INSIDE TAXISOLUTIONS’ APPROACH: How local taxi operators are competing and growing using SEO, social media and digital reviews
- Perry Richardson
- 3 minutes ago
- 4 min read
As competition intensifies across the taxi and private hire sector, operators are under growing pressure to stand out locally while keeping costs under control.
TaxiPoint spoke to TaxiSolutions to understand how targeted digital marketing, from search visibility to reputation management, is being used by operators to win bookings, defend their patch against national apps, and build more resilient businesses. In this Q&A, TaxiSolutions explain where operators should be focusing their efforts and why digital strategy is now closely tied to day-to-day operations.
What does TaxiSolutions offer to the taxi & PHV industry?
TaxiSolutions helps operators drive bookings and build a stronger local brand through practical, measurable digital marketing. In simple terms: we help you get found, get chosen, and get rebooked.
Our work typically covers:
Social media management and content planning that keeps your brand visible week to week.
Local SEO and website optimisation so you show up when people search “taxi near me”, “airport transfer”, “7 seater”, “school run taxi”, and other high-intent terms in your area
Reputation and review management to increase trust and conversion (especially on Google via ReviewMaster).
Campaign strategy for key revenue drivers like airport transfers, corporate accounts, events, peak-season travel, and app adoption.
Performance reporting that ties activity back to outcomes (calls, web enquiries, app clicks, quote requests), so you can see what’s working and what to adjust.
The industry is competitive, margins can be tight, and customer expectations are high. Our job is to remove the guesswork and build a consistent digital engine that supports real operations.
How important are social media and SEO today?
They’re no longer “nice to have” — they’re how most customers decide who to book.
SEO captures demand that already exists. When someone needs a taxi now (or an airport transfer next week), they search. If you don’t appear on Google Maps and in local results, you’re invisible at the moment it matters most.
Social media builds familiarity and preference. People may not book from a post immediately, but repeated exposure builds trust. When they do need you, you’re the name they remember. Social also helps defend your patch against national apps by reinforcing what locals care about: reliability, coverage, and community presence.
The strongest operators treat both as part of the same system: SEO brings high-intent traffic in, social builds trust and keeps your brand “top of mind”.
Social media moves fast. What should operators focus on right now?
Trends change, but the winners stay consistent: clarity, trust, and relevance. Formats should support that.
Short-form video (15–30 seconds) is currently the most effective for reach. It doesn’t need to be “influencer-style”. Quick clips that show real-life services work well: airport runs, vehicle options (especially 6/7/8 seaters), meet-and-greet, luggage space, late-night coverage, corporate travel, and “how to book” tutorials.
Images still matter, especially for clear service messages: pricing structures (where applicable), app download prompts, vehicle types, and seasonal campaigns.
Text is underrated when it’s helpful: local travel tips, event reminders, road closure updates, and simple Q&As such as “can I pre-book at 4am?” or “do you do larger groups?”
Audio/podcasts are growing, but for most local operators they’re a “later” play. The faster win is using voiceover on short videos.
The key shift: don’t post “because you should” - post to answer common customer questions and remove friction from booking.
How can operators use technology to recruit drivers and customers?
Recruitment and customer growth both improve when you treat them like funnels: target → capture → nurture → convert.
For driver recruitment, technology helps you:
Run hyper-local recruitment ads (by postcode, radius, shift pattern, vehicle type).
Send candidates to a simple mobile-first landing page with clear benefits and an “apply in 60 seconds” form.
Use automation (email/WhatsApp/SMS) to follow up instantly, book interviews, and reduce drop-off.
Track which sources bring the best drivers, so you spend budget where it works.
For customer acquisition, technology helps you:
Improve conversion with a faster website, clear CTAs, and frictionless booking journeys.
Promote app adoption with trackable links and campaigns focused on benefits (speed, convenience, booking history, priority in peaks).
Use retargeting so people who visited your site or clicked your app link see you again when they’re ready to book.
Build business account pipelines through LinkedIn outreach, local landing pages, and targeted campaigns by sector (hospitality, construction, care, offices).
In both cases, the advantage is speed and consistency: the right message, to the right people, with follow-up that doesn’t rely on someone remembering to call them back.
How can digital reviews enhance reputation and trust today?
Word of mouth still matters - it’s just become visible and searchable. A strong review profile (especially on Google) acts like a public referral engine. It builds trust before a customer even clicks your website.
For operators, reviews also reduce price sensitivity: people will pay a little more for confidence and reliability.
Practical ways to use reviews:
Generate them consistently: ask at the right moment (after a successful job) and make it easy with a direct link/QR code.
Respond professionally: polite, calm replies show accountability and reassure future customers.
Use reviews as content: testimonials, screenshots (with permission), and “what customers say about us” posts are high-trust marketing.
Spot operational insights: reviews highlight recurring issues (late pickups, booking friction, vehicle expectations) so you can fix root causes, not just optics.
In a crowded market, reputation is often the difference between being “one of many” and being the operator people actively choose.
