Local search. Reviewed October 29, 2026
Local SEO
Also called: Local search optimization
Local SEO is the work of getting a business to appear in Google's map pack and local results for searches in the area it serves.
In practice
The pieces are the Google Business Profile, consistent listings on other sites, a steady flow of reviews, a page on the website for each service and each city, and links from local sites such as suppliers, associations and news. Movement takes three to six months.
Skip the offer of 300 directory listings. The first 20 or 30 confirm the business exists; the rest add nothing.
Related terms
- Google Business ProfileGoogle Business Profile is the free listing that puts a business on Google Maps and in the map pack, with its hours, phone number, reviews, photos and service area.
- Map packThe map pack is the block of three business listings with a map that Google shows above the regular results for local searches such as plumber near me.
- CitationsA citation is any mention of a business's name, address and phone number on another website, such as Yelp, the BBB, a chamber of commerce or a trade association directory.
- Location pageA location page is a page on a business website built for one city or neighborhood it serves, with content specific to that place rather than a copy of another city's page with the name swapped.
More local search terms
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