What is local SEO?
SEO Definition and Examples
Local SEO optimizes your site and business profile to appear in Google Maps and local search results for location keywords ("hair salon London").
Full Definition: What is local SEO
Local SEO refers to the optimizations that make your business rank locally in Google Maps and the "Local Pack" (3 local results). Components: (1) Google Business Profile (GBP) optimization: correct category, description, opening hours, photos, reviews; (2) NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone) — the same on the site, GBP and directories; (3) Local citations: listings in local directories (Yellow Pages, TripAdvisor, etc.); (4) Local backlinks: links from local sites; (5) Local reviews on Google, Facebook. Local search: "restaurant near me", "plumber London", "nail salon downtown" ranks differently from non-local. The Local Pack appears on mobile for 95% of geo queries.
Why Does Local SEO Matter for SEO?
For local businesses: local search >> Google organic. A restaurant without local SEO loses 80% of its online discoverability. The "restaurant London" Local Pack delivers 3× more traffic than the organic top 10.
Source: Google My BusinessFrequently Asked Questions about Local SEO
Related Terms
Google Business Profile (GMB)
BeginnerGoogle Business Profile is a free Google tool where you manage how your business appears in Google Maps and local search results — key for physical locations.
NAP Consistency
BeginnerNAP consistency means a business's Name, Address and Phone are identical across the whole web (site, GBP, directories). Inconsistency hurts local ranking.
Citations
IntermediateCitations are mentions of your business's NAP (Name, Address, Phone) on other sites or directories, without a link, that signal local authority.
Local SEO
BeginnerLocal SEO is the practice of optimizing a business's online presence to appear in geographic search results — "dentist near me" or "restaurant London".
Put Local SEO into practice
Explore how to apply this concept to your industry and city.
