What is Local SEO?

What does that actually mean?

Have you ever searched something like:

• “Restaurant near me”
• “Dentist in New York”

These are classic examples of local search queries. When someone includes a location or searches with intent to find something nearby, Google prioritizes businesses in that area.

The results often look like this:

📍 A map with local business listings – known as the Google Snack Pack. These business profiles show key info at a glance:

• Name
• Address
• Opening hours
• Phone number
• Customer reviews
• Popular times and photos

All of this comes from the Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) – a free platform that every local business should use to increase visibility.

What is a Google Business Profile?

The Google Business Profile is a free listing that allows you to share key information about your business on Google Search and Maps. It includes:

• Your name, address, and phone number (NAP)
• Business description
• Website link
• Opening hours
• Services and product links
• Reviews

A complete and verified profile helps users learn about your business before even visiting your website.

Local Directories

Google is the most important directory – but not the only one. There are many other local and industry-specific directories where you should list your business, such as:

• Yelp
• TripAdvisor (for restaurants or travel-related businesses)
• Facebook

Being listed on multiple platforms helps boost your visibility. Just make sure your NAP information is consistent across all directories – this improves your credibility with search engines.

What is a citation? 

A citation is any online mention of your business that includes your name, address, and phone number. These can be:

• Structured citations: found in directories and platforms with set fields (e.g., Yelp, Facebook)
• Unstructured citations: found in news articles, blog posts, or forums

Google uses citations to verify that your business is legitimate and to help determine your local ranking. The more accurate, consistent citations you have, the better.

Why reviews matter

Customer reviews appear in your Google Business Profile and influence purchasing decisions. Many users make up their minds based on what others say – sometimes before ever visiting your website.

How to get reviews:

• After a purchase, send a thank-you email asking for a review
• Always respond to reviews, ideally within 24 hours
• Stay calm and professional when replying to negative feedback

Tip: Invite unhappy customers to contact you privately to resolve issues. If they’re satisfied, they may update their review – which builds trust with new customers.

No time? Let us help!

We get it – maintaining online profiles across multiple platforms is time-consuming. But it’s crucial for staying visible.

That’s where rankingCoach 360 comes in. It helps you:

• Create or connect your Google Business Profile
• Sync your business info across dozens of directories
• Update Facebook and other listings from one place
• Monitor and reply to reviews directly in your dashboard

With automated tools and central management, you’ll save time and focus more on running your business.

Next up: In our next article, we’ll show you how to technically optimize your website so Google can better understand and rank it.