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Local SEO 101: The Basics Every Small Business Owner Should Know

Imagine you own a fantastic café with the best coffee in town, but no one can find you because there’s no sign outside. That’s what happens when your business isn’t optimised for local search—potential customers are looking, but they don’t know you exist!

Local SEO helps small businesses like yours appear in local search results, making it easier for nearby customers to find and choose you over competitors.


Definitions

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the process of optimising your online presence to attract more business from local searches on Google and other search engines.


Google Business Profile (GBP): Formerly called Google My Business (GMB), this free tool helps businesses manage their online presence and appear in local search results and Google Maps.



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A magnifying glass rests on financial documents, highlighting detailed bar and pie charts, with fluctuating graphs displayed on computer screens in the background, indicating a thorough analysis of market trends.

Key Takeaways

  • Local SEO helps small businesses appear in Google’s local search results.


  • Google Business Profile (GBP) is a critical tool for improving local visibility.


  • Customer reviews, local citations, and NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone) impact rankings.


  • Local SEO drives foot traffic, phone calls, and website visits from local customers.


  • Wix has built-in SEO tools to help optimise your site for local search.


Table of Contents



1. Why Local SEO Matters for Small Businesses


According to a recent study, 46% of all Google searches have local intent. That means nearly half of the people searching online are looking for nearby products or services!

Benefits of Local SEO:


  • Higher visibility in Google’s “Local Pack” (the top 3 business listings in search results)


  • Increased website traffic and store visits


  • More calls and inquiries from potential customers


Hand using smartphone with digital icons of a store, location pin, and star ratings. Blurred laptop in background, casual setting.
User engaging with local business reviews on a mobile device, highlighting the importance of customer feedback in online services.

2. Google Business Profile: The Foundation of Local SEO


Setting up and optimising your Google Business Profile (GBP) listing is the first step in any local SEO strategy.

How to optimise your GBP profile:


  1. Claim and verify your business listing.


  2. Add accurate business details (Name, Address, Phone Number – NAP consistency).


  3. Select the right categories for your business.


  4. Upload high-quality images of your products, team, or storefront.


  5. Encourage customer reviews and respond promptly.


3. Optimising Your Website for Local Search


  • Include local keywords in page titles, meta descriptions, and content.


  • Create a dedicated ‘Contact Us’ page with your NAP details.


  • Use structured data markup (schema) to help search engines understand your business details.


4. The Power of Online Reviews and Reputation Management


Why reviews matter:


  • 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.


  • Businesses with more 5-star reviews rank higher in local search results.


How to get more reviews:


  • Ask happy customers to leave a Google review.


  • Respond to all reviews (positive and negative) professionally.


  • Use Wix’s built-in review widgets to showcase testimonials on your website.


5. Local Citations and NAP Consistency


A citation is any mention of your business name, address, and phone number on the web.


  • List your business on directories like Yelp, Bing Places, and Facebook.


  • Ensure NAP details are consistent across all platforms.


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A person engages with social media on a smartphone, as digital icons representing likes and hearts float above the screen against a blurred background.

6. Leveraging Local Content for SEO Success


  • Create blog posts about local events, news, or industry trends.


  • Write city-specific service pages if you serve multiple locations.


  • Use location-based keywords naturally in your content.


7. Mobile Optimisation: Reaching Customers on the Go


Key stats:


  • 76% of people who search for a local business on their phone visit within 24 hours.


  • Mobile-friendly websites rank higher in Google’s mobile search results.


Make sure your website is responsive, fast-loading, and easy to navigate on mobile.


8. Tracking Your Local SEO Performance


  • Use Google Analytics to monitor website traffic.


  • Check your Google Business Profile insights for search visibility.


  • Track rankings using local SEO tools like Moz Local or BrightLocal.


Finger tapping tablet, digital storefront icons with social media notifications overlay. Blue shirt background creates tech-focused mood.
A person interacts with a digital storefront interface on a tablet, highlighting the integration of local business locations and social media connectivity in a global network.

9. Common Local SEO Mistakes to Avoid


Ignoring Google Business Profile updates ❌ Not responding to reviews ❌ Having inconsistent NAP details❌ Neglecting mobile optimisation


Conclusion


Local SEO is a powerful tool for small businesses to increase visibility, attract local customers, and boost sales. By optimising your Google Business Profile, gathering customer reviews, and ensuring NAP consistency, you’ll be ahead of the competition.

Ready to level up your local SEO? Web Revolutions transforms visions into reality ,get expert guidance for your Wix site today!


👉 Visit webrevolutions.co.uk to learn more!



SEO concept on chalkboard with words like ranking, backlinks, traffic, keywords, and site architecture. Colorful icons and diagrams.
SEO strategies visualised on a chalkboard, highlighting key components like ranking, backlinks, keywords, website, content, traffic, data analysis, and site architecture.

FAQs

Q: How long does it take to see results from Local SEO?

A: Typically, 3–6 months, depending on competition and consistency.

Q: Can I do Local SEO on Wix?

Q: What’s the best way to get more Google reviews?

Q: How do I know if my business appears in local search?



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