Local SEO Basics: How to Get Found on Google

When someone searches "best tacos near me" or "plumber in West Jordan," does your business show up? If not, you're missing out on the highest-intent customers in your market. Local SEO is how you fix that.

What Is Local SEO?

Local SEO is the practice of optimizing your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches. These searches take place on Google and other search engines, and they often include geographic qualifiers like city names or "near me."

Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the single most important factor in local search. Make sure you've claimed your listing and filled out every field: business name, address, phone number, hours, categories, services, and photos. Businesses with complete profiles are 2.7x more likely to be considered reputable.

NAP Consistency Is Critical

NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number. Your NAP must be identical across your website, Google Business Profile, social media, and every online directory. Even small inconsistencies (like "St." vs "Street") can confuse search engines and hurt your rankings.

Get Reviews (and Respond to Them)

Reviews are a major ranking factor for local search. Ask satisfied customers to leave Google reviews, and always respond to every review, both positive and negative. Businesses that respond to reviews are seen as 1.7x more trustworthy by consumers.

Optimize Your Website for Local Keywords

Include your city and service area naturally throughout your website. Your title tags, headings, and content should include phrases like "web design in West Jordan" or "West Jordan digital marketing." Create location-specific landing pages if you serve multiple areas.

Build Local Citations

Citations are mentions of your business on other websites. Submit your business to directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, BBB, and industry-specific directories. Focus on quality over quantity, and make sure your information is accurate everywhere.

Start Today

Local SEO isn't a one-time task. It's an ongoing process. But even implementing these basics can dramatically improve your visibility in local search results. Need help? Contact us for a free local SEO audit.