The Rural Business Website Checklist

1. Get Found

• ☐ Mobile-first design — most rural searches happen on a phone
• ☐ Loads fast (under ~3 seconds), even on rural connections
• ☐ Google Business Profile claimed, filled out, and linked to your site
• ☐ Your town & county names on your key pages (local SEO)
• ☐ A dedicated page for each service and each service area
• ☐ Indexed by Google — a sitemap submitted in Search Console

2. Build Trust

• ☐ A real “About” page with your story — people buy from neighbors
• ☐ Your own photos of your work, your place, and your face (not stock)
• ☐ Reviews and testimonials where visitors will see them
• ☐ Clear contact info — phone, email, hours, and service area
• ☐ The padlock (SSL secure) so browsers don’t warn visitors away

3. Drive Action

• ☐ One clear primary call-to-action — above the fold and repeated
• ☐ A working contact / lead form (and test it from your phone!)
• ☐ Click-to-call phone number on mobile
• ☐ Online booking or quote request, if it fits your business

4. Own It

• ☐ You own your domain name
• ☐ You own your hosting and your website files
• ☐ You hold the logins — don’t let a “guy” keep the keys
• ☐ Automatic backups are running

5. Measure It

• ☐ Google Analytics (GA4) installed
• ☐ Form and call tracking — so you can prove what’s working
• ☐ Google Search Console connected

6. Look the Part

• ☐ Consistent logo, colors, and fonts across every page
• ☐ A professional email (you@yourbusiness.com, not a free inbox)
• ☐ No broken links, typos, or leftover placeholder text
• ☐ Looks right on a phone, a tablet, and a big screen