1. What is Local SEO, and how’s it different from regular SEO?
Think of Local SEO as getting your business to show up when people near you are ready to buy. If someone’s searching “roof repair near me” or “best bakery in [your city],” that’s Local SEO’s playground. Regular SEO is like casting a net across the whole country. Local SEO is fishing in your own backyard—where the fish are hungry.
2. Why does Local SEO matter for my business?
Simple—if you’re not showing up when locals search, you’re basically invisible.
Your competitors are getting those calls, those clicks, and those customers. Local SEO flips that script so you’re the one getting found, chosen, and paid.
3. How do I optimize my Google Business Profile (GBP)?
Your GBP is your online storefront. If it’s a mess, people keep scrolling. Here’s the quick fix:
Pick the right categories (don’t guess—check your top competitors)
Add real photos (your team, your work, not stock images)
Post updates weekly—Google loves active businesses
Reply to every review, good or bad (it shows you care)
4. How important are online reviews, and how do I get them?
Reviews are the new word-of-mouth. Without them, even a great business looks sketchy. The trick? Make asking for a review part of your process:
Ask right after the job is done (when the customer’s happy)
Text or email them the link—don’t make them search for it
Use a QR code on invoices, receipts, or even your business card
5. What are local citations, and why should I care?
Citations are just your business name, address, and phone number showing up on other websites—Yelp, BBB, local directories. The more consistent they are, the more Google trusts you. And trust = better rankings.
6. How do I pick the right local keywords?
Skip the guesswork—start with what your customers actually type. It’s not “roofing excellence solutions,” it’s “roof repair Miami” or “emergency roofer near me.” Add your city or neighborhood and you’ve got a keyword that brings you customers, not just clicks.
7. How do I get local backlinks?
Google sees backlinks like personal recommendations. The best ones? Local.
Join your Chamber of Commerce
Sponsor a school team or community event
Partner with other local businesses
Get featured in local blogs or news sites
8. How long does it take to see results?
I’ll be straight with you—this isn’t overnight. Most businesses see the needle move in 3–6 months. The real jump happens 6–12 months in, once reviews, backlinks, and content start stacking up.
9. Can I do Local SEO myself, or should I hire someone?
You can do the basics—GBP updates, reviews, basic posting. But if you’re in a competitive market, you’ll need the deeper stuff: schema markup, backlink strategy, citation cleanup, service area pages. That’s where hiring a pro pays off—literally.
10. How do I know if it’s working?
You’ll see it in the numbers and the phone calls:
More calls and direction requests from Google
More people finding you when they search your service + city
Better rankings in the Map Pack and organic results
And yeah… more customers walking through the door or booking online
