Why You Need Local SEO & How To Get Started
Why You Need Local SEO: A Complete Guide
In today’s digital world, you have to have a strong, complete online presence. For local businesses, it’s not just about being available online - it’s about being found by the right people, at the right place, at the right time. It’s also about being the top result with the most information available. That’s where local SEO (search engine optimization) comes in.
Local SEO is the strategy of optimizing your online presence to increase visibility when people are looking for your services, in your area. Whether you’re a realtor, a boutique, a law firm, or a home services provider, if your business either has a physical location or serves a specific geographic area, you need a local SEO plan that helps you drive high-intent traffic to your website and to your doors.
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is a subset of traditional SEO that focuses on improving a business's visibility in local search results on Google and other search engines. It helps your business appear when users search for terms like "coffee shop near me," "best plumber in Atlanta," or "family doctor in Tampa."
When users perform these types of searches, search engines pull up the most relevant results based on proximity, relevance, and prominence. The goal of local SEO is to signal to the search engine (Google, Bing, etc.) that your business deserves to be among those top results.
Why does local SEO matter?
People making localized searches are ready to take action. 76% of people who search for something nearby visit a related business within one day.
The majority of local searches occur on mobile devices. Local SEO means your business is accessible when customers are at a point of decision - choosing a restaurant or looking for an urgent care center.
Local SEO improves your chances of showing up in Google’s Local Pack and Google Maps results. That means higher visibility and more website clicks for you.
Many small businesses overlook and underutilize local SEO. Taking advantage of this opportunity sets you apart and gives you an edge over competitors who are not in this low-cost, high-impact space.
Let’s Get Started: Two Must-Do’s
1: Create & Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the cornerstone of your local SEO strategy. A well-optimized GBP helps your business show up in the Local Pack and Google Maps results. And the best part - it’s free!
How To:
Visit https://business.google.com/us/business-profile/ and click ‘Get Started’
Complete every section of your profile (business description, logo, hours of operation, address, phone number, website URL, services provided, photos, etc.)
Make sure to provide high quality photos of your business, products or services, location and team.
Select the right business categories for your company.
Add special attributes that are important to your customers - wheelchair accessibility, outdoor seating, etc.
Stay engaged after you create it - Post updates and offers regularly, add new photos, and one of the most important pieces: respond to customer reviews!
2: Manage Your Local Listings & Citations
Local listings and citations are anywhere your business name, address and phone number (NAP) are mentioned on other websites. Google Business Profile is one of these. Consistent citations across reputable online directories reinforce your legitimacy to search engines, your credibility to customers, and the likelihood that you will show up at the top of search results.
Top places to list your business:
Yelp
Bing Places
Apple Maps
Facebook Business
Yellow Pages
Chamber of Commerce websites
Industry-specific directories (like Healthgrades for healthcare providers)
Best practices for local citations:
Ensure your NAP is consistent across all platforms
Add detailed descriptions, photos, hours and business categories where possible
You can use a tool like Moz Local, Yext, or BrightLocal to manage and track all of your listings
Monitor any customer reviews and respond!
A Checklist To Starting Your Local SEO Strategy
You’ve got the basics down and have consistent information across the main players for local search listings. Follow these steps to help your business climb to the top of local search results, consistently:
Claim and verify your Google Business Profile
Fill out every detail on your profile and keep it updated
Build your local listings and citations consistently across the top sites
Manage your listings on a regular basis and stay engaged
Closing Thoughts
Hopefully this helps you get started on your local SEO journey! This is one of the most cost-effective ways to generate new traffic, build trust with consumers and attract local customers who are ready to convert. Investing some time upfront to create and build out your online presence will not only improve your online visibility but ensure your target customers choose you.
Stay tuned for the next blog post in this series to learn how to optimize your website for local search and create and maintain a review management process.