Local SEO for Small Businesses

Local SEO helps customers find you when they search "near me" or in your city. Here's how to dominate local search.

Google Business Profile (Essential!)

Setup

1. Claim your business at google.com/business
2. Verify ownership (postcard/phone/email)
3. Complete every section
4. Add photos (10+ high-quality)
5. Choose correct categories
6. Add products/services

Optimize

Business Name: Austin Plumbing Services
Category: Plumber
Address: 123 Main St, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 555-1234
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, 24/7 Emergency
Website: https://austinplumbing.com
Description: Licensed, bonded plumber serving Austin since 2010.
24/7 emergency service. Free quotes. Residential & commercial.

Get Reviews

• Ask every satisfied customer
• Make it easy (send link)
• Respond to all reviews
• Never fake reviews!

NAP Consistency

Your Name, Address, Phone must be identical everywhere:

Website footer:
Austin Plumbing Services
123 Main St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 555-1234

Google Business Profile: ✅ Exact match
Facebook: ✅ Exact match
Yelp: ✅ Exact match
Directory listings: ✅ Exact match

Local Keywords

Target location-specific searches:

<title>Austin Plumber | 24/7 Emergency Plumbing Service</title>

<h1>Austin's Trusted Plumber</h1>

<p>Serving Austin, TX and surrounding areas including:</p>
<ul>
  <li>Downtown Austin</li>
  <li>South Austin</li>
  <li>North Austin</li>
  <li>Round Rock</li>
  <li>Cedar Park</li>
</ul>

Local Citations

List your business on:

• Google Business Profile ⭐ Most important
• Bing Places
• Apple Maps
• Yelp
• Facebook
• Industry-specific directories
• Local chamber of commerce
• BBB

On-Page Local SEO

<!-- Schema markup -->
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "LocalBusiness",
  "name": "Austin Plumbing Services",
  "image": "https://austinplumbing.com/logo.jpg",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "123 Main St",
    "addressLocality": "Austin",
    "addressRegion": "TX",
    "postalCode": "78701"
  },
  "telephone": "(512) 555-1234",
  "priceRange": "$$",
  "openingHours": "Mo-Fr 08:00-18:00"
}
</script>

Local Content

Create location-specific pages:

/plumber-austin/
/plumber-round-rock/
/plumber-cedar-park/
/emergency-plumber-austin/
/commercial-plumber-austin/

Each page should have:

• Unique content
• Local keywords
• Service area info
• Testimonials from that area
• Directions/map

Reviews Strategy

Get More Reviews

1. Ask in person after great service
2. Send follow-up email with link
3. Add to email signature
4. QR code on business cards
5. Incentivize (within guidelines)

Review Response Template

Positive:
"Thank you, [Name]! We're thrilled you had a great experience.
We appreciate your trust in Austin Plumbing Services!"

Negative:
"We're sorry to hear about your experience, [Name].
This isn't the standard we aim for. Please call us at (512) 555-1234
so we can make this right."

Local Link Building

Get links from:

• Local news sites
• Chamber of commerce
• Industry associations
• Local blogs
• Sponsor local events
• Partner businesses

Mobile Optimization

Most local searches are mobile:

• Fast loading (under 3s)
• Click-to-call button
• Easy-to-tap buttons
• Simple forms
• Mobile-friendly map

Track Results

Monitor in Google Business Profile:

• Search appearances
• Map views
• Website clicks
• Phone calls
• Direction requests
• Photo views

Use Google Analytics for:

• Organic local traffic
• Conversion from local searches
• Which keywords drive leads

Quick Wins

Do these today:

1. ✅ Claim Google Business Profile
2. ✅ Add 10+ photos
3. ✅ Write detailed description
4. ✅ Add all services
5. ✅ Verify hours are correct
6. ✅ Ask 5 customers for reviews
7. ✅ Ensure NAP consistency
8. ✅ Add location to title tags

Local SEO Checklist

• Google Business Profile claimed & optimized
• 10+ quality photos added
• 25+ positive reviews
• NAP consistent everywhere
• Schema markup added
• Local keywords in content
• Location pages created
• Mobile-optimized website
• Fast page speed (under 3s)
• Citations in key directories
• Regular posts to GBP
• Respond to all reviews

Conclusion

Local SEO is the most cost-effective marketing for small businesses:

• Reach customers actively looking for you
• Compete with bigger companies
• Build trust through reviews
• Measurable ROI

Start with Google Business Profile, get reviews, ensure NAP consistency. Results come within weeks, not months. Local SEO is a marathon, but you'll see quick wins!