript. Your listing is in the page source — many directories load listings in a way crawlers miss entirely.
- Regional and town-level pages targeting the long-tail searches you can realistically win — "pottery in Pittenweem", not "pottery".
- Submitted in our sitemap and internally linked from the region pages, so you're found and re-crawled.
- Fast and mobile-first — most people find you on a phone, often with one bar of signal.
What we can and can't promise
Anyone guaranteeing you the top spot on Google is lying — nobody can control Google's rankings. Here's the honest version:
- Can Give you a fast, properly structured page that search engines can index and understand.
- Can Target realistic local searches — your town plus what you do — where small businesses can genuinely compete.
- Can Give you a web presence if you have none, and a link to point customers at.
- Can Show you what people searched to reach you, so you learn what your customers want.
- Can't Guarantee a #1 ranking, a specific position, or a set number of customers.
- Can't Work overnight — search indexing takes weeks, and a new site takes time to build authority.
ScottishLocal is new. We're growing our own search presence at the same time as yours, which is exactly why the basic listing is free and always will be.
Two options. One of them is free forever.
Priced for village cafés and one-person workshops, not hotel chains. No contract, cancel any time, and never any commission on what you sell.
Get found. A real, indexed listing — not a trial.
£0
- Your business name and what you do
- A short description and one photo
- A pin on the map for your town
- Listed on your region page & the directory
- Link to your website and phone number
- Full structured-data markup & sitemap inclusion
For businesses with no website — or one they can't update.
£12/month
- Everything free, plus:
- A page of your own at scottishlocal.com/businesses/your-name
- Up to 8 photos in a proper gallery
- Opening hours, so people know when you're open
- Your email and social links
- Room to tell the full story, not just two lines
- Higher placement in the directory and on your region page
Don't have the time or the photos? We'll do the setup.
A one-off £75. We'll have a 20-minute phone call, write your page copy for you, crop and edit the photos you already have, and set up your free Google Business Profile — the single highest-impact thing most small businesses are missing.
One-off, not a subscription. We only charge for it once because we only do it once.
Prices in GBP, billed monthly, cancel any time — we'll remove your page within two working days if you ask. If you're a charity, community group or social enterprise in Scotland, the paid tier is free: just say so when you get in touch.
Common questions
Is the free listing really free?
Yes, permanently. It isn't a trial and we won't ask for a card. The free listing gets exactly the same technical SEO treatment as the paid one — your name, what you do, a photo and a pin on the map. Paying adds a page of your own; it doesn't buy you basic visibility, because that's free.
What's the actual difference between free and paid?
The free listing puts you on the site — name, description, photo, town and a map pin, found through search and the region pages. The paid listing gives you a page of your own: up to 8 photos, opening hours, your email and socials, and space to explain what you actually do. If you already have a good website, free may be all you need.
I don't have a website at all. Is that a problem?
That's exactly who this is built for. On the £12 tier your ScottishLocal page becomes your web address — you can put it on a sign, a business card or a receipt. Plenty of small businesses run entirely on that, and it costs less than a website plus hosting would.
Will this actually get me to the top of Google?
No one can promise that, and you should be suspicious of anyone who does. What we can do is make sure you're properly indexed, marked up correctly, and targeting local searches you can realistically win. See the honest breakdown above.
How long before I see anything?
Search engines typically take a few weeks to index and rank a new page. ScottishLocal is also a new site building its own authority, so this is a slow burn rather than an overnight switch. We'd rather say that upfront than take your money on a false promise.
Do you take commission on bookings or sales?
Never. There's no commission, no booking fee and no cut of anything. Customers contact you directly and whatever they spend is entirely yours.
Who qualifies as "independent"?
Any business operating in Scotland that isn't part of a national chain or franchise — sole traders, family businesses, crofts, community enterprises, workshops and small partnerships. If you're not sure, just ask.
Can I cancel or delete my listing?
Any time, and we'll remove it within two working days. No notice period, no cancellation fee, and we don't hold your content hostage.