Local SEO

Local SEO is a specialized area of search engine optimization that helps businesses optimize their online presence to capture customers from local and geographically targeted searches. It is especially valuable for companies with physical storefronts or those providing services in specific areas, ensuring they appear in Google’s local results, Google Maps, and “near me” style queries.

Key elements of Local SEO include optimizing and maintaining Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business), ensuring NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency across directories, building citations, generating local backlinks, earning and managing customer reviews, creating localized content, and adding local business schema markup.

The growth of voice search and AI assistants has made Local SEO even more essential. Tools like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa often rely on local optimization signals to provide users with recommendations for nearby services.

For AEO strategies, Local SEO is critical because AI systems frequently reference local business data when generating recommendations, comparisons, or local-focused answers. Businesses with strong Local SEO are more likely to be cited in AI-driven responses about area-specific options.

Major factors that influence local rankings include a fully optimized Google Business Profile, consistent NAP data, positive customer feedback, localized content, proximity to the searcher, and backlinks from community organizations, chambers of commerce, and regional publications.