Are you running a small company and looking to boost your local clientele? Then, among the most effective marketing techniques you can use is local SEO. 69% of website traffic comes from organic and local searches, and it is quite economical. Put another way, if you aren’t optimizing for local searches, you’re losing out.
However, what is local search engine optimization, why does it matter, and how does it operate? In this guide by experts from SEO Laundry, a top digital marketing agency, we’ll address all of those inquiries and plenty more in this comprehensive guide. You’ll also discover the 8 steps you can execute to rank better in local searches, as well as the factors that make local SEO special. Continue reading for more information.
Local SEO: What is it?
Optimizing a company’s online presence to draw in more clients from relevant local searches is the main goal of local SEO, a specialized subset of search engine optimization. Local SEO makes sure that your company shows up high in search results when prospective clients look for products or services in their area. Managing online reviews, optimizing your web page for local keywords, and making sure your company information is consistent across online directories are just a few of the strategies that make up local SEO. It involves putting your company in front of locals who are most likely to become clients.
Why Does Local SEO Matter?
Your business will stand out in your locality if you customize your web presence for local searchers. The fact that local SEO greatly enhances exposure is one of the main reasons it is so important for businesses. You draw in more clients who are seeking certain products or services in your region when your company appears highly in local search results. Recent data indicates that 46% of all searches on Google are conducted by users looking for local information, highlighting the significance of local search optimization.
Your Google Business Profile is an essential part of local SEO (GBP). Businesses can use this free tool to control their Google search and map appearance. You can improve your presence in local searches and make it simpler for prospective clients to discover you by keeping your GBP up to date and optimized. Reviews, images, and company descriptions are examples of features that can draw in more clicks and queries.
8 Steps to Develop a Solid Local SEO Strategy
Search engine optimization helps you get discovered online and brings in organic traffic to the landing pages of your website. With a few little adjustments that you may include in your existing approach, local SEO ranking techniques are based on conventional digital marketing.
The most crucial, doable actions you can take to develop a local SEO strategy are listed below.
-
Update Your Google Business Profile
A free service called Google Business Profile (previously Google My Business) assists your company in managing its Google profile. You can use it to provide your clients with crucial information such as:
- Your address, along with a link to Google Maps
- Your website
- Operating hours and phone number
- Your services
- Your reviews
Here’s how to make the most of your Google Business Profile if you already have one:
Include as much information as you can.
- Verify that your phone number, address, and name are correct multiple times.
- Make any required updates to your profile.
- Motivate local clients to submit reviews. Request reviews from clients by email or in person. By giving them a direct link to where they can submit a review, you can make this process as simple as possible.
- Managers or owners ought to respond to any bad reviews left by customers. Take a moment to breathe, answer with a sincere willingness to address the person’s problems, and avoid becoming defensive. This will demonstrate to others that you value reviews.
- Additionally, you should confirm that the information about your company is correct in local directories.
-
Verify The Accuracy and Consistency of Your Local Citations.
100% consistency is required in local citations. The name, location, and phone number of your business must be correct in all of the following:
- Local listings
- Business directory listings (think Bing Places, Yellow Pages, Yelp, etc.).
- Webpages and Google Business Profiles
Make it a practice to check your own business name every few months and fix any errors. In addition to fostering trust, consistent information aids search engines in providing users with reliable results.
-
Produce Content with a Local Emphasis
Your readers will find local content very relevant. A great example could for example a local Houston dry cleaning service provider producing content regarding how to tackle summer sweat stains or how to protect one’s clothing from Houston’s humidity.
-
Research Local Keywords
Adding relevant search phrases to your website can raise its search engine ranks, provide focused traffic to your web pages, and increase the number of prospective clients that find your company.
Researching keywords is the first step in identifying relevant search phrases. A few useful resources to begin with are:
- Google Keyword Planner – Helps you discover keyword ideas based on your services and target location.
- Google Trends – Lets you analyze how search interest for certain terms changes over time and across regions.
- Ubersuggest – Offers keyword suggestions, search volume, competition level, and local SEO insights.
- Moz Keyword Explorer – Great for identifying location-specific keyword opportunities with detailed metrics.
- Ahrefs – Provides extensive keyword data, including location-based rankings and competitor keyword analysis.
-
Don’t Forget Review Management
A review management plan is necessary! The manner you respond to reviews provides crucial signs that improve your site’s local ranking on Google and other search engines. Request reviews from clients and address negative reviews accordingly. If the consumer had a positive experience, they should be encouraged to write positive reviews. To ensure you can react promptly, make it a practice to check for fresh reviews every day or every week. Be in the management of reviews on various platforms, including Yelp, Google Business Profile, and even your own websites.
-
Use LocalBusiness Structured Data to Assist Google in Understanding Your Business
A form of structured data, schema markup is a defined coding format that makes your website’s content easier for search engines to read. Consider it a unique language that explains to Google not only what your content says but also what it means.
Using LocalBusiness schema markup can be very beneficial for local companies. Search engines may learn from this code:
- Your business name and type – Clearly identifies your company as a local laundry service, dry cleaner, etc.
- Physical address and service areas – Helps Google associate your business with specific local searches.
- Operating hours – Lets search engines display accurate business hours in local search results.
- Contact information – Includes phone number, email, and links for easy communication.
- Customer reviews and ratings – Highlights social proof directly in search listings when available.
- Geo-coordinates – Provides precise latitude and longitude, improving local mapping and direction accuracy.
- Logo and images – Enhances your business profile visually in search results and map packs.
- Price range or service offerings – Gives users and search engines insight into what to expect.
It is necessary to make code changes to your website in order to include schema markup. Without delving into too much detail, there are a few methods to do this:
- Use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper – A beginner-friendly tool that lets you tag elements on your website visually.
- Install a WordPress plugin – If your site uses WordPress, plugins like Rank Math or Schema Pro simplify schema integration.
- Manually add JSON-LD code – Developers can paste schema code directly into the <head> or relevant parts of a webpage.
- Use your website builder’s built-in SEO tools – Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify offer structured data options.
- Hire an SEO expert or developer – For custom schema or multiple-location businesses, expert help ensures correct implementation.
By including this invisible code on your website, you may be able to raise your company’s local search rankings and have it show up in rich results. Using the “areaServed” parameter to define your service regions is very beneficial for delivery companies. Google offers a thorough implementation guide for the LocalBusiness schema.
-
Take Into Account Local Link-Building Techniques
A key component of any SEO plan, including local SEO, is link development. Getting links to your website from other websites is the objective. These so-called backlinks are similar to “votes” for your website. They scream legitimacy to your website and inform search engines that it is significant enough for other websites to connect to it. Google ranks websites in local search results based on a variety of factors, including backlinks. It’s more than simply a math game, however. The secret is to concentrate on obtaining links from reputable, relevant websites.
The best techniques for creating local links include:
- Partner with Nearby Businesses – Collaborate with local dry cleaners, clothing shops, or hotels and exchange backlinks.
- Sponsor Local Events or Charities – Sponsorships often come with a backlink from the event or organization’s website.
- Join Local Business Associations – Membership directories often include website links, boosting your local SEO.
- Submit Press Releases to Local News Outlets – A well-written story may earn you coverage and a backlink.
- Offer Testimonials to Other Local Services – Many businesses publish testimonials with a link to your website.
- Host Community Events or Workshops – Promote them online and ask local blogs or event calendars to link to your site.
- Engage with Local Bloggers or Influencers – Offer them a free service in exchange for a mention or review with a backlink.
- Create Shareable Local Content – Publish blogs or guides about your city’s laundry needs to encourage organic links.
Natural backlinks may sometimes result from just making sure your website is listed across as many appropriate directories as well as broad sites as you can.
-
Remember To Optimize for Mobile Devices
There is more to local SEO than simply the technical aspects. Creating a satisfying user experience is also important. This entails making your website mobile-friendly in the modern era. More than 90% of individuals browse online at least sometimes using their cellphones. Your website must be quick and simple to use on mobile devices if you want to connect with these customers. Your local SEO can also be enhanced by developing a satisfying mobile user experience. How? In mobile searches, Google gives preference to mobile-friendly websites. Think about this: Every day, close to 60% of individuals use their cellphones to look for local companies.
How can you optimize your website for mobile devices?
- Use a Responsive Web Design– Ensure your site layout automatically adjusts to different screen sizes and orientations.
- Improve Page Load Speed– Compress images, minimize code, and leverage browser caching to ensure fast loading times on mobile.
- Simplify Navigation– Use clear menus, big buttons, and an intuitive structure so users can easily find what they need with one hand.
- Use Mobile-Friendly Fonts and Sizes– Text should be legible without zooming — stick to clean fonts and a minimum of 16px for body text.
- Optimize Images and Media– Ensure visuals scale properly on small screens and do not slow down your site.
- Enable Click-to-Call and Click-to-Map– Add tappable phone numbers and map links so mobile users can contact or locate you with a single tap.
- Avoid Pop-Ups and Intrusive Ads– Keep your content accessible by minimizing disruptive elements that are hard to close on a mobile screen.
- Test with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Tool– Regularly run your site through Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to identify and fix usability issues.
- Use Mobile-Optimized Forms– Keep forms short, easy to fill out, and auto-complete enabled to avoid frustrating mobile users.
Turn Local Searches into Loyal Customers – Let SEO Laundry Help You Optimize, Rank, and Grow in Your Neighborhood
In 2025, being proficient in local SEO is essential, not simply a nice-to-have. There are several techniques to stand out in local search and get in touch with customers at the perfect moment, from perfecting your Google Business Profile to putting sophisticated strategies into practice. SEO Laundry can help you if you’re ready to advance your local SEO. We provide a free evaluation of your existing web presence and point out areas that need improvement. To find out whether your website is a good fit for local SEO and how a laser-like focus on content marketing and SEO may increase visitor numbers, conversions, and long-term growth, get in touch with SEO Laundry. So, are you prepared to dominate your neighborhood market? Let’s get started!
FAQs on Local Search Engine Optimization
1. What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is a digital marketing strategy that helps businesses appear in local search results when nearby users search for services or products you offer.
2. Why is Local SEO important for laundry businesses?
It helps local customers find your laundry services quickly on Google, boosting walk-ins, online bookings, and trust in your neighborhood or service area.
3. How long does Local SEO take to work?
You’ll usually see results in 3 to 6 months, depending on your competition, consistency, and how well you optimize your online presence.
4. What’s the first step in Local SEO?
Start by claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile with accurate contact details, service hours, and relevant keywords.
5. Should I list my business on directories?
Absolutely. Listing your business on local directories like Yelp, Foursquare, and Yellow Pages boosts visibility and improves trust with Google.
6. Do I need a website for Local SEO?
Yes, a responsive, mobile-friendly website optimized with local keywords helps search engines index your content and improves local rankings.
7. How do I choose the right keywords?
Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find search phrases people in your area use to find laundry services.
8. What is schema markup for LocalBusiness?
Schema markup is a special code that helps search engines understand your business type, address, hours, and services for better local rankings.
9. How can I get local backlinks?
Reach out to local bloggers, news outlets, or partners for features, sponsorships, or collaborations that link back to your laundry website.
10. Can SEOLaundry help with Local SEO?
Yes, SEOLaundry specializes in optimizing local laundry businesses through directory listings, keyword targeting, mobile optimization, and structured data implementation.