Local SEO
The practice of optimizing a business to rank higher in location-based searches on Google.
Local SEO is the set of practices that help a business appear in searches tied to a place, such as "dentist in Austin" or "hardware store near me." It combines optimizing your Google Business Profile, building consistent citations, earning reviews, and creating locally relevant website content so search engines see you as the best answer for nearby customers.
It differs from traditional SEO in what it targets. National SEO fights for rankings across the whole web, while local SEO focuses on the Local Pack and map results, where distance and prominence in a specific area matter as much as raw content quality.
For any business that serves customers in a physical area, local SEO is where marketing effort pays off fastest. The people searching for a nearby service are usually ready to call or visit, so ranking well for local terms turns searches directly into customers.
Related terms
- →Google Business ProfileThe free Google listing that controls how your business appears on Search and Maps.
- →Local PackThe block of three local business listings with a map that Google shows at the top of local search results.
- →Organic vs LocalThe distinction between traditional website rankings and the map-based local business results.
- →CitationAny online mention of your business name, address, and phone number, typically in a directory or listing.
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