Local SEO Domination: Rank #1 in Your City

Local search is different from regular SEO. Here’s how to own your local market.

Why Local SEO Matters

The Numbers

46% of Google searches have local intent
88% of local mobile searches result in a call or visit within 24 hours
72% of consumers who search locally visit a store within 5 miles

The Opportunity

Most local businesses ignore SEO. Basic optimization puts you ahead of 80% of competitors.

The Local SEO Ecosystem

Three Ranking Factors

Relevance: How well you match the search
Distance: How close you are to the searcher
Prominence: How well-known and trusted you are

Two Types of Results

Map Pack (Local Pack)

The 3 businesses shown with the map
Highest visibility, highest clicks
Driven by Google Business Profile

Organic Results

Traditional website listings
Below the map pack
Driven by website SEO

Google Business Profile Optimization

The Foundation

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the most important local SEO factor.

Complete Every Field

Business name (exact legal name)
Address (consistent everywhere)
Phone number (local number preferred)
Website URL
Hours of operation
Business category (primary + secondary)
Business description (750 characters)
Services/products
Attributes

Photos Matter

Businesses with photos receive:

42% more direction requests
35% more website clicks

Add:

Exterior photos (helps Google verify location)
Interior photos
Team photos
Product/service photos
Customer photos (with permission)

Posts and Updates

Regular GBP posts signal an active business:

Weekly updates
Special offers
Events
New products/services

Q&A Section

Seed with common questions
Answer promptly
Use keywords naturally

Reviews: The Trust Factor

Why Reviews Matter

93% of consumers read reviews before buying
Star rating affects click-through rate
Review quantity signals popularity
Review content provides keyword relevance

Getting More Reviews

Ask at the right time:

After successful service completion
When customer expresses satisfaction
In follow-up emails

Make it easy:

Direct link to review page
QR codes in physical locations
Text message requests

What NOT to do:

Offer incentives for reviews
Buy fake reviews
Review gate (only asking happy customers)

Responding to Reviews

Positive reviews:

Thank the customer
Mention specifics
Include a keyword naturally

Negative reviews:

Respond promptly
Acknowledge the issue
Take it offline
Show you care

Local Citations

What Are Citations?

Mentions of your business name, address, and phone (NAP) across the web.

Key Citation Sources

Tier 1 (Essential):

Google Business Profile
Apple Maps
Bing Places
Facebook
Yelp

Tier 2 (Important):

Industry directories
Local chambers of commerce
Better Business Bureau
Yellow Pages

Tier 3 (Helpful):

Local news sites
Community websites
Niche directories

NAP Consistency

Your business information must be identical everywhere:

Wrong:

“123 Main St” vs “123 Main Street”
“Suite 100” vs “#100”
“(555) 123-4567” vs “555-123-4567”

Right:

Pick one format
Use it everywhere
Audit regularly

Local Content Strategy

Location Pages

If you serve multiple areas, create pages for each:

Structure:

Unique content per location
Local keywords
Embedded map
Location-specific testimonials
Local team members

Local Blog Content

Write about:

Local events you sponsor/attend
Community involvement
Local industry news
Area-specific guides

Schema Markup

Add LocalBusiness schema to your site:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "LocalBusiness",
  "name": "Your Business Name",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "123 Main St",
    "addressLocality": "Your City",
    "addressRegion": "ST",
    "postalCode": "12345"
  },
  "telephone": "+1-555-123-4567"
}

Tracking Success

Key Metrics

GBP views and actions
Local keyword rankings
Website traffic from local searches
Phone calls and direction requests
Review quantity and rating

Tools

Google Business Profile Insights
Google Search Console
Local rank tracking tools
Call tracking software

Common Mistakes

Inconsistent NAP: Confuses Google
Ignoring reviews: Signals you don’t care
Keyword stuffing: Looks spammy
Fake addresses: Against guidelines
Neglecting mobile: Most local searches are mobile

Quick Wins Checklist

The Long Game

Local SEO isn’t a one-time task:

Weekly: Post to GBP, respond to reviews
Monthly: Request reviews, check rankings
Quarterly: Audit citations, update photos
Annually: Full local SEO audit

Consistency wins in local search.

Want to dominate your local market? Contact us for a local SEO audit.