local SEO
Optimizing a business's presence so it appears in searches with a geographic intent, such as near me or a town name.
Definition
Local SEO helps businesses with physical locations or service areas appear in map results and local listings. Core tasks include maintaining an accurate business profile, consistent name, address and phone details across directories, gathering genuine reviews, creating location pages with real information and using local structured data. Fabricated reviews or fake addresses violate platform rules and can cause removal. Results are measured in calls, direction requests and visits, not just rankings. Keep opening hours and contact details accurate everywhere, since inconsistent information frustrates customers as well as search systems and platforms.
In a sentence
The dentist improved local SEO by correcting listings across directories.
Genuine customer reviews supported the local ranking.
