What Is Local SEO? How to Get Found Near You

What local SEO includes

• Google Business Profile: accurate categories, services, hours, photos and posts.
• Reviews: a steady flow of genuine reviews, with replies.
• Citations: consistent name, address and phone details across directories.
• Location pages: pages written for the areas you serve.
• Local links and mentions: from local organisations, suppliers and media.

Local SEO vs traditional SEO

Traditional SEO aims to rank a website for relevant searches anywhere. Local SEO focuses on searches with local intent, such as "near me" or a suburb or city, and on the map results that appear for them. Many businesses benefit from both.

Who needs local SEO

Any business with a physical location or a defined service area. Professional services, trades, clinics, retailers and hospitality businesses commonly rely on local search to be found.

How to get started

1. Claim and verify your Google Business Profile.
2. Choose accurate primary and secondary categories.
3. List your services and add real photos.
4. Ask recent customers for reviews and reply to them.
5. Make your business details identical everywhere they appear.
6. Add pages for the areas you serve.

How long it takes

Profile and consistency fixes can show results within weeks. Competitive local rankings usually build over several months, supported by steady reviews and content.