Empty, honestly. I'd been running private tutoring sessions for high school students since 2022, but I was getting maybe two inquiries a month. All word-of-mouth. I had a website, but it wasn't doing anything. I didn't even know local SEO was a thing until another tutor mentioned it at a meetup.
**Q: What did you change?**
First, I claimed my Google Business Profile. Can't believe I hadn't done that earlier – it's completely free. Then I realized my website never mentioned where I actually worked. Every page said "online and in-person tutoring" but never specified Pretoria East. Google had no idea I was local.
**Q: How did you fix that?**
I added location information everywhere it made sense. Not stuffing it in awkwardly, just natural mentions like "serving students in Pretoria East and surrounding areas." I created separate pages for each subject I taught, and each one mentioned the neighborhoods I covered. Within three weeks, I started appearing in the map pack when people searched for "math tutor near me."
**Q: That must have increased inquiries?**
Went from two a month to four or five a week. The challenge then became managing my schedule! But here's what really worked – I asked every parent for a Google review. Not immediately, but after a few successful sessions. I went from zero reviews to 18 in about four months.
**Q: Reviews matter that much?**
Huge difference. I outrank tutoring centers with bigger websites because I have more recent reviews and better ratings. Cost me nothing except asking politely and making it easy for parents.
**Q: What advice would you give other local service providers?**
Claim your Google Business Profile today. Add photos, your actual service area, specific services. Then optimize your website for local terms. If you're in Cape Town, say you're in Cape Town. And get reviews – they're free marketing that actually works.