How to Dominate Local SEO & Get More Customers from Google
🔎 Struggling to get local customers? If people in your area are searching for businesses like yours, but you’re not showing up, you’re leaving money on the table.
That’s where local SEO comes in. Whether you run a plumbing company, café, or law firm, ranking at the top of local searches means more leads, more customers, and more revenue.
Here’s everything you need to know to get your business in front of local customers—and start winning in Google search results.
What is Local SEO? (And Why It’s Essential for Your Business)
Ever searched for “best coffee shop near me” or “electrician in [your city]”? That’s local SEO in action.
When done right, local SEO puts your business in front of customers actively looking for what you offer—right when they need it.
🚀 Why It Matters:
✅ 46% of all Google searches are looking for local businesses.
✅ 76% of people who search for a local business visit it within 24 hours.
✅ The top 3 results in Google Maps get the majority of clicks—if you’re not there, you’re missing out.
If you rely on foot traffic, appointments, or local services, ranking high in local search results = more calls, bookings, and sales.
How to Rank Higher in Local Search (Step-by-Step Guide)
1. Claim & Optimise Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
📍 Your Google Business Profile is your most powerful local SEO tool. It’s what appears in Google Maps and local searches.
✅ Claim your business at Google Business Profile (it’s free).
✅ Fill out ALL details: Business name, address, phone, hours, and website.
✅ Upload high-quality photos of your business, products, and services.
✅ Post updates & offers to keep your listing active.
✅ Get more reviews! (More on that below.)
Example:
A Gold Coast café we worked with went from page 2 of Google to the top 3 in Maps just by fully optimising their Google Business Profile and getting more reviews. Their walk-in traffic doubled in 3 months.
2. Get More Customer Reviews (And Respond to Them!)
⭐ Reviews = Trust = More Customers
88% of customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Businesses with more 5-star reviews rank higher in Google Maps.
📌 How to Get More Reviews:
✔ Ask happy customers to leave a review (in person or via SMS/email).
✔ Send them a direct Google review link (makes it easy).
✔ Offer an incentive (like a small discount or loyalty points).
✔ Respond to every review—good or bad.
📍 Example: A local plumber started asking every satisfied customer for a review. Within 2 months, they had 50+ 5-star reviews—and saw a 40% increase in calls.
3. Use Location-Specific Keywords on Your Website
If your website doesn’t mention where you operate, Google won’t know where to rank you.
🔑 Must-Use Local Keywords:
✅ “[Your Service] in [Your City]” (e.g., “Plumber in Gold Coast”)
✅ “Best [Your Industry] near me”
✅ “[Your City] [Your Business Type]” (e.g., “Gold Coast Hair Salon”)
📌 Where to Use Them:
✔ Page Titles & Meta Descriptions
✔ Headings (H1, H2 tags)
✔ Website Content & Blog Posts
✔ Image Alt Text
Example: A landscaping company updated their website to include “Gold Coast Landscaping Services” in their headings and descriptions. Within 6 weeks, their rankings jumped, and they landed 5 new local clients.
4. Get Listed in Local Directories (Citations)
Your business needs to be listed consistently across the web.
📌 Where to List Your Business:
✔ Google Business Profile (duh!)
✔ Yellow Pages, Yelp, True Local
✔ Industry-Specific Directories (e.g., hipages for tradies)
✔ Local Chamber of Commerce website
🔍 Why It Works:
Every directory listing reinforces your legitimacy to Google. If your Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP details) are consistent everywhere, your rankings improve.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget social media! Facebook & LinkedIn also help with local visibility.
5. Build Local Backlinks (Google Loves These!)
Backlinks (links from other websites to yours) boost credibility and rankings.
📌 How to Get Local Backlinks:
✔ Partner with local businesses (exchange website links).
✔ Sponsor local events, schools, or charities (they’ll link back to you).
✔ Get featured in local news articles or blogs.
✔ Write guest posts for local industry websites.
Example: A mechanic partnered with a local car dealership to swap backlinks. Within a few months, their website traffic doubled—and they ranked higher for “car repairs near me.”
Local SEO Checklist – Do This Today
✅ Claim & Optimise Your Google Business Profile
✅ Get More Customer Reviews (and reply to them!)
✅ Add Location-Specific Keywords to your website
✅ List Your Business on Local Directories
✅ Get Local Backlinks to boost credibility
Follow these steps and you’ll start seeing more calls, more bookings, and more foot traffic—without spending a cent on ads.
Final Thoughts: Want Us to Handle It For You?
🚀 Too busy running your business to do all this yourself? We’ll set up & optimise your local SEO so customers find you online—without the hassle.
🔍 FREE Local SEO Check-Up → We’ll tell you EXACTLY what’s holding you back and how to fix it.
