Local SEO · Beginner

Local SEO

Local SEO is optimizing a business to appear when people search for products or services nearby, in Google Maps, the local pack and location-based AI answers.

By Thryv StudioUpdated

Category
Local SEO
Level
Beginner
Main factors
Relevance, distance and prominence
Key asset
Google Business Profile

What is local SEO?

When someone searches "dentist near me" or "CA firm in Andheri", search engines show nearby businesses: a map with a few listings, then organic results. Local SEO is the work that gets a business into those results.

Google describes three main factors for local results: relevance (how well the listing matches the search), distance (how close it is) and prominence (how well known it is, including reviews and links).

The essentials

  1. A complete, accurate Google Business Profile.
  2. Consistent name, address and phone number everywhere.
  3. A steady flow of genuine reviews, with replies.
  4. Location pages on your site with real local detail.
  5. LocalBusiness structured data.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need local SEO without a physical shop?

Service-area businesses that visit customers can also appear in local results by setting a service area in their Business Profile.

Browse the glossary

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