Local SEO Basics for Service Businesses

SEO can feel overwhelming. There are thousands of articles about algorithm updates, backlink strategies, and technical audits. But for most local service businesses, the fundamentals are what matter — and they're more straightforward than the industry makes them seem.

Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile

This is the single most important thing you can do for local SEO. Your Google Business Profile is what shows up in map results, and it's often the first thing potential customers see. Make sure your business name, address, phone number, hours, and service area are accurate and complete.

Get your website basics right

• Unique title tag on every page (include your city and service)
• Meta descriptions that describe what you do and where
• Your phone number and address on every page
• Service pages for each service you offer
• Fast page load speed (under 3 seconds on mobile)

Build your review presence

Google reviews directly impact your local rankings. The businesses with more (and better) reviews rank higher in map results. Ask every happy customer for a review — make it easy by sending them a direct link.

Create location-relevant content

Write about topics your customers actually search for. 'How much does [your service] cost in [your city]?' is a great starting point. Blog posts that answer real questions rank well and bring in qualified traffic.

Ensure NAP consistency

NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number. Your business information should be identical everywhere it appears online — your website, Google, Yelp, Facebook, industry directories. Inconsistencies confuse Google and hurt your rankings.

What to skip (for now)

You don't need to worry about backlink campaigns, schema markup, or technical SEO audits until the basics are covered. Get the fundamentals right first — they'll carry you further than most businesses realize.