What’s the difference between local SEO and traditional SEO?
Traditional SEO focuses on improving your website’s visibility on a national or global scale. Local SEO, on the other hand, is all about helping your business show up in local searches, especially on Google Maps and "near me" results. It targets location-based keywords, local listings, and customer reviews to attract people nearby who are ready to buy or visit.
How soon can I expect to see results from local SEO efforts?
Most businesses start seeing noticeable results from local SEO in 3 to 6 months, depending on your competition and how optimized your online presence already is. Local SEO is a long-term investment, but consistent efforts like optimizing Google Business Profiles, earning local backlinks, and gathering customer reviews can speed things up.
Can local SEO help if I run a business with multiple locations or franchises?
Absolutely. Local SEO is essential for multi-location businesses and franchises. Each location can have its own optimized Google Business Profile, location-specific landing pages, and unique local citations. This boosts visibility for each branch individually and helps you maintain a consistent brand across all locations.
Is local SEO still useful if I don’t have a physical store?
Yes, it is. Even if you operate remotely or offer services at the customer's location, local SEO can help. You can still rank for local searches by setting a service area in your Google Business Profile, optimizing for local keywords, and earning reviews from local clients.
What should a solid local SEO checklist include?
A complete local SEO checklist should include optimizing your Google Business Profile, building local citations, getting positive reviews, using local keywords in your content, creating location-specific pages, ensuring your site is mobile-friendly, and tracking your rankings in local search results.
What should I ask a local SEO specialist before hiring them?
Ask about their experience with businesses like yours, what tools and strategies they use, how they measure success, how often they report results, and if they follow Google’s best practices. It’s also helpful to ask for case studies or references to see real-world results they’ve delivered.