Boost Your Local Presence with These SEO Tips for Local Business

Your customers are looking online before they ever pick up the phone or walk into an office or a store. If your business isn’t showing up in local search results, you’re losing real opportunities to competitors who are. This guide will walk you through practical steps to improve your local visibility and help more people in your area find and choose you.

SEO Tips for Local Business: Getting Started

Local SEO is all about helping people nearby find you when they need your services. It’s different from general SEO because it focuses on location-based results. Here’s how to begin:

Rocket to Growth!

Set Up and Polish Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (formerly called Google My Business) plays a big role in showing up in maps and local listings. Make sure you:

• Claim your listing

• Use your exact business name, address, and phone number

• Add quality photos

• Encourage happy customers to leave reviews (and respond to them)

Keep Your NAP Details Identical Everywhere

NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. These should match exactly—on your website, social pages, directories, and anywhere else you’re listed. Even a small difference can cause confusion for search engines and hurt your rankings.

Use Location Keywords on Your Website

Think like a customer. Someone isn’t searching for “dentist,” they’re typing “dentist in Boise.” Use these types of search terms in your titles, page text, and image descriptions.

Create Content With a Local Focus

If you’re writing blog posts or making videos, include local events, tips, or news stories. A lawn care company in Ogden, for example, could talk about how to handle lawn fungus in Utah summers.

What’s the Best Strategy for Local SEO?

There’s no single silver bullet. The best results come from layering a few key efforts that all work together. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

Google Business Profile Is Still King

Keep your info current. Add photos regularly. Post updates, offers, or reminders. Make sure your hours and services are accurate.

Get Listed on Local Sites

Add your business to online directories, local chamber pages, and anywhere else that matters in your community. These “mentions” help Google know you’re a legit local business.

Ask for Reviews—Often

Positive reviews not only build trust but also help your rankings. Make it part of your routine to ask satisfied customers to leave a quick review. Make it simple with a direct link.

Add Local Markup to Your Website

Structured data (also called schema) helps search engines understand your location, services, and hours. You won’t see it, but Google will—and it can help you stand out in results.

Make Sure Your Website Works Well on Phones

Most local searches happen on mobile. If your site is clunky or hard to use, people will bounce fast. Use big buttons, clear calls to action, and make sure it loads quickly.

Stay Active on Social Media

Even a basic presence can help. Post updates, tag local partners, and join the conversation. A local following helps you stay top-of-mind.

Using Content to Build Local Visibility

Content is a strong way to connect with your community—and show up in searches. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to be real, helpful, and local.

Blog About What’s Happening Nearby

Write about the area, share event info, or spotlight local partners. A homebuilder could write “Our Favorite Neighborhoods in Layton to Build a Home.”

Build Pages for Each Location You Serve

If you work in multiple cities or towns, create separate pages for each one. Talk about what you do there, mention landmarks or neighborhoods, and add real photos when you can.

Share Real Photos and Video

Pictures of your team, your work, and your happy customers help people trust you. It also keeps your site fresh, and search engines like that.

Promote Local Events You’re Part Of

If you’re hosting or joining a local event, talk about it on your site and social channels. It shows you’re active in the community and gives you more chances to show up online.

Work With Local Influencers or Creators

If there are bloggers, Instagrammers, or TikTokers in your town, partner up. A short shoutout or shared post can go a long way—especially if it comes from someone people already follow.

Online Reviews and Building Trust

Your reviews matter. People read them, Google reads them, and they can be the deciding factor between someone calling you or scrolling past.

Ask After Every Good Job

Don’t be shy. After a good experience, ask for a review. You can do it in person, by email, or with a quick text.

Make It Easy

Send a direct link to your review page. Fewer clicks = more people will do it.

Always Respond

A quick thank-you shows appreciation. A thoughtful reply to a bad review shows you care. Don’t ghost your reviewers.

Keep Tabs on What’s Being Said

Set up Google Alerts for your business name or use software that tracks your online mentions. Know what’s out there.

Show Off the Good Stuff

Put a few great reviews on your site. Highlight a customer quote in your homepage text or a testimonial on your service page.

Helpful Tools for Local SEO

You don’t have to figure this all out alone. These tools can give you a hand:

• Google Business Profile Manager – Update your listing and see how it’s performing

• Moz Local or BrightLocal – Scan your citations and fix issues

• Whitespark – Helps you get listed in the right directories

• Podium or ReviewTrackers – Manage your review requests in one place

• Google Keyword Planner – Find location-based phrases real people search

• PageSpeed Insights – Check your site speed and mobile friendliness

Want to know where you stand? Use a free scan tool to see how you’re doing and what to fix next.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Improving your local SEO is something you work on over time, not just once and done. Here are a few next-level ways to keep growing:

Make Short Videos

Even a simple phone video showing your process, answering questions, or introducing your team helps people connect.

Think About Voice Search

People talk to their phones differently than they type. Answer questions in your content like “Where can I find a good dog groomer near me?”

Make Sure Visitors Can Navigate Your Site Easily

If your site is easy to use, people will stick around longer—and Google notices that.

Support or Join Local Events

Sponsor a little league team, join a fundraiser, or co-host a local seminar. It’s good for business and good for your brand.

Watch the Data

Keep an eye on your website traffic, review count, and how often people find you on search. Use those numbers to guide your next move.

A strong local online presence isn’t just a bonus—it’s a must. The good news? With the right approach, it’s something every business can build. Start small, stay consistent, and you’ll start showing up right where your customers are looking.