Local SEO Techniques For Businesses in 2025

Local SEO is important for small businesses. With 97% of consumers using online search to find local businesses in 2025, proper local optimisation directly impacts your bottom line. If your business isn’t visible in local searches, you’re missing potential customers who are actively looking for your products or services.

If you own a local online business or your physical business has an online marketing strategy and you want to know how to optimise it for local SEO, there’s no need to worry. This post covers everything you need to know about Local Search Engine Optimisation.

We’ll share nine proven techniques that help businesses appear in local search results, attract nearby customers, compete effectively in your area, build local brand awareness, and convert searches into sales.

What Is Local SEO?

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the process of making local businesses, especially those with brick-and-mortar locations, more visible in search engines.

Google and other search engines figure out what to show users based on where they are (current location) and what they search for.

In 2025, search engines use advanced AI to match searches with local businesses based on:

• current location
• search intent
• business relevance
• customer reviews
• online presence

For example, when someone searches for a “coffee shop near me” or “best dentist in Copenhagen,” search engines show local businesses that best match these searches.

Why Local SEO Matters Now

Local searches lead to quick actions. Studies show:

• 88% of local searches on mobile devices lead to a store visit within 24 hours
• 76% of people who search for something nearby visit a business within a day
• 28% of local searches result in a purchase

By following the best techniques for local SEO, businesses can get more organic traffic from searches done by local customers.

With local SEO, small and medium-scale businesses can effectively position their products and services to be easily located by local customers and prospects who are searching for them.

Local SEO Tips For Businesses

These nine proven techniques will boost your local search rankings and help more nearby customers find your business.

1. Create and optimise a Business profile on Google

Your Google Business Profile serves as your digital storefront. Recent data shows that businesses with complete GBP profiles receive 70% more visits than those with incomplete listings. A well-optimised profile helps you rank higher in local searches and Google Maps.

Essential Profile Elements

Your GBP needs these key components:

• accurate business name, address, and phone number
• current operating hours and holiday schedules
• high-quality photos and videos
• detailed service or product listings
• payment methods and accessibility information

Engagement and Updates

To keep your profile active, make sure to include regular posts about offers and events, provide quick responses to customer reviews (aiming for under 24 hours), and update photos at least monthly. It’s also important to share accurate real-time information along with special holiday hours and announcements.

Remember: Google rewards active profiles with better visibility.

According to WordStream, a Google Business Profile is not a one-and-done marketing task. It’s a local marketing tool that requires ongoing action in order to increase your online presence and maximise your benefits.

Pro Tip: Use Google’s new AI-powered features to create virtual tours and enhanced product showcases, which can increase profile engagement by up to 35%.

2. Ensure your business name, address, email, and phone number are the same across all channels

Your business information must match across all digital platforms to improve local search rankings. Search engines use this consistency to verify your business’s authenticity and reliability.

NAP Details Matter

Your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) must be identical everywhere it appears online. Recent studies show that businesses with consistent NAP information across platforms rank 47% higher in local search results.

Place your NAP information in HTML text format on your website – preferably in both the header and footer. Avoid the common mistake of displaying this information only in images, as search engines cannot read image content effectively. Text remains the primary way search engines understand and index your business information in 2025.

Digital Presence Checklist

Your business information should match exactly across the following:

• website (header and footer)
• Google Business Profile
• social media accounts
• online directories
• business listings
• review platforms

Remember: Even small differences in how your address is written (e.g., “Street” vs “St.”) can affect your search rankings. Use a consistent format everywhere.

Pro Tip: Create a master document with your exact business information and use it as a reference when updating any online presence.

3. Get relevant and authoritative inbound links

In 2025, inbound links remain a powerful signal of your business’s credibility. Recent data shows that local businesses with diverse, high-quality backlinks rank 32% higher in search results than those without.

Strategic Link Building

Quality matters more than quantity for SEO success in 2025. Focus on getting links from relevant local sources that add real value to your business profile. Local news websites, business directories, and industry associations often provide the most valuable links for local SEO.

Effective Link Sources

Local partnerships offer excellent link-building opportunities. Consider collaborating with local charities and community projects, business improvement districts, chambers of commerce, industry associations, and educational institutions. These partnerships create natural opportunities for quality backlinks while building meaningful relationships in your community.

Content-Based Link Building

Create valuable content that naturally attracts links. Recent studies show that local businesses publishing regular longer (over 3,000 words), high-quality content receive 3.5 times more backlinks than those who don’t.

Share your industry expertise through expert guides and tutorials, local market insights, industry trend analysis, community event coverage, professional case studies, partnerships or sponsorships, guest blog posting, and scholarships.

4. Ensure your website works well on mobile devices

Mobile-friendly websites are essential for local search success. Recent data shows that 78% of local searches happen on mobile devices (SEMrush), with 88% of these leading to a store visit within 24 hours (Google).

Why Mobile Matters

Your website must work perfectly on all devices, especially mobile phones. Studies reveal that 67% of users will leave a website if it doesn’t display properly on their mobile device. Poor mobile experience directly affects your local search rankings and customer trust.

Key Mobile Elements

A good mobile website in 2025 needs:

• fast loading times (under 2 seconds)
• easy-to-tap buttons and links
• clear, readable text
• simple navigation
• quick access to contact information

Local Search Impact

Mobile optimisation affects your local visibility. Google’s mobile-first indexing means your site’s mobile version determines your search rankings.

Remember: Test your website regularly on different mobile devices. A smooth mobile experience helps convert local searches into store visits and sales.

Pro Tip: Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to check your website’s performance and get specific improvement suggestions.

5. Use location-specific “About Us” page

Dedicated location pages help search engines understand where your business operates. For companies with multiple locations, these pages significantly boost local search visibility.

Creating Effective Location Pages

Each location needs its own unique page with complete information. Your location pages should include:

Essential Information

Create detailed pages that feature:

• full business name, address, and contact details
• current operating hours
• specific services for each location
• local team information
• parking and accessibility details

Local Content Elements

Add location-specific content such as:

• area-specific offers and promotions
• local customer testimonials
• recent community involvement
• nearby landmarks and directions
• interactive location maps

Technical Requirements

Each location page needs:

• unique URLs for each location
• local schema markup
• mobile optimisation
• fast loading times
• location-specific images

Remember: Keep each location page unique and updated. Search engines prefer pages with original content rather than duplicated information across locations.

Pro Tip: Include local keywords naturally in your content, focusing on terms people use when searching in each specific area.

6. Leverage online business directories and local directories

Online directories remain crucial for local visibility in 2025. Another BrightLocal material shows that 61% of consumers use business information sites (like Google, Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Better Business Bureau) to find information about a local business that is new to them or that they have not used before. This makes directory listings an essential part of your local SEO strategy.

Directory Benefits

Online directories do more than just list your business. They build trust with potential customers and strengthen your local SEO. Each accurate directory listing acts as a vote of confidence for search engines, improving your local rankings.

Key Directory Platforms

In 2025, focus on these important directories:

• industry-specific directories
• local chamber of commerce
• regional business associations
• professional organisations
• niche market platforms

Listing Management

Keep your directory listings consistent and current. Studies show that 73% of consumers lose trust in businesses with incorrect directory information. Update your:

• business name and contact details
• operating hours
• services and products
• special features
• payment methods

Remember: Quality matters more than quantity. Choose reputable directories relevant to your business and location rather than listing everywhere possible.

Pro Tip: Use directory management tools to monitor and update all your listings from one place, saving time while maintaining accuracy.

7. Get high-quality backlinks and link signals

Building strong local link building has become essential for search visibility. A recent local SEO link building test showed that even a single backlink from a reputable website could help a business jump from the 10th to the 3rd position in organic search results.

Creating Link-Worthy Content

Your website needs content that naturally attracts local links. Share local success stories, community events, and industry insights. Recent data shows that locally-focused content receives 3x more backlinks than generic content.

Local Influencer Partnerships

Work with local voices who matter in your community. Micro-influencers with local followings often provide better results than larger influencers. Connect through community events, joint projects, local causes, industry meetups, and professional associations. These partnerships create authentic connections that resonate with local audiences.

Digital PR Opportunities

Build relationships with local media and organisations to strengthen your community presence. Focus on connecting with local news websites, community blogs, business associations, charity partnerships, and educational institutions. These relationships help create meaningful content and valuable backlinks that boost your local visibility.

Remember: Focus on building genuine local relationships rather than just collecting links. Strong community connections naturally lead to valuable backlinks.

Pro Tip: Create a local events calendar or community resource page to attract natural links from local organisations.

8. Create a separate web page for each product or service you sell

Individual pages for each product or service will strengthen your local search presence. This approach helps search engines better understand your offerings and match them to specific customer searches.

Why Separate Pages Matter

Single-page websites often struggle to rank well. Each product or service needs its own dedicated page with detailed information, helping both customers and search engines find exactly what they need. This method allows you to include comprehensive details, customer reviews, and location-specific information for each offering.

Creating Effective Product Pages

Write unique, detailed content for each product or service, which should include complete product descriptions, pricing information, location availability, customer reviews, high-quality images, and ordering or booking details.

For businesses with multiple locations, customise each product page with location-specific details. Add local pricing, availability, and delivery options for each area you serve. This targeted approach helps your pages appear in relevant local searches.

Remember: Quality content on each page helps build authority for specific products and services in your local area. Keep information current and relevant to your local customer base.

Pro Tip: Include location-specific keywords naturally in your product descriptions to improve visibility in local searches.

9. Do local keyword research to improve your local SEO

In 2025, understanding how local customers search for your business makes a significant difference in your visibility. Local keyword research reveals the exact terms people in your area use when looking for your products or services.

Finding Local Search Terms

Start with basic location-based terms like “coffee shop Copenhagen” or “plumber near me.” Then, add specific neighbourhood names, local landmarks, and regional terms. Voice search has changed how people look for local businesses; they use more natural, conversational phrases like “Where can I find a dentist open late in Nørrebro?”

Using Local Keywords

Include these local terms in your website content, business descriptions, product pages, blog posts, and social media updates.

Remember: Focus on terms that match how people in your area actually talk about your business and services. Local dialect and common local phrases often bring better results than formal business terms.

Pro Tip: Check your Google Business Profile insights to see which search terms currently bring customers to your business, then use these terms in your content.

Conclusion

Local SEO puts your business in front of customers who are ready to buy. With 76% of local mobile searches leading to store visits within 24 hours, proper local optimisation directly affects your bottom line.

These nine local SEO techniques will help your business stand out in local searches. From optimising your Google Business Profile to creating location-specific content, each strategy works to increase your local visibility and attract more customers.

Ready to improve your local search rankings? Let’s work together to create an effective local SEO strategy for your business. Our team understands both the technical requirements and local market dynamics that drive success in 2025.