How did a Business Improve their Local SEO Rankings?

Local SEO is all about making sure your business shows up in search results when people nearby look for products or services you offer.

Using local SEO strategies can help you get more customers to visit your store or website, build a good online reputation, and stay ahead of local competitors.

Plus, ranking for local keywords can really boost your sales because people searching locally are usually ready to buy—like someone looking for a landscaping company or a cleaning service.

11 Tips to Improve Local SEO

1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile is a free tool that helps your business show up in local search results. When you optimize it, Google understands what your business is about and shows it to people searching for relevant products or services nearby.

This can help you appear in the “local pack” — the box that shows the most relevant local businesses with a map.

After setting up your profile, use Semrush’s GBP Optimization tool to make it even better. Just enter your business details to get tips on improving your listing and boosting your online visibility.

2. Get Listed in Directories and Local Citations
Your business is more likely to show up in local searches if it’s listed in multiple trustworthy directories. These mentions are called citations, and they should include your business name, address, and phone number (NAP). Make sure this info is consistent everywhere.

Semrush’s Listing Management tool can help you create local citations and ensure your NAP info is accurate. It also shows your customer reviews, average star rating, and suggestions to improve them.

Aim to get listed on popular sites like Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Foursquare, as they get a lot of traffic. Also, look for niche-specific directories — like DoorDash for restaurants.

Also Read: How did a Service-Based Business Use Local SEO to Gain Customers?

3. Manage Your Online Reviews
Good reviews can boost your local SEO because they’re a key factor in search engine rankings. Plus, they build trust with potential customers.

Make it a habit to respond to all reviews, even negative ones, as it shows you care about customer feedback. A good response to a negative review can actually improve your brand image.

Semrush’s Review Management tool makes it easy to track and respond to reviews from over 70 directories. It also provides tips on getting more reviews and improving your ratings.

4. Use Local Business Schema on Your Website
Schema markup is code you add to your website to help search engines understand your business better. Local business schema highlights important details like your location, hours, and business type.

You can use tools like Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to add this without needing coding skills. Just choose “Local Businesses,” enter your website URL, and start tagging relevant sections.

Make sure to follow Google’s guidelines to stay eligible for rich results (like special search snippets).

5. Target Local Keywords
Using local keywords helps your content show up for people searching nearby. These are phrases people in your area use to find products, services, or info.

Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool is great for finding local keywords. Just enter a relevant term and your location, and it’ll show you a list of related keywords along with search volume and difficulty scores.

Look for keywords that fit your business and create content around them.

6. Create Location-Specific Landing Pages
If your business has multiple locations, make a separate landing page for each one. This helps Google see them as distinct entities and boosts your chances of ranking in local searches.

Include local keywords in the page title, headings, content, and meta tags.

Also Read: How did a Restaurant Increase Traffic Using Local SEO?

7. Check Your On-Page SEO
On-page SEO is about optimizing each webpage to rank higher and get more traffic. This includes improving content, meta tags, and internal links.

Semrush’s On Page SEO Checker can find issues and suggest fixes. It also gives strategic tips on backlinks and technical SEO to help your pages perform better.

8. Publish Locally Relevant Content
Creating content that connects with your local audience helps Google see your business as relevant in your area.

Share stories about local customers, events, or neighborhood guides. For example, a restaurant could post about local food festivals or nearby attractions.

9. Get Local Backlinks
Backlinks from other local websites can improve your SEO. They act like “votes of confidence” that show Google your content is trustworthy.

Reach out to local businesses, blogs, or news sites for backlink opportunities. Building relationships first, like commenting on their content or connecting on social media, can increase your chances.

Semrush’s Link Building Tool can help you organize your outreach efforts.

10. Make Sure Your Website is Mobile-Friendly
Most local searches happen on smartphones, so your website needs to look and work great on mobile devices.

This means:

• Using a responsive design that adjusts to any screen size
• Making text easy to read without zooming
• Keeping paragraphs short and clear
• Using simple navigation menus and clickable buttons

Google uses mobile-first indexing, so optimizing for mobile can improve your rankings.

Also Read: How did a Business Improve their Local SEO Rankings?

11. Get Involved in Your Local Community
Being active in your community helps your SEO because it builds brand awareness and can lead to more online reviews and local backlinks.

Participate in local events, sponsor community activities, or collaborate with other local businesses. This not only strengthens your local presence but also gives you valuable content and networking opportunities.

Improve Your Local SEO and Track Your Rankings

To improve your local SEO, start by keeping an eye on your reviews and rankings on Google Maps.

Semrush’s Map Rank Tracker makes this easy. It shows how your business ranks compared to other local competitors and lets you track your progress over time.