Local SEO & Google Business

Local SEO is the process of optimizing your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches on Google and other search engines. When someone searches for "plumber near me" or "best restaurants in Minneapolis," local SEO determines which businesses show up in those results.

You need local SEO because 76% of people who search for something nearby on their smartphone visit a business within 24 hours, and 28% of those searches result in a purchase. If your business isn't showing up in local search results, you're missing out on customers who are actively looking for your services right now.

Most businesses start seeing noticeable improvements in 30-90 days, with significant results typically appearing within 3-6 months. However, the timeline depends on several factors:

• Your current online presence and Google Business Profile status
• Competition level in your local market and industry
• The quality and consistency of your citations
• Your website's current optimization level

Some quick wins like Google Business Profile optimization can show results in just a few weeks, while building authority through citations and reviews takes longer but delivers lasting results.

Regular SEO focuses on improving your website's visibility in search results nationwide or globally, while local SEO specifically targets customers in your geographic area.

Local SEO includes:

• Google Business Profile optimization
• Local citations and directory listings (NAP consistency)
• Location-based keyword targeting ("near me" searches)
• Local reviews and reputation management
• Getting into the Google Map Pack (top 3 results)

For businesses with physical locations or that serve specific areas (restaurants, lawyers, plumbers, dentists, etc.), local SEO is typically more important and delivers faster ROI than traditional SEO.

Yes! Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is absolutely essential for local SEO. It's the single most important factor in local search rankings.

A properly optimized Google Business Profile:

• Gets you into the Google Map Pack (the top 3 local results with the map)
• Shows up in Google Maps when customers search nearby
• Displays your business hours, phone number, photos, and reviews
• Allows customers to call you directly from search results
• Provides insights on how customers find and interact with your listing

Without a Google Business Profile, you're essentially invisible to local customers searching on Google. We'll set it up, verify it, and optimize it completely as part of our service.

Online reviews are critically important for local SEO. They're one of the top ranking factors for local search results and directly impact whether customers choose your business.

Why reviews matter:

• 68% of consumers trust a business more when they see positive reviews
• 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses
• Google uses review quantity, quality, and recency as ranking signals
• Businesses with more positive reviews appear higher in local search results
• Reviews build trust and increase click-through rates

We help you implement a review generation system that consistently gets you more 5-star reviews from happy customers, and we monitor and respond to all reviews professionally to maintain your reputation.

A local citation is any online mention of your business's name, address, and phone number (NAP). Citations appear on directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, BBB, Facebook, industry-specific directories, and hundreds of other websites.

Why citations are crucial:

• Google verifies your business exists by finding consistent NAP data across the web
• They signal trust and legitimacy to search engines
• Citations help you rank higher in local search results
• They create additional pathways for customers to find you online
• Inconsistent citations (wrong phone number, old address) hurt your rankings

We build 20-50+ high-quality citations for your business and ensure your NAP information is consistent everywhere, which significantly boosts your local search visibility.

Absolutely! Local SEO is actually one of the best ways for small businesses to compete with larger competitors. Here's why:

• Geographic advantage: You can outrank national chains in your local area
• Personal touch: Local businesses often get more authentic reviews and community engagement
• Lower competition: It's easier to rank #1 locally than nationally
• "Near me" searches: Google prioritizes nearby businesses for mobile searches
• Community connections: Local link building and partnerships give you an edge

A properly optimized local business can consistently outrank big corporations in local search results because Google wants to show the most relevant, nearby options to searchers—not just the biggest brands.

Our monthly local SEO service is comprehensive and designed to consistently improve your local search visibility. Here's what's included:

• Google Business Profile setup and ongoing optimization
• Weekly Google posts to keep your profile active and engaging
• Local citation building across 20-50+ directories (varies by plan)
• NAP consistency audit and duplicate cleanup
• Review generation campaigns and professional review responses
• Local keyword research and optimization
• Competitor analysis and strategy adjustments
• Local link building from relevant websites
• Call and direction tracking to measure ROI
• Monthly performance reports with ranking updates
• Ongoing monitoring and optimization

Everything is handled for you—no work required on your end. Just watch your phone ring more and your local visibility grow month after month.