Local
Local SEO is the practice of optimizing your online presence so that your business shows up in local search results—especially on Google. It’s all about helping people near your physical location find you when they’re searching for your product or service.
Improving your local SEO strategy
Local SEO is crucial for businesses looking to capture nearby customers or increase online visibility in local markets. Whether you’re managing Google Business Profile listings, creating content for local keywords, or handling customer reviews, Search Engine Land offers the guidance you need to stay ahead. Explore strategies to maximize visibility in local search results, optimize your presence in Google Maps, and take advantage of advanced tools like local schema markup. With insights into location-based ranking factors, customer behavior trends, and algorithm updates, you’ll be equipped to fine-tune your approach for better results.
By optimizing for local SEO, you can:
📍 Show up in the Google Map Pack (top 3 local listings with map pins)
🔝 Rank higher in “near me” searches
💬 Increase calls, bookings, and foot traffic
⭐ Build trust with strong reviews and ratings
💸 Drive more qualified leads with high purchase intent
It’s one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies for local businesses.
Future outlook for local SEO
In 2025, mobile-first behavior is still growing, and Google continues to prioritize personalized, location-based results. Voice searches like “Where can I get tacos right now?” are also on the rise—most of which are local intent searches. If you’re not showing up locally, you’re likely invisible to customers who are ready to buy right now.
What you read here is written by our experienced in-house team, and subject matter experts from leading brands and agencies. Don’t miss out on critical local SEO updates! Get the Search Engine Land newsletter delivered daily to your inbox. Subscribe for free and stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of local marketing!
Breaking Bard: Google’s AI chatbot lacks sources, hallucinates, gives bad SEO advice
Google Bard suggests buying links, predicts the next Core Update and refuses to share links to its sources. We're off to a ridiculous start.
How ChatGPT can help with local SEO
From Google Business Profile to reviews and local link building, here are specific ways ChatGPT can (and can't) help in local SEO.
Google Maps removed policy-abiding reviews from Local Guides
Google is working on restoring the reviews over the next few weeks.
Google rolling out cars for sale in Google Business Profiles
US-based dealerships can now add all their inventory to their local business profile in Google.
Apple Maps relaunches Apple Business Connect
Initially launched about a decade ago, now Apple is adding numerous features for businesses, including messaging.
Google Business Profiles to stop allowing price ranges on products on February 15
Also, Google will no longer support custom call to actions.
Google Local Service Ads are now available for dentists
This is the first new vertical Google has added to LSAs.
Arbitrage in Google’s Local Services Ads: What you need to know
Spam in the local search space appears to have moved into another area that Google is unable to police actively.
Top 5 search marketing trends and 3 must-haves for 2023
Here's a look at significant search, digital marketing and consumer trends, along with the must-haves for digital marketers in 2023.
Location pages in Google’s crosshairs after October spam update
Ranking drops and deindexed pages are plaguing service area business sites. Let's explore the potential cause and what local SEOs can do.
Google shut down Duplex on the Web
Google has also retired the DuplexWeb-Google web crawler.
Google files lawsuit against company falsely promising Page 1 rankings
Google's lawsuit alleges that a company called G Verifier scammed and harassed hundreds of Business Profile merchants.
Don’t fall for fake ownership requests for your Google Business Profile
There are reports of an increase in fraudulent ownership requests, so be careful.
Report: Google Business Profiles bug causing reviews to disappear
A bug with automatically applied suggested edits leads to some businesses seeing all their reviews vanish from Google.
Yelp has created a new attribute, Business Fund, and Resource Hub for veterans
Searches on Yelp for veteran-owned businesses in the U.S. increased by 101% in the third quarter of 2022 compared to last year.
Google review guidelines say discouraging negative or selectively soliciting positive reviews is not allowed
Google is now being very explicit about this in their guidelines, so be careful.
How to turn your Google Business Profile into a revenue-generating channel
An enhanced GBP can drive more traffic, leads and sales to your local business. Focus on these areas when optimizing your Business Profile.
Google prohibits incentivizing customers to remove or modify negative reviews
Now you can't offer incentives to ask people who left negative reviews to revise their reviews.
Google updates Business Profile posts spam policies
The posts that do not comply with this guideline may be rejected and removed from Google Maps and Google Search.
Twitter launches Location Spotlight for all professional accounts
The new features lets local businesses display their address, hours and more information at the top of their Twitter profile.
Google adds Asian-owned attribute to business profiles
These labels can help some businesses with visibility and potentially increase conversions.
Google’s Local Services Ads platform has a problem with spam
Fake business names, virtual offices, multiple rankings... Google has a spam issue with LSAs and getting it fixed is easier said than done.
Google adds automated messaging through Business Profiles frequently asked questions
For small businesses, this can help reduce necessary resources to respond to customer questions in Google Search and Google Maps.
New searchable Instagram map gives visibility to local businesses
Instagram making it easier for users to discover restaurants, cafes, hotels and other local businesses.
Google to test AR prototype glasses, lenses for visual search and more
Is this the second generation of Google Glass, how will this change the future of search and marketing?
Google My Business mobile app has stopped functioning forever
You can no longer use the app to make profile edits, communicate with customers and so on.
Google Maps adds new store location feature, Locator Plus, Reserve with Google integration, new analytics and more
The familiarity of these features might be welcomed by your website users but it might also make you more reliant on Google services.
Google adds LGBTQ+ owned attribute to business profiles
These labels can help some businesses with visibility and potentially increase conversions.
Google introduces three new travel products for hotels
Hotels will now have a much easier streamlined process for adding room rates and availability to their Google Business Profiles.
New Yelp feature: Request a Call
Missed phone calls are lost leads. Yelp's new feature could help generate more qualified leads for local service businesses.
Google multisearch to gain near me support
Soon you will be able to search by image for matches of places, stores or restaurants near you.
Google now allows virtual food brands to have Google Business Profiles
Google has updated its business profile guidelines to allow some delivery-only food brands.
Business redressal complaint form adds option for ‘This business doesn’t exist’
You can now identify the content on Google Maps that you claim might lead to fraudulent activity by saying the business doesn't exist.
Is the Google Business Profile Manager going away for multi-locations businesses as well?
Previously Google said the Google Business Profile Manager will remain for larger businesses that manage multiple locations but maybe that is not true?
Yelp adds searchable eco-friendly business attributes
The new sustainability attributes will appear on Yelp business pages. In addition, Yelp will highlight attributes in search results.
Google may update business hours in local listings with AI
So make sure to routinely review your business hours to ensure they are accurate.
The right approach to multilingual marketing strategy
Is your brand lost in translation, missing out on opportunities or revenue? Learn how to correctly do multilingual marketing.
Google Business Profile review management tool expands support to those with many local listings
Previously, this tool only let those with a few listings manage their reviews.
Google Business Profiles add new recycling attribute
This new attribute may help your business stand out from the competition in the Google local results.
Google Search adds booking and appointment availability for healthcare providers
This is a pilot with a limited number of providers including MinuteClinic at CVS.