Does Local SEO Really Help You?

One of the first questions businesses often ask about local SEO is: Is it really worth it?
We understand that running a business is stressful, and time, budget, and energy are valuable resources. You certainly don’t want to add any extra management burdens.
However, if your goal is to attract more in-store visitors, drive online or phone orders, secure appointments, or increase clinic visits with local customers, then the answer is yes!

Who Can Benefit from Local SEO, and Why?

Businesses that serve customers in a specific area generally benefit from local SEO. Whether you’re a retail store, service provider, restaurant, hotel, or hospital, local SEO can help you stand out.
Here are some examples:

Lawyers and Law Firms

Local SEO can significantly enhance competitiveness for law firms. Google local search results directly feature call buttons, making it easy for users to search for specific types of lawyers based on their location.
With effective local SEO, law firms can appear at the top of search results and feature a direct call-to-action button, encouraging potential clients to contact them immediately.
This is especially important for those who need urgent legal assistance, such as after an accident. Local SEO helps you appear in search results precisely when customers need your services most.

Doctors and Medical Institutions

When people search for medical professionals, they often search for “doctors near me.” Most patients prefer to find healthcare providers nearby.
For medical professionals, local SEO prominently displays your clinic information in search results, making it easy for people to find doctors in their local area.
This includes basic details such as your name, navigation links, and other essential information. This is particularly useful because patients often want to easily schedule appointments and find directions to your office.

Plumbers

In emergencies, people don’t go to the store—they search directly on Google. When plumbing issues arise, searching for “plumbers near me” is common.
Local SEO makes it easy for customers to find local plumbers who can meet their urgent needs quickly. Users can directly make calls, view reviews, and contact professionals immediately.

Who Cannot Benefit from Local SEO?

While local SEO can work wonders for many businesses, some businesses are less well-suited for local SEO strategies.
For example, purely online e-commerce stores that don’t rely on geographic location, businesses that don’t want to share local information, and private online sellers may not see the same impact from local SEO.

At Art SEO, we focus on helping local businesses stand out by optimizing your online presence within the local community. If your business interacts with local customers, then local SEO is essential to helping you stand out. For more information on how we can help increase your local visibility, check out our SEO Guide.

Local SEO Still Needs Organic Search Optimization

Local search results often appear in the Google Maps section, but your website’s organic rankings still play a crucial role in your overall search visibility. Google uses these rankings to assess your website’s overall authority, which is a key factor in the three core local ranking signals.

The days of quick SEO shortcuts are over, as search algorithms have changed dramatically.

Today, key signals like user experience (UX), E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), high-quality content, quality backlinks, and a great user experience are leading the SEO game.

However, remember to focus on the key local SEO factors that still need attention, including:

• Researching the right keywords and topics for your marketing campaigns.
• Optimizing your technical optimization to ensure optimal performance.
• Developing top-notch content that resonates with your target audience.
• Building valuable backlinks to help boost website rankings.
• Verifying and maintaining consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) in online directories.
• Focusing on local ranking signals that can improve your website’s visibility.

By focusing on localization, many of your common organic SEO strategies may need some adjustments to be effective for local ranking.

Voice Search and Local SEO

With the increasing use of smartphones, Amazon Echo, Google Home, and other voice-enabled devices, voice search has become a common way for users to find local services.

Instead of typing, it’s easier for users to simply say things like “find a doctor near me” or “find a plumber nearby.”

This shift has led to an increase in conversational local search queries.

For service-based industries, try using keyword phrases that reflect common questions. Tools like Semrush’s Topic Research Tool, Keyword.io, and AnswerThePublic are great for discovering popular search queries related to your industry and their search volume.

By focusing on keyword phrases with local intent, you can gain significant search traffic.

For local businesses like restaurants, lawyers, or other service-based industries, targeting conversational keywords can produce great results. You might be surprised at how much local search traffic this approach generates.

Mobile Search and Local SEO

A large portion of local searches occur on mobile devices, and mobile-friendliness is an important ranking factor for Google.

What does this mean for your local SEO efforts?

Google has already optimized the Maps section display for mobile users. But it is your responsibility to provide a seamless, user-friendly experience on your website and ensure Google knows this through proper technical optimization.

To understand how mobile-first indexing affects your SEO strategy, check out resources like Search Engine Journal’s guide on the topic.

Why Local SEO Needs a Focused Strategy

Developing a strong local SEO strategy doesn’t need to take up too much of your time.

In the next section, we’ll walk you through a nine-step checklist to help improve your local SEO approach. You’ll also find expert tips and tools to help you execute it effectively.

Let’s get started and unlock the full potential of your local search presence!