Honest comparison · No pressure
RankMyLocal vs doing it yourself
DIY local SEO is genuinely possible. We won't pretend otherwise. Here's the honest side-by-side so you can pick the path that actually fits your situation.
| Area | DIY | RankMyLocal |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | £0 in fees | £197 GBP Fix & Foundation |
| Your time per month | 5–8 hrs (if done properly) | 30 min review call |
| Time to first Map Pack movement | 4–9 months | 30–60 days typically |
| Risk of getting it wrong | High — wrong category alone wipes months | Low — done by people who do this daily |
| Review pipeline | Ad-hoc, usually fizzles after 3 weeks | Templated, automated, measured |
| Photo / post cadence | Drops off in week 4 | Scheduled and monitored |
| Technical SEO (schema, site speed) | Usually skipped | Built into every engagement |
| Outside perspective on weak spots | Hard to see your own gaps | Audit-led, brutally honest |
| Learning by doing | —You build the skill | —You stay focused on running the business |
| Long-term ownership | —100% yours, always | —100% yours — we never lock accounts |
When DIY is the right call
- • You genuinely have 5–8 hours a month and enjoy the work.
- • You're a solo operator with very tight cashflow.
- • You're in a low-competition area where category + reviews alone will win.
If that's you — brilliant. Start with our free GBP checklist, grade yourself on the free GBP grader, and read the resources library. We'd rather you DIY well than hire badly.
When working with us is the right call
- • You're busy running the business and the SEO work keeps slipping to next month.
- • You've tried DIY for 3+ months with no measurable movement.
- • You're in a competitive market where small advantages compound.
- • You want a second pair of eyes that does this for UK businesses every single day.
Not sure which one fits you?
Run the free 60-second grader. If you score above 75 — keep going alone. Below 50 — let's talk.