Local SEO Best Practices 2025: Rank in SEPRS with Local SEO

20 Seconds Summary: This blog post will walk you through all the essential factors or practices for Local SEO that you should be implementing for your business to rank high in the search engine results pages. From setting up your Google Business Profile to doing keyword research and managing local citations, we have got it all covered so that you do not have to go anywhere to complete your Local SEO checklist.

Introduction

Local SEO, or local search optimization, is basically the process of optimizing your local business on Google SERPS, so that you can appear more in search results for local searches around your business and generate more sales conversions, using targeted keywords for the local audience.

Difference between Local SEO and Traditional SEO

Traditional SEO helps to optimize your website for global visibility, not just local search visibility. Local SEO basically targets the audience that lives in the geographical area of your business to increase the awareness of your store’s or online business’s presence in the area, if you are someone who does not have an upfront store.

Why is Local SEO important for search rankings

Local SEO is very crucial for your business. If you are targeting globally and have upfront stores in your geographical area, then you can get the additional benefit of local search optimization. But if you are a small business operating physically in a specific geographical location, then Local SEO can increase your sales by a very high percentage.

• As per a report, almost 98 percent of people search for local information about a local business online. Their research showed that this percentage went from 90 percent to 98 percent from 2019 to 2022.
• Local searches lead to higher conversion rates when you have done good local search optimization.
• As per Think With Google,  76 percent of people who are conducting local searches on their mobile phone tend to visit a physical place within 24 hours, and almost 28 percent of these searches result in a purchase.
• Several websites have also cited that more than 40% of search results are searching for local information online.

Local SEO plays an integral role in your business conversions. Suppose you are operating as a small business owner in a special geographical area. In that case, Local search optimization is a must for you to grow your business and bring more customers and conversions.

Local SEO and Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile is the priority when Local optimization is considered. It was previously known as Google My Business, so do not get confused. We are using the rebranded name, and the tool will now be available as Google Business Profile.

This tool by Google is totally free, and it can help you set up your business profile for local SEO. It lets you control how your business will appear on Google Maps and Google Search.

You cannot only post images related to your services and products, but you can also connect with your customers by responding to their reviews and providing them with polite, timely responses.

Let us see how you can fully optimize your business on Google Business Profile to boost your local SEO and rank high in local SERPS.

Set Up Google Business Profile for Local SEO

To set up your Google Business Profile, follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Visit Google My Business and sign in with your Google account.
2. If your business is not added, then add it and claim it.
3. Add your location.
4. Choose the right category for your business (like “Child Care Centre” or “Chinese Restaurant”).
5. Enter the name, address, and phone number of your business.
6. Use your email or mobile to verify your business.
7. Once verified, your Google Business Profile is ready.

Google Business Profile Tips for Local SEO

No, it does not stop with setting up your GBP. You will still need to make some little efforts with it to keep up with your local SEO using GBP.

Keep the Profile Up To Date

Always keep your profile up to date. You must make sure that you are updating your Google Business Profile at least once a week. You must also update if new products have been added to your business or any changes have been made in its operations.

NAP

Your name, address, and phone numbers are an integral part of this profile setup and for your local SEO. This is how your customers will reach out to you. NAP builds authority and trust around you with your audience and search engines, increases your visibility in search engines, and generates high rankings in SERPS.

Adding High Quality Images

Always add high-quality images of your products, services, and the restaurant. Visuals are quick to capture the interest of customers and can help increase engagement in your business’s online search visibility.

Businesses that use pictures get 42% more requests for directions.

Hours of Operation

Hours of operation should continually be updated. If there are any changes for a specific period, they must be updated with the dates and changed timings.

Business Description

Your business description appears along with your business name and contact details. You must ensure to have a good brief business description sing local keywords in them as they help to boost engagement as people will be searching for relevant keywords which will induce more clicks and this will also give you a competitive advantage over your competitors, if they are not using the target keywords within their business profile.

Defining the Right Categories and Services for your Business

You must choose the right primary category and secondary categories for your business.

• Choose a primary category that defines your business well, and be more specific about it. Rather than choosing a “Restaurant,” choose “Italian Restaurant” to provide accurate information, making it easier for people to understand your business.
• You can further add secondary categories to highlight more of your services, like Italian breakfast, Italian Dinner menu, etc.
• Having proper categories helps you reach out to the right target audience and increases your visibility and ranking.

Reviews, Rankings, and Conversions

Reviews matter a lot. You must constantly respond to your customer reviews online, making sure to respond nicely to the negative comments too and promise them improvements, or if there are already, bringing it to their attention so that other customers can see that you listen to your audience and cater to their needs.

More Local SEO Practices For Local Rankings

Now that we have set up our Google Business Profile, there are some more local SEO practices that we need to work on to enhance your business’s visibility and rankings in search engines.

Create a Landing Page for Local SEO

There is nothing more perfect than creating a landing page for your local business targeting the audience from different locations of your operations by building one landing page for each.

So if you have a website, opt for landing pages to enhance your local SEO. This can be done by:

• Using targeted local keywords throughout the content of your landing pages.
• Using long-tail keywords can be really helpful, too. These are keywords that are usually more than three words, and they can target users with high intent in your business niche, generating high traffic and conversion rates.
• Using these keywords very strategically in your meta titles, content, and headings without stuffing them will help you rank high in local SERPS.
• Use high-quality images and videos.
• Adding customer reviews to your landing pages.
• Adding Google map directions to your business.
• Adding the operating hours of your business

Create a Blog

If you already do not have a blog on your website, consider adding one. This helps you to add more content with increased use of local keywords, allowing you to reach a larger audience and gain more visibility in search results.

Local Search Optimization using Geo-targeted Keywords

When we talk about Local SEO, then the use of keywords changes a lot. Since we are targeting a location-based audience, geo-targeted keywords can include different locations, helping your business rank for local searches, such as the best Italian breakfast restaurant in New York.

• These keywords can be found using Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, Semrush, or Ubersuggest-like tools online.
• Add location to your product or service, for example: Best croissants in Cape Town.
• Use these keywords in your Meta Titles (Meta descriptions and Page Titles).
• Use them strategically in H1 headings and subheadings.
• Also, use Geo-targeted keywords in image alt tags and the whole body of your content.
• These should also be part of your business description in Google Business Profile.

Quality Content Free of Errors

Always prefer to provide valuable content to your customers. Make sure there are no errors in your content, whether it is on your website, blog, or in your GBP description or NAP.

Mobile-Friendly Website

If you have a website for your local business, make sure it loads fast and has a mobile-friendly theme. Include descriptive alt texts and use responsive image formats that adjust according to the screen size of each device.

Local Link Building

Link building refers to generating links for your website from other websites to create backlinks that not only increase your authority but also increase your traffic. It is significant for SEO, and there are specific strategies that can be followed for Local Link building.

• Ask for reviews on local websites, because 98% of people search for online reviews in their local searches. Good reviews about your business can win your customers by building trust.
• You can go for PR Marketing and Arrange Events to increase brand awareness, and encourage the attendees to leave reviews with backlinks, especially the influencers who are widely known locally and can provide you with a quality backlink based on PR collaborations, gaining authority and trust for your business.
• Use Events, and Promotional Announcements using Press Releases with links to your business or website for backlink building website authority.
• List your business in the Local Business Directories to get the links, because 94% of consumers use business information sites to find information about a local company. Listing yourself on business directories is like using Facebook, Bing, and Yelp, which can improve your visibility and create local links for your business..
• Add Internal Links to your blogs. Consumers mostly turn to a blog before making a purchase, and not only this, with time, these posts can attract backlinks through social shares and external mentions, increasing your website traffic and conversion rate.

Adding Google Maps to your Website

If you have a website, always embed your Google Map on your website. This helps with your local SEO by providing a better user experience with a visual representation of your business.

It also signals your geographical presence to search engines, hence increasing your visibility in search results and leading to higher rankings in local search results.

Competitor Research

Learning about your competitor is very important. Always keep an eye on your local competitors, especially those who are outranking your business. You must look into the keywords they are targeting, their Business Profile approach, and their customers’ reviews for a side-by-side comparison with your company.

• Identify the keywords that are helping them rank. Try to use these differently to outrank them. Target long-tail keywords that they are not using to outrank them and gain more visibility online.
• Customer reviews matter a lot. If your competitors have 1000 reviews, you need to make sure to get more reviews than they do and consider providing an excellent service to gain better reviews and generate a healthy business reputation online.
• Monitor closely and identify gaps in their products and services. Use these to your advantage and provide those products and services to gain more traffic traction for your business.

List Your Business on Local Citation Websites

Your NAP details mentioned in online references are known as local citations. These build the relevance and legitimacy of your business for search engines. These not only increase your visibility in search engines for your consumers but also have a positive influence on your search engine rankings.

These citations can be structured (appearing on Yelp, Facebook, and Yellow Pages). They can also be unstructured and appear on blogs, newspapers, and different social media platforms or event listings.

• Maintain NAP consistency across all platforms.
• Use tools like BrightLocal, Whitespark, or Moz Local to manage or audit your citations regularly.

This helps you to be consistently available and listed across the web, since search engines trust the businesses that are continuously listed online on different platforms, this can increase your rankings, and for some reason if there are changes in your NAP  forget to update it, then the outdated information could actually harm your local rankings in SERPS.

Participate in Community Events

Never take the power of community events for granted if you are a local small-scale business. Participating in the community event can increase brand awareness and earn quality backlinks, enhancing your online presence and rankings.

Leverage Social Media for Local SEO

For a local business, Social media is as essential as it is for large companies. You can leverage social media to create backlinks to your website and your business location by providing your business location link on your social media, using it as a source of listings.

• Generate a profile on primary social media channels like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
• Fill out each social media platform with accurate and up-to-date information about your business.
• Regularly post videos of your products or services and your clients’ testimonials to create more credibility for your business.
• People tagging your social media pages to give their testimonials or reviews indirectly send traffic to you with their positive feedback, hence building brand authority, mentions, and rankings in search engines.
• Backlinks from your social media channels create a consistent online presence. Search engines favor such consistency, boosting your site’s credibility and ranking.

Social media helps local businesses build their brand presence, earn the trust of their customers with positive reviews, and maintain search engine visibility, which helps them to rank and is a contributing factor to local SEO success.

Final Remarks

Local SEO is crucial for the success and high conversion rates of small-scale businesses operating locally. However, it does not end with just creating a Google Business Profile. It is an ongoing strategy that helps you find customers near your business location who want to make purchases.

By setting up your Google Business Profile, listing your website on social media and citations, gathering reviews from your customers, and with the rightful use of geo-targeted keywords, your local business can outperform its competitors.

So if you are a local business, start optimizing your local business to grow it exponentially and attract the rightful customers in your neighborhood.
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Local SEO is the optimization of your physical business on Google Maps and Business Profile to create your brand awareness and target more customers to your store for increased sales conversions.

Traditional SEO targets the optimization of your business and website globally, whereas local SEO targets the optimization of your business and website locally, generating local business from people searching for “Places near me.”

Yes, Google Business Profile is free to use.

Tools like Google Business Profile, MozLocal, and Bright Local can help manage Local SEO.

Yes, you can use Local SEO to rank without a local upfront store. Many service providers and influencers online are using it without any local upfront store.

It can take anywhere from a few weeks to two to three months to see results from Local SEO, based on your competition and SEO strategy’s effectiveness.

Geo-targeted keywords are keywords that use location-based keywords with your services to help you become visible for local searches near your business. For example: “Best local ladies’ shoes in Manchester.”

Local citations refer to the mention of your business’s Name, Address, and Phone number in different online directories and websites.

With consistent appearance in local citations, you help search engines to validate the presence of your business location and its updated information, which maintains your search engine visibility and increases your ranking.

The key factors in the online reviews that build trust in your business are:
Positive reviews.
Your response to the reviews.
Polite and thoughtful responses to negative reviews with genuine concern for improvements and commitment to meet the requirements of your customers.

It will be great to be consistent in updating your Google Business Profile. Try to update it weekly for reviews and responses, uploading images and videos regularly, and making event announcements to show that your business is active.
Other than these regular updates, if there is ever a significant change, like in address or phone number, update it whenever the changes are applied so that customers can reach out to you without any hindrance.