Everything you need to know to rank higher in local search results and get more customers finding your business on Google
Local SEO is the practice of optimizing your online presence to attract more customers from local searches. When someone searches for "[service] near me" or "[service] + [city]" on Google, local SEO determines whether your business shows up.
Bottom line: If you're a local business not investing in local SEO, you're missing out on customers who are actively searching for your services right now.
Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the single most important factor in local search rankings. It's what shows your business in Google Maps and the Local Pack (the map with 3 businesses at the top of search results).
Local keywords are search terms that include a location. For example: "plumber San Diego," "dentist near me," or "best Italian restaurant Los Angeles."
Examples: "dentist Los Angeles," "plumber San Diego," "lawyer Phoenix"
Examples: "coffee shop near me," "auto repair near me," "urgent care near me"
Examples: "restaurant in Downtown LA," "salon in Manhattan," "gym in Brooklyn"
Examples: "best pizza Chicago," "best dentist Dallas," "top rated plumber Seattle"
Pro Tip: Start with 5-10 core keywords that best describe your services + location. Focus on ranking for these first before expanding to more keywords.
On-page SEO means optimizing the content and HTML on your website pages. For local SEO, you need to signal to Google that you serve specific geographic areas.
Include your primary keyword + location. Keep it under 60 characters.
Summarize your service + location. Include a call-to-action. Keep it under 160 characters.
One H1 per page. Include primary keyword + location.
If you serve multiple cities, create separate pages for each location with unique content.
SEODEX helps with this: Use the Page Optimizer to analyze your pages and get specific recommendations for titles, headings, and content.
NAP consistency means your business Name, Address, and Phone number are formatted exactly the same way everywhere they appear online. This is crucial for local SEO.
Google uses your NAP information to verify your business is real and to match your business across different websites. Inconsistent NAP information confuses Google and can hurt your rankings.
A citation is any online mention of your business's NAP (name, address, phone). Citations help Google verify your business exists and improve your local search rankings.
Find directories specific to your industry:
Quality over quantity: 10 accurate citations on reputable sites are better than 100 citations with incorrect information.
Online reviews are a major ranking factor for local SEO. Google uses reviews to determine which businesses to show in local search results.
SEODEX integration: Connect your Google Business Profile to see your rating and review count in your dashboard, along with AI-powered tips to improve your profile.
You can't improve what you don't measure. Tracking your local search rankings helps you understand what's working and what needs improvement.
Instead of manually checking rankings or using complicated tools:
SEODEX gives you everything you need to rank higher in local search: keyword tracking, page optimization, site audits, and AI-powered recommendations. All for just $29/month.
7-day free trial • $29/month • No long-term contracts