What changed in search
- Most searches no longer end in a click. SparkToro’s analysis of US Google searches in January to April 2026 found 68% ended without a click to any website.
- AI answers take the top of the page. AI Overviews appeared on over 20% of searches, and where they appear, click-through rates drop by nearly 60%.
- Local searches still convert. The same study notes that branded, local and high-intent searches (“web designer near me”, “emergency locksmith Ipswich”) keep earning clicks.
- The map results are decided mostly by your profile and reviews. In Whitespark’s 2026 survey, the Google Business Profile (32%) and reviews (20%) are the biggest factors for the map pack, while on-page signals lead for organic results and AI answers.
Why video belongs in a local plan
- 91% of businesses now use video in their marketing, and 82% of marketers say it gives a good return (Wyzowl, 2026).
- 63% of consumers say a short video is their preferred way to learn about a product or service, far ahead of text articles at 12%.
- 84% want to see more video from brands, and most marketers find 30 seconds to 2 minutes is the length that works.
- Much mobile video is watched with the sound off, so captions and bold on-screen text are essential.
Video also feeds your search presence: short videos can be added to your Google Business Profile, which gives Google fresh, real activity to show.
The monthly plan
- Week 1: profile and reviews. Check your Google Business Profile (hours, services, photos), post one update, and ask three to five recent customers for a review with a direct link.
- Week 2: one search-led page or article. Pick one question customers ask before buying (“how much does it cost?”, “how long does it take?”) and answer it properly on your website.
- Week 3: two to four short videos. Turn that same question into 15 to 30-second videos. Post them to Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Facebook, and add the best one to your Google Business Profile.
- Week 4: measure and adjust. Look at the searches bringing people in (Google Search Console), calls and website clicks from your profile, enquiries in Google Analytics, and video views. Do more of what worked.
Video ideas that work for local businesses
- Answer the question you get asked most, in under 30 seconds.
- Before and after: a job, a room, a website, a menu.
- Behind the scenes: how you do the work, the tools you use, your team.
- Customer stories, with permission, even as simple quotes on screen.
- Price explainers: what’s included and what isn’t.
- Local angles: the areas you cover, local events, partners nearby.
- Myth versus fact in your industry.
- Seasonal offers, deadlines and reminders.
You don’t need to be on camera. Motion graphics, product shots and AI-assisted video can carry a message well, as long as a real person directs and checks it.
What to measure
- Enquiries: WhatsApp messages, calls and form submissions, tracked as key events in Google Analytics 4.
- Google Business Profile: calls, website clicks and direction requests.
- Search Console: which local searches you appear for, and your position.
- Video: views, completion rate and profile visits, not just likes.
Do it yourself, or have it done for you
This plan works whether you run it yourself or hand it over. If you’d rather hand it over, our video marketing packages combine local SEO with two to eight Reels a month, from £595 a month with no setup fee.