A local SEO company optimizes business websites to appear more prominently in location-based search engine results. It tailors SEO strategies to enhance visibility for businesses within specific geographic regions or those with physical storefronts, targeting customers typically within a certain radius of the business's location.

To help their clients reach their goals, local SEO companies employ three main types of strategies:

• On-page SEO
• Technical SEO
• Off-page SEO

Local SEO, while sharing similarities with general SEO practices, has its own unique challenges due to its focus on promoting businesses to local customers. Here are some of the key issues specific to local SEO that specialized agencies address:

• Location-based keyword targeting: Local SEO requires targeting keywords that include location modifiers (e.g., city, neighborhood) to ensure the business appears in relevant local searches. A local SEO agency knows how to balance keyword optimization for local relevance without overstuffing.
• Google My Business (GMB) optimization: Optimizing and maintaining a Google My Business listing is crucial for local SEO success. Keeping information accurate, responding to reviews, posting updates, and managing multiple locations (if applicable) require ongoing attention and effort by professionals.
• NAP consistency: Ensuring consistent Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) information across all online platforms, directories, and citations is vital for effective local SEO performance. Inaccurate or inconsistent NAP data can confuse search engines and potential customers, negatively impacting local search rankings.
• Local citation management: Acquiring and managing citations (mentions of a business's NAP information on other websites) is also important for local SEO. Consistently building high-quality citations while avoiding duplicates or inaccuracies can be challenging, especially for businesses with multiple locations.
• Local link building: Building local backlinks from reputable websites within the business's geographic area can significantly boost local search rankings. However, acquiring local backlinks can be more challenging compared to general link building efforts, owing to the lack of trustworthy and relevant websites that meet location or industry-specific criteria. This may limit the potential reach and diversity of backlink opportunities compared to general link building efforts that can target a broader audience.
• Competitive local markets: In densely populated areas or competitive niches, ranking well in local search results can be challenging. Businesses may need to invest more resources in strategies to stand out among local competitors.
• Mobile optimization: Many local searches are done on mobile devices, especially by users seeking nearby businesses. Ensuring that the business's website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly is essential for capturing local search traffic.
• Voice search optimization: With the rise of voice-activated technology, optimizing for local voice search queries presents a unique challenge. Businesses need to anticipate and optimize for conversational, long-tail keywords that people might use when performing voice searches for local establishments.
• Localized content creation: It is important to craft localized content that resonates with the target audience in specific geographic areas. Businesses must understand local interests, events, and trends to produce relevant and engaging content for local audiences.
• Tracking and measuring local SEO performance: Measuring the effectiveness of local SEO efforts can be complex, especially when trying to attribute online actions to offline conversions, such as in-store visits or phone calls. Implementing and interpreting local SEO metrics accurately is crucial for refining strategies and maximizing ROI.

To illustrate, here’s a case study published by a local SEO agency, Profit Parrot Marketing. It partnered with a client in the specialty foods industry in Brooklyn, NY, specifically dealing with caviar. The restaurant needed to expand its online reach and establish national rankings. The initial challenge lay in the niche nature of the product, requiring a focus on local authority to boost keyword rankings and create the foundation for a broader national campaign.

The agency's strategy began with concentrating efforts on building local authority. Implementation of onsite copy, as per the SEO specialist's recommendation, proved instrumental in driving a significant increase in organic site visits.

The campaign achieved 13 keywords on the first page of Google, increased year-over-year (YOY) organic traffic by 173%, and resulted in an average ranking of #1 for all keywords.

Local SEO agencies improve a business's visibility in local search results. While they vary based on the agency's expertise and the unique needs of each business, some of the services they offer include:

• Google My Business optimization
• Local keyword research
• On-page optimization
• Online review management
• Local link building
• Content creation
• Local outreach and partnerships
• Metrics tracking and reporting
• Geo-targeted advertising
• Local maps optimization
• Customer/user experience analysis

Pelicoin is the Gulf South’s largest cryptocurrency ATM network, operating across Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Despite a strong ATM network, Pelicoin sought assistance from Online Optimism, a local SEO agency, to enhance its search engine presence and local visibility, especially since it faced difficulty connecting physical visits to its ATMs with Google searches. It aimed to improve rankings on Google and appear prominently in Google’s Map Pack, facilitating customer navigation to ATM locations.

These were the local SEO services provided by Online Optimism:

• Leveraging Google’s local action conversions to track user interactions after engaging with ads, particularly those indicating further interest or intent to convert
• Implementing a multi-pronged SEO and content strategy focused on improving Pelicoin’s visibility across its target markets
• Creating long-form service pages targeting primary keywords for major cities hosting Pelicoin ATMs
• Developing keyword-targeted location pages acting as press releases for new ATM locations to penetrate local search Map Packs
• Verifying each new ATM location on Google My Business and establishing verifiable connections with Moz Local SEO software, Yext local SEO software, and custom-built Facebook location pages
• Consistently producing blogs and engaging in link building to boost Pelicoin’s domain authority and generate press coverage
• Networking and targeting audiences interested in cryptocurrencies

The results were as follows:

• 21.6% increase in organic website visits compared to the previous year
• 20.3% increase in organic page views compared to the previous year
• Placement in Google Map Pack for every location with the term “Bitcoin ATM [City]”
• Placement in the top 3 of Google’s organic searches for every location with the term “Bitcoin ATM [City]”

The difference between local SEO and SEO lies in their scope. Local SEO hones in on a specific geographical area and is geared towards businesses with brick-and-mortar shops or those catering to local customers. This involves optimizing for location-specific keywords, setting up a Google My Business listing, and getting listed on local directories. The goal is to appear prominently in local search results and on map applications.

For instance, searching for the “best Italian restaurant” implies you are looking for a restaurant close to your current location. The search engine determines your location according to your IP address and displays the top results relative to how close they are to you.

In contrast, traditional SEO focuses on a website’s general or global presence, targeting broader keywords to rank higher in organic search results. It is more concerned with driving traffic to reliable and trusted content outside of the geographical constraints.

This makes conventional SEO a much better option for websites offering information or service expertise regardless of their location. For example, searching for “best marketing solutions for cosmetics” will most probably lead you to global experts in this topic.

The average hourly rate for local SEO services is around $128. However, this can vary based on the specific services provided and the pricing models of different agencies. There may also be additional costs and retainer fees associated with different SEO packages.

Local SEO services encompass several elements to improve your business's visibility in local search results, including:

• Local SEO audit: $1,999 per month or depending on the depth and complexity of the audit
• Local citation building: Starts at $3 per site and $25 for submission to data aggregators
• Local content marketing: $5,000 to $10,000 per month

Calculating how much to budget for local SEO depends on these factors:

• Local business needs
• Current local SEO performance
• Competitiveness in niche
• Number of business locations
• Number of products or services

The top local SEO agencies on DesignRush charge an average of $90 per hour. 29.08% of them accept projects with a minimum budget of $1,000, while only 1.9% have a $50,000+ minimum budget.

SEO offers numerous benefits for businesses, including:

• Increased website traffic
• Improved conversion rates
• Lower advertising costs
• Sustainable business growth
• Long-lasting search engine rankings
• More local reviews
• Collaboration with neighboring businesses
• Better mobile user experience
• Strengthened ties to the local community
• Increased credibility and trust rating
• Attracting more potential buyers to physical store

You should hire a local SEO agency because it can optimize your business website and product and service pages for location-specific search queries. Any business with a physical location or serves a local community can benefit greatly from local SEO companies.

These are the advantages of hiring a local SEO agency:

• They know your area: Local SEO is more effective when hired SEO experts know the ins and outs of the area and have an inherent understanding of your local audience, its specific demographic elements, local customs, trends, and traditions.
• It’s easy to track their work: Local SEO is a trackable strategy, which means your business will always know how your campaign is performing and, ultimately, how it’s ranking. Tools like Google Analytics will give you real-time insight into how your local SEO campaign is doing, which allows you to tweak elements that don't benefit your business.
• They are cost-efficient: Local SEO agencies need to show results; otherwise, they will lose you as a client. This is a great advantage over hiring an in-house SEO team that you will need to pay without the guarantee of positive results.

A case study by LinkGraph, a local SEO firm, shows that in seven months of working with a laser hair removal company, the client has seen a 560% boost in organic traffic, which mainly came from local search queries. The collaboration also resulted in a 3979% increase in overall impressions on the client’s website.

To enhance your business’s local SEO ranking on Google, here’s a step-by-step guide you can follow:

1. Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing.
2. Ensure consistent NAP across all online listings.
3. Research keywords relevant to your business and location using tools like Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner.
4. Optimize your web pages with local keywords in title tags, headers, and content.
5. List your business on local directories and industry-specific websites.
6. Encourage customers to leave positive reviews.
7. Acquire high-quality local backlinks.
8. Add schema markup to your website's code to help search engines better understand your business details.
9. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly.
10. Leverage geo-targeting techniques.
11. Use social media platforms to engage with the local community.
12. Use tools like Google Analytics and GMB Insights to monitor your keyword rankings, website traffic, and conversion rates.
13. Stay up to date with algorithm changes and adjust your strategies accordingly.
14. Be patient and consistent. Keep in mind that local SEO takes time to show results.

Local SEO enhances profits by boosting a website’s visibility in location-based online searches, which connects businesses with nearby customers. To improve online credibility, businesses can optimize their listings and ensure NAP details are accurate. This drives targeted web traffic, which translates into higher sales conversions.

Moreover, through an enhanced local online presence, businesses can gain a competitive advantage in their industry, leading to long-term revenue growth.

Finding the right local SEO company is a critical investment in your business’s online success. Here’s a guide to help you:

1. Clarify your business goals, whether you need to leverage local SEO for higher rankings, increased visibility, or improved online reputation.
2. Conduct a comprehensive search of local SEO companies with established reputations and positive client feedback.
3. Scrutinize their service offerings and ensure they align with your needs.
4. Request references from past clients. Speak with these clients to understand their experiences and results.
5. Look for a company that offers tailored solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all strategy. Prioritize companies with local familiarity.
6. Check if the cost/pricing structure aligns with your budget. Consider the value and results you’re likely to receive as well.
7. Send a request for proposal (RFP) that effectively outlines deliverables, timelines, and pricing.
8. Conduct interviews with shortlisted candidates to get to know them better.
9. Finalize your decision. After picking the best local SEO agency, carefully review the contract terms, including any hidden fees, contract duration, and cancellation policies.

If you need assistance looking for the ideal local SEO company for your brand, visit the DesignRush Marketplace where you can share with us the details of your business. We’ll shortlist up to five agencies that best align with your project — for free.

Here’s a list of questions you can ask when considering a local SEO company:

Its Relevant Background

1. How long has your company been providing local SEO services?
2. Can you provide examples of successful local SEO campaigns you've worked on?
3. What industries have you primarily helped with local SEO?
4. Can you share examples of businesses you've helped succeed with local SEO? How do you tailor strategies to different local markets?

Company Services and Processes

1. What specific local SEO services do you offer?
2. How do you approach keyword research for local SEO?
3. What strategies do you employ to improve local search rankings?
4. How do you ensure consistency in NAP across different platforms?
5. How do you manage local business listings? What platforms do you focus on?
6. How do you optimize Google My Business profiles?
7. What is your process for identifying relevant local keywords for a business?
8. How do you approach building citations for local SEO? What measures do you take to ensure consistency and accuracy?
9. How do you manage online reviews for local businesses?
10. How do you create and optimize localized content for a website?
11. How do you ensure a website is optimized for mobile devices?
12. What's your approach to local link building?
13. What tools and technologies do you use for tracking and reporting local SEO performance?
14. Do you provide ongoing monitoring and maintenance for local SEO efforts?

The Project

1. Can you provide an overview of how you would approach our local SEO project?
2. How do you adapt your strategies to suit the unique needs and goals of our business?
3. What is your timeline for delivering results in terms of improved local search visibility?
4. How do you handle communication and reporting throughout the project?
5. What is your adjustment process if the initial strategy isn't yielding desired results?
6. Can you provide a breakdown of costs associated with the local SEO project, including any additional fees?

The leading local SEO agencies in the U.S. are:

• Victorious SEO
  • 4.8 stars on DesignRush (7 reviews)
  • 4.8 stars on Google (70 reviews)
  • Top clients: GE Digital, GoFundMe, Wayfair, Salesforce
• Searchbloom
  • 5.0 stars on DesignRush (36 reviews)
  • 4.9 stars on Google (59 reviews)
  • Top clients: Goedeker's, Rancher, Trex Fencing, iPostal1
• Newman Web Solutions
  • 5.0 stars on Google (46 reviews)
  • Top clients: Sarah Lee, James White, Mike Winslett, Carla Anderson
• LinkGraph
  • 4.9 stars on DesignRush (33 reviews)
  • 4.8 stars on Google (12 reviews)
  • Top clients: Bright Pattern, Indian Motorcycle, HoustonLawyer.com, The Home Depot
• DAGMAR Marketing
  • 4.9 stars on Google (29 reviews)
  • Top clients: Turner Pest Control, McGowan's Heating and Air, Contractor Connection

Learn more about these companies and be sure to explore the rest of the listings. Use the filtering functionality to customize your search based on agency fees, budgets, location, and reviews.