The Complete Local SEO Guide for Small Businesses
Want to show up when people search for your services nearby? This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about local SEO.
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is the practice of optimizing your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches. When someone searches for "plumber near me" or "best pizza in [city]," local SEO determines which businesses appear.
Why Local SEO Matters
- 46% of all Google searches have local intent
- 88% of local business searches on mobile result in a call or visit within 24 hours
- 78% of local mobile searches result in an offline purchase
- Include your city/region in title tags and meta descriptions
- Create location-specific pages if you serve multiple areas
- Embed a Google Map on your contact page
- Include your full NAP (Name, Address, Phone) on every page
- Add local business schema markup
- Yelp
- Yellow Pages
- Industry-specific directories
- Local business directories
- Chamber of Commerce websites
- Google Business Profile Insights
- Local ranking tracking tools
- Website analytics (location-based traffic)
- Call tracking
For businesses that serve a specific geographic area, local SEO isn't optional—it's essential.
The Foundation: Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the cornerstone of local SEO. To optimize it:
1. Claim and verify your listing
2. Complete every field: business name, address, phone, hours, services, etc.
3. Choose accurate categories: Pick your primary category carefully
4. Add photos: Businesses with photos receive 42% more requests for directions
5. Collect reviews: More reviews (and higher ratings) improve visibility
On-Site Local SEO
Your website also needs to be optimized for local search:
Building Local Citations
Citations are mentions of your business name, address, and phone number on other websites. Consistent citations across the web help verify your business information and improve local rankings.
Key citation sources include:
Managing Reviews
Reviews significantly impact both rankings and conversion rates. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews, and always respond to reviews—both positive and negative—professionally.
Tracking Your Progress
Monitor your local SEO performance with:
Get Started Today
Local SEO is one of the highest-ROI marketing activities for businesses serving specific geographic areas. Start with the basics, stay consistent, and you'll see results.
Need help with your local SEO strategy? Contact us for a free consultation.