Local SEO can help bring in lots of new customers just by making sure your business shows up when people search online. Think about how often you look up things like “pizza near me” or “hair salon in [your city].” The businesses that show up first are using local SEO to get your attention.
If your business serves people in your area, local SEO is a great way to help them find you more easily.
Need help with local SEO to beat your nearby competitors? Grow Digitally has you covered. Keep reading our local SEO guide to learn what it is and how you can build a winning local SEO strategy in just a few easy steps.
What Is Local SEO?
Local SEO helps your business show up in search results when people nearby are looking for what you offer. It involves things like finding the relevant keywords, setting up and optimizing your Google Business Profile, and creating listings on other trusted websites.
When you search on Google, the results usually match the country you’re in. Local SEO goes deeper—it helps people find businesses in their exact area, like a city or districts.
This is super helpful for local businesses like cafes, dentists, mechanics, or people who offer services nearby, like plumbers, tutors, or dog walkers.
With a good local SEO strategy, you can attract more visitors, leads, and sales from people in your area.
For example, DLF Mall of India in Noida can use local SEO to show up in search results when someone types in “mall in Noida” or “shopping mall near me.” By making sure their website, content, and listings are optimized for local searches, they can reach more people who are already looking for a place to shop nearby.
And the best part? It actually works. People searching locally are usually ready to buy—about 80% of local searches on mobile lead to a purchase. Even better, around 76% of people who search for a business “near me” end up visiting one within a day.
Why is local SEO important?
Local SEO is very important because it helps your business visibility in local search results. That means more people nearby can find you, which leads to more customers and more sales.
Google shows billions of local results every month. If your business shows up when someone nearby searches for something you offer, there’s a good chance they’ll choose you.
Google usually shows local results when someone looks for things like shops, services, or places to go—either near them or in a specific location.
Example of Popular Local SEO Keywords in Noida (high search volume on SEMrush):
- restaurants in Noida
- dentist in Noida
- best gym in Noida
- salon near me in Noida
Businesses that do strong local SEO usually rank at the top when people search for local keywords. That means more people are likely to find them and check them out.
No matter what kind of business you have or where you’re located, there’s a good chance you can reach potential customers through search.
A Local SEO strategy is very useful for businesses that focus on a certain city or area. Here are three reasons it’s worth doing:
1. Customer habits
Back in the day, people used the Yellow Pages to find local businesses—remember those big books? Now, almost everyone uses the internet instead. You’ll probably only see a Yellow Pages directory in an old movie from the ’80s or ’90s.
The way people search has changed. If we need a plumber, we Google the one with the best reviews. If our kids need soccer shoes, we ask Bing where the closest sports store is.
But here’s the catch—your business will only show up in those Google search results if you have a strong local SEO strategy. If not, your competitors will pop up first and grab those customers instead. That’s why it’s so important to focus on local SEO and make sure people nearby can actually find you.
2. Quality traffic
Getting people to visit your website is great—but just having traffic isn’t enough. What really matters is getting the right kind of traffic. That means people who are actually interested in what you offer and might become paying customers.
That’s where local SEO strategy helps you. It helps your business show up when people nearby are searching for the services/products you provide.
For example, if someone types “digital marketing agency near me” into Google, they’re probably looking for a nearby agency to help with things like social media, SEO, or ads. If your agency shows up in those search results, you’re more likely to get a call or message from someone who’s already looking for what you offer.
Local SEO helps connect your business with real potential customers—for free—right when they need you.
3. Less competition
One of the best parts about having a local SEO strategy is that it’s easier to rank in local searches than in global ones. That means your local business can actually compete with big-name brands—even if there’s a Walmart or Best Buy in your area.
Surprisingly, only about 64% of local businesses have claimed their Google Business Profile, which is a key part of any local SEO strategy. So by getting your strategy in place, you’ll already be ahead of many other small and local businesses targeting the same customers.
How to do Local SEO
Local SEO can seem confusing and a bit overwhelming at first. Can you really get your business to show up on Google? The good news is—yes, you can! While we might not “tame” Google, there are clear, proven steps you can take to improve your rankings and stand out from local competitors. Below is a quick local SEO guide to help you get started and bring more local customers your way.
Set up your Google Business Profile page
Google is the largest search engine out there—no contest. (Sorry, Bing!) It handles about 92% of all searches online. That’s why it’s so important to use every tool you can to help your business appear in Google’s search results.
One of the best free tools for local businesses is Google Business Profile. It lets you show up on Google Maps, add photos of your shop or products, and easily connect with people nearby who are looking for what you offer.
Setting up your Google Business Profile is easy—just follow the steps Google gives you. That will take you most of the way. But to make the most of it, keep these extra tips in mind:
- Keep your business name, address, and phone number (your “NAP”) consistent across all websites and listings.
- Pick 3 to 5 categories that describe the services you offer—not just the end results.
- Write a short, clear description (about 750 characters) that gives people important details of who you are and what you do.
Verify your Google Business Profile and complete the profile. Make sure to include:
- Your phone number, address, and website
- Your opening hours
- Photos or videos of your place or services
- Extra info like whether you have Wi-Fi, outdoor seating, or other features
Do Local Keyword Research
Local SEO keyword research means figuring out what words people type into Google when they’re searching for products or services in your area.
If you rank well for those keywords, you can bring more local visitors to your website—and possibly turn them into customers.
To get started, make a short list of words or phrases someone might use to find a business like yours. Then, try out some of the methods below to build on that list.
Research Your Competitors
One of the easiest ways to find good local keywords is by checking what your competitors are doing.
For example, if you search “mall near Noida” on Google, take a look at the top results. See which businesses show up and what kind of words they’re using in their titles, descriptions, and website content. Look at their Google Business Profiles too—what categories are they using? What kind of reviews and keywords pop up often?
This can give you great ideas for keywords to target and help you understand what’s already working in your area.
You can also narrow down your keyword list by using filters like:
Search Volume – How many people search for that keyword each month
Keyword Difficulty (KD%) – How tough it is to rank high for that keyword
Search Intent – What the person is trying to do (like buy something, find info, or visit a place)
Using these filters helps you focus on the best keywords that can actually bring results for your local SEO.
Use Google Autocomplete
Google Autocomplete shows search suggestions as you type, based on what people commonly search for—especially in your area. This makes it a great way to find useful long-tail keywords for local SEO.
For example, if you type “best [product or service] in”, Google might suggest results based on your city, like these:
Google often shows places that are close to where the person is searching from.
To find useful local keywords, start typing words related to your business into Google—you’ll see suggestions that people nearby are actually searching for.
Adding the name of a city or area to your keywords helps you discover more relevant local search terms.
Try out different local keyword ideas to grow your list and improve your local SEO.
Use Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is mainly designed for finding keywords for ads (paid search campaigns), but it’s also a helpful tool for discovering new keywords for local SEO and your business.
Here’s how you can use it:
- Go to the “Discover new keywords” section.
- Click the “Start with a website” tab.
- Enter a competitor’s website.
- Click “Get results” to see keyword suggestions based on that site.
- Try this with a few competitors and pick the keywords that match your business.
Keyword Planner also shows you how many people search for those keywords each month in specific locations—so you can focus on the ones that matter most for your area.
Keep Your Business Profile Active
Keeping your Business Profile active shows both Google and potential customers that you’re involved and reliable. This can help your rankings and bring in more customers.
Make sure your info—like holiday hours or a new address—is always up to date so customers get the right details.
You can also share updates about news, events, or special offers to keep your profile fresh and engaging.
Tools like Semrush Social, Buffer, Hootsuite, or Later make it easy to plan and schedule your posts ahead of time—saving you time and keeping your Business Profile active.
Another great way to stay active is by asking customers to leave Google reviews. More positive reviews (and higher ratings) can help boost your local rankings and make your business stand out.
Don’t forget to reply to reviews, too. It shows that you care about customer feedback and gives you a chance to thank happy customers—or respond thoughtfully to any negative ones.
Tools like Semrush’s Review Management let you set up automatic, AI-generated replies to reviews, making it easier to stay on top of customer feedback.
Other tools like Birdeye, Podium, Reputation.com, and Grade.us also help you manage and respond to reviews quickly and professionally—all in one place.
Secure citations and links
Citations are when your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are listed online. These usually show up on sites like business directories, local listings, or even your social media pages.
Websites like Houzz, Yelp, Angie’s List, and even your local chamber of commerce are great examples of online directories where your business can be listed.
When adding your business to these sites, make sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are exactly the same everywhere. This helps build trust with both search engines and customers.
A link is created when another website links back to yours. These links can come from online directories, blog posts, partner websites, and more.
If you run a digital marketing agency, you can build links by:
- Getting listed in directories like Clutch, GoodFirms, or Sortlist
- Writing guest posts for marketing blogs or local business websites
- Collaborating with local businesses, clients, or vendors to exchange links in a natural and helpful way
You can also reach out to your past or current clients and ask if they’d be open to linking to your site in a “partner” or “clients” section.
To find even more link opportunities, use tools like Ahrefs, Moz Link Explorer, or SEMrush to see where your competitors are getting their links from. Then, reach out to those same websites and give them a good reason to feature your content or services too—like a helpful blog post or case study.
Create rich local content
Your local SEO strategy is coming together nicely! Now it’s time to focus on creating helpful, high-quality content that can boost your rankings, bring more people to your site, and turn visitors into loyal customers.
Sounds like a big task—but don’t worry, we’ve got some simple tips to help you get started:
Use Your Keywords to Create Great Content
Remember those keywords you found earlier? It’s time to put these into action. Create helpful content—like blog posts, YouTube videos, or even podcast episodes—based on those topics and phrases.
Write for Humans, Not Just for Robots
Yes, keywords matter, but don’t overdo it. Avoid stuffing them into every sentence. Instead, focus on making your content useful, easy to read, and enjoyable. Use keywords naturally, where they make sense.
Create Content That Connects With Your Local Audience
Create content that speaks to people in your area. For example, if you offer digital marketing in Noida, write about trends, tips, or case studies that relate to Noida businesses. Local content helps you show up for local searches.
Include Internal and External Links
Add links to other helpful pages on your website, and link to trusted sources outside your site too. This shows search engines that your content is connected and reliable. Just be sure your link text matches what you’re linking to.
Share Your Content
Once your content is live, spread the word! Post it on your social media, send it to your email list, and share it with anyone who might find it useful (even your mom). The more people who see it, the more Google will notice.
Even the best local SEO strategies won’t work if your content isn’t good. Take the time to create high-quality, useful content—because great content is what truly helps you rank higher in search results.
Add Location-Specific Schema Markup to Your Local Content
Boosting your local SEO starts with smart keyword use and building quality backlinks. But here’s another quick and powerful step: add schema markup to your local content pages.
Schema markup is a bit of code that helps search engines (and AI tools) understand what your page is about.
things like your business name, hours, location, reviews, and more. This helps Google show your site to the right local audience and can even get your page featured in rich results like review stars, FAQs, images, and event listings.
The good news? You don’t need to be a coder to do this. There are easy-to-use tools that help you create and add schema markup to your site, such as:
- TechnicalSEO.com – Great for generating different types of schema quickly
- Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper – Beginner-friendly tool from Google
- Merkle’s Schema Markup Generator – Simple tool for common schema types like LocalBusiness
- Schema.dev – User-friendly editor and validator for different schema formats
- RankRanger Schema Markup Generator – Offers templates for local business, products, reviews, and more
Using these tools makes it easy to add schema that highlights your business hours, customer reviews, location, and other key info—helping you stand out in local search results.
Encourage and Respond to Online Customer Reviews
Customer reviews play a big role in local SEO for two main reasons:
- They show search engines that your business is real and active.
- They help new customers feel confident about choosing your business.
So, how do you actually get reviews? And how can you make sure they’re positive or negative reviews? Also, which platform should you focus on?
Okay, that’s a few questions—but don’t worry. Let’s go through them one by one.
Wondering how to get reviews? Just ask! Most happy customers are willing to leave a review—you just have to make it easy for them. Send them a direct link to the review page (like your Google Business Profile), so they can leave feedback with just a click.
Worried about getting a bad review? Don’t be. If you treat your customers well and give them a great experience, most of your reviews will be positive. Focus on going the extra mile, and people will naturally have good things to say about your business.
So, what’s the best review platform to focus on? It depends on your goals, but if we had to pick just one—it’s Google. Why? Because it’s the biggest player out there. According to Statista, Google holds over 89% of the global search market, which means reviews on Google have the biggest impact when it comes to being seen by potential customers.
How to Monitor Your Local SEO Performance
To make the most of your local SEO, it’s important to keep track of how it’s performing. Just like with any marketing strategy, regularly checking your results helps you see what’s working, what’s not, and where you can improve.
There are plenty of local SEO tools that can help your business show up in front of the right people and stay ahead of the competition.
Free tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console are great starting points—they give you valuable insights into how your website is performing.
If you want to go deeper, premium tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush offer advanced features, detailed reports, and powerful data to help you fine-tune your local SEO strategy.
With tools like these, you can monitor how your local SEO is doing. You’ll be able to see where your keywords rank, how much traffic your site’s getting, and other important stats that help you understand what’s working for your business.
Optimize Your Approach
The last step in your local SEO strategy is to monitor how things are going. Is your strategy actually bringing results? If not, it’s time to figure out what’s not working and make some changes.
When you know what’s not working, you can fix it. And when you see what is working, you can do more of it. The best way to figure that out? Look at the data.
It’s also a smart idea to keep an eye on your competitors. You can learn from what they’re doing well—or not so well—and find ways to make your brand stand out in the right way.
On-page optimization checklist for local SEO
When you follow the right steps for local SEO, you’re more likely to attract leads from your area.
Use this easy checklist to make sure you’ve covered everything needed to boost your local visibility and bring in more local customers.
1. Is your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) the same everywhere online?
If you’ve updated anything recently, double-check that it matches across your website and all business listings.
2. Is your NAP visible on every page of your website?
A simple way to do this is by adding it to your website footer so it shows up site-wide.
3. Does your content show that you know the local area?
Show local knowledge! On your service area pages, mention nearby landmarks, popular places, or even local phrases if it fits your brand voice.
4. Have you used local keywords in your headers (H1, H2, etc.)?
Include your main service or product along with the city or area you serve.
5. Are your title tags clear and packed with helpful keywords?
Make sure each page has a unique, keyword-rich title that appeals to your local audience.
6. Did you add alt text to your images?
Use simple, descriptive tags that explain what the image is and, if possible, include local keywords naturally.
7. Are you using internal links for local SEO?
Link mentions of cities or service areas to relevant location-specific pages on your site.
8. Have you added a local business schema?
This helps Google understand your business details—what you do, where you are, and how customers can reach you.
9. Is your website mobile-friendly and quick to load?
Most people search for local services on their phones, so your site should look good and load fast on any device.
Off-page optimization checklist for local SEO
It’s not just about what’s on your website—local SEO also depends on what others say about your business.
To build trust with Google (and potential customers), your business needs to be mentioned or linked to from other trusted websites, directories, and review platforms. These outside signals help show that your business is real, reliable, and worth ranking higher in local search results.
That’s where off-page SEO comes in.
Ask yourself these questions to see if you’re doing enough beyond your website to boost your local SEO:
1. Have you listed your business on 3–5 trusted local directories?
Sites like Yelp and others can drive solid traffic from people searching in your area. Start by adding your business to a few well-known directories.
2. Do you regularly respond to reviews and customer questions?
Quick replies show you care. Engaging with reviews—good or bad—builds trust and encourages more people to leave feedback.
3. Do you have a system to ask happy customers for online reviews?
People often forget to leave reviews unless you remind them. A friendly follow-up can go a long way.
4. Have you reached out to local bloggers or influencers?
Partnering with local voices can help you earn valuable backlinks and grow awareness in your community.
5. Are you guest posting on high-authority local sites?
Writing helpful posts for local blogs and websites can get your name out there and boost your local authority.
6. Are you active on social media and engaging with your audience?
Even if social media doesn’t directly boost rankings, it helps build trust, visibility, and drives traffic to your site.
7. Are you involved in local events or causes?
Whether it’s sponsoring a community event or showing up at a fair, getting involved locally can lead to mentions, backlinks, and more eyes on your business.
Final Words
Local SEO is one of the best ways to get your business in front of nearby customers who are ready to buy. By focusing on both on-page and off-page strategies—like optimizing your website, using the right keywords, managing reviews, and building local connections—you can improve your visibility, build trust, and grow your customer base.
Remember, local SEO isn’t a one-time task—it’s something you build over time. Stay consistent, keep your business info up to date, and always look for ways to connect with your local community online and offline.
With the right steps, your business won’t just show up in local search—it’ll stand out.