Better Local SEO in 11 Easy Steps 2025

Better Local SEO in 11 Easy Steps

If your business relies on local customers, ranking high in local search results is essential. Local SEO ensures that your business shows up when people search for products or services near them. With the right strategies, you can attract more traffic, increase leads, and grow your local presence. Here’s a straightforward guide to better local SEO in 11 easy steps.

1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the cornerstone of local SEO. Make sure your profile is:

• Fully filled out with accurate business name, address, and phone number (NAP).
• Categorized correctly with relevant business types.
• Updated with business hours, services, and photos.

Regularly update posts and respond to reviews to boost engagement and credibility.

2. Ensure NAP Consistency Across Platforms

Your business Name, Address, and Phone number should be consistent on:

• Your website
• Social media profiles
• Online directories (Yelp, YellowPages, etc.)

Inconsistent information can confuse search engines and lower your ranking.

3. Target Local Keywords

Identify keywords your customers use when searching for your services locally. Use tools like:

• Google Keyword Planner
• Ahrefs
• SEMrush

Include these keywords naturally in your website content, meta titles, descriptions, and blog posts.

4. Create Location-Specific Pages

If your business serves multiple locations:

• Create separate pages for each location.
• Include NAP details, local keywords, and relevant content for each page.
• Add a Google Map embed for better local context.

5. Collect and Respond to Reviews

Reviews influence both your local ranking and customer trust.

• Ask satisfied customers for reviews.
• Respond promptly to both positive and negative reviews.
• Include keywords naturally in responses if appropriate.

Regular reviews show search engines your business is active and trusted.

6. Optimize Your Website for Mobile

Local searches often happen on mobile devices. Make sure your website is:

• Mobile-friendly and responsive
• Fast-loading
• Easy to navigate with clear calls-to-action

Google favors mobile-optimized sites in search rankings.

7. Add Local Structured Data Markup

Use schema markup to help search engines understand your business location and services.

• Include address, business hours, phone number, and reviews.
• This increases your chances of appearing in rich snippets or local packs.

8. Build Local Backlinks

Backlinks from reputable local sources improve your authority:

• Partner with local organizations or blogs
• Sponsor local events
• Get listed in local business directories

These links signal credibility to search engines.

9. Engage on Social Media Locally

Social media helps boost your local visibility:

• Share local news, events, or community stories
• Tag your location in posts
• Encourage check-ins or mentions

Local engagement can indirectly influence SEO.

10. Use Local Content Marketing

Create content tailored to your local audience:

• Blog posts about local events or industry news
• Case studies featuring local clients
• Guides or tips for local customers

This builds relevance and attracts local search traffic.

11. Monitor Performance and Adjust

Track your local SEO efforts using tools like:

• Google Analytics
• Google Search Console
• Local SEO tools like BrightLocal

Pay attention to traffic, ranking, and conversion data. Refine your strategy based on results.

Conclusion

Local SEO doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these 11 steps, you can improve your visibility in local search results, attract more customers, and grow your business. Start with optimizing your Google Business Profile and stay consistent across all platforms—small, consistent efforts make a big difference over time.

The 5 Greatest Cybersecurity Concerns for Business Owners and Managers

In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue — it’s a critical business priority. Small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly becoming targets of cyberattacks, often because they lack the same defenses as larger corporations. A single breach can result in financial losses, legal issues, and lasting damage to your reputation.

Here are the five greatest cybersecurity concerns every business owner and manager needs to know — and how to address them effectively.

1. Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks

Phishing remains the most common and effective cyber threat facing businesses. Attackers trick employees into revealing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links through convincing emails, texts, or social media messages.

Why it’s a concern:
Even one employee mistake can compromise your entire network. Modern phishing scams are highly sophisticated and often impersonate trusted sources, making them difficult to detect.

How to defend against it:

• Train employees regularly on how to recognize and report phishing attempts.
• Use email filtering and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Run simulated phishing tests to keep awareness high.

2. Ransomware and Data Breaches

Ransomware attacks encrypt your data and demand payment to restore access. Many small businesses are forced to pay — or lose their data entirely.

Why it’s a concern:
Ransomware can cripple operations overnight. Even after paying the ransom, there’s no guarantee you’ll get your data back, and your systems could remain vulnerable.

How to defend against it:

• Back up critical data regularly and store backups offline.
• Keep systems and software updated.
• Deploy robust endpoint protection and network monitoring tools.

3. Insider Threats and Human Error

Employees, contractors, or partners with access to your systems can unintentionally or deliberately expose data. Human error — like misconfiguring security settings or sending information to the wrong person — is responsible for many breaches.

Why it’s a concern:
Insider threats are difficult to detect because they come from trusted individuals. Mistakes can lead to data leaks, compliance violations, or loss of intellectual property.

How to defend against it:

• Limit access to sensitive data using the “principle of least privilege.”
• Use activity monitoring tools and regular audits.
• Provide continuous cybersecurity awareness training.

4. Weak Passwords and Poor Access Control

Despite years of warnings, weak passwords remain one of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to break in. Shared or reused passwords make it even easier.

Why it’s a concern:
Stolen credentials account for a large percentage of data breaches. Attackers often buy or guess passwords, then access networks undetected.

How to defend against it:

• Require strong, unique passwords and regular updates.
• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts.
• Use a secure password manager to simplify password management.

5. Outdated Systems and Unpatched Software

Many businesses delay software updates or continue using outdated systems, exposing themselves to known vulnerabilities.

Why it’s a concern:
Hackers actively exploit old systems with unpatched security flaws. Even a single outdated application can provide an entry point into your network.

How to defend against it:

• Schedule regular system updates and security patches.
• Replace unsupported software and legacy systems.
• Conduct periodic vulnerability assessments to identify risks early.

Final Thoughts

Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, but a proactive, layered defense strategy can protect your business. Business owners and managers must treat cybersecurity as an ongoing process — not a one-time project.

By prioritizing training, implementing strong access controls, and maintaining up-to-date systems, you can significantly reduce the risk of costly breaches and keep your business — and your customers — safe.

Better Local SEO in 11 Easy Steps

If you run a business out of New York City but are showing up in Los Angeles search results, your business is going to go downhill quickly! The people that reside near to where your business is established must be able to find your business. Check out what you can do to better your local SEO presence below.

How to Stake Your Claim in Local SERPs (Search Engine Results Page)

There are two types of search placements, known as paid and organic. Depending on your company’s marketing budget, you can pay for advertisements or be a part of Google’s Guaranteed Listings. Google’s Guaranteed Listings is exactly what it sounds like; you pay Google to ensure your business shows up on local SERPs.

You can also use Google My Business to better your SEO alongside organic placement. Google uses relevance, proximity, and prominence to judge whether a business should appear on a results page. Aside from when you first purchase or rent a location, there isn’t anything in your power to manipulate proximity. However, there are many ways to better your relevancy and prominence!

1. Make a Google My Business for your company
2. Evolve and correct your Google My Business account as often as necessary
3. Don’t wait, Generate; get your existing customers to write reviews
4. Get your business in appropriate directories
5. Have a consistent business Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) throughout the internet
6. Have your physical address on your website where page visitors can easily find it
7. Utilize Schema markup
8. Focus on keywords associated with your business
9. Make the meta title & description on your home page accurate & concise
10. Don’t allow other important SEO practices to slip through the cracks
11. If your budget allows, think about paying for advertisements and/or paying for Google Guaranteed Placements.

All this information can be beneficial. But, if you don’t know what a local business search is, these eleven tips might go straight over your head.

Local Business Searches – The Foundation of Local SEO

Google has constructed its algorithms to give searchers exactly what they’re looking for. You don’t want your business in New York City appearing in a Los Angeles SERP, and someone in Los Angeles doesn’t want to see your New York City business appearing in their Los Angeles SERP. As stated before, everyone loses. Let’s talk about how Google chooses what gets placed on a SERP.

Organic Listings on a SERP

Organic listings do not pay for advertisements or Google Guaranteed Listing. The listing(s) shows up on SERPs because the business(es) uses strong SEO practices and constantly perfects their practices.

Paid Listings on a SERP

A paid listing is a business that uses search engine marketing (SEM) to get their business listing on a SERP. You can tell when a listing is a paid result thanks to the “Ad” in bold in front of the listing’s URL.

Google My Business Listings on a SERP

A business that has a Google My Business account is more likely to appear on a Google SERP (as you can probably imagine). Google spotlights businesses with a healthy Google My Business account.

Google Guaranteed Listings on a SERP

If a business buys into Google’s Guaranteed Listings program, they will show up on specific SERPs, no questions asked. If you have the money and don’t want “Ad” to be in front of your URL, this would be a better marketing option to go with. Do you choose listings that have “Ad” in front of their URL? If not, then why would you want “Ad” in front of your listing’s URL?

In order to have your business appear in a city or state-wide search, your business will have to do more than show up due to their organic practices and placement. Here’s how you can expand your horizons.

Make a Google My Business Account

If you want to be a top local result in a community or state-wide search, you’re going to need a Google My Business account. Not only will this help your quest to rise to the top as a Google My Business result, but it will also make your business a bigger fish in the internet pond as well as make it more likely for your business to appear in an organic SERP.

Evolve and Correct Your Google My Business Account as Necessary

Just because you make an account doesn’t mean the work is done. Your account has to be the cream-of-the-crop, and everything needs to be on point. When your business or business practices change, your Google My Business will also have to be updated and changed. Use compressed photos and videos that will not cause your website to lag when loading, as this decreases your SEO ranking. Edit your profile and add relevant keywords to the “from the business” field. Make sure searchers can see your business’s products or services and post at least once a week to engage your audience and stay relevant.

When you do update your profile and post, use the keywords in the “from the business” field in your updates and posts. Keep your customers and possible consumers aware of any sales and special events your business is holding or planning. When searchers ask questions, publicly respond back to show other consumers that you care about your customers and like to engage with them directly. Speaking of questions, creating a Frequently Asked Questions tab for your account is highly recommended!

Don’t wait, Generate – Get Your Existing Customers to Write Reviews

One of the most critical parts of your Google My Business account is your reviews. The way you articulate to searchers and your timeliness in responding to reviews impacts your business’s reputation greatly. If you have many negative reviews, your listing may be at the bottom of a SERP.

On the flip side, if you have four and five-star reviews praising your company, customer service, and products, and you’re responding in a timely manner, your listing has a much better chance of showing up at the top of a Google SERP. The best way to generate reviews is by asking your customers to leave them! When you release a new product or service that you know is going to go over well, the state in your social media post’s caption (or in your advertisements) that you’re seeking customer reviews.

If you know a product or service is a grand-slam, this is a sure-fire way to receive many positive reviews in a short period of time. All you have to do is be prompt in your response to these positive reviews, and boom, your SEO rank is increasing.

Get Your Business in the Appropriate Directories

Your company should not be limited to Google My Business. There are many listings, both local and national, you can and should add your business too. The more listings you have, the more listing companies are communicating with Google that your business is trustworthy, which only helps your business rise to the top of SERPs! Every business should have Facebook and Instagram; depending on your industry, it may also be worthwhile to have an account on Yelp, Angie’s List, City Search, Foursquare, Yellowpages, and any other directory you deem appropriate for your company.

NAP Consistency

It may get a little dull setting up all these accounts, but you have to keep everything uniform. Some businesses have nicknames given to them by locals and regulars, but when it comes to the internet, you have to keep everything the same if you want to see your SEO rank increase. Aside from the information, the formatting of the information should be uniform as well. If you’re in a suite, you need to decide if you are going to write your address as “1234 Example St, Suite 1” or “1234 Example St, #1” and follow the formatting for each and every listing account you make.

Have Your Address on Your Website Where Searchers Can See it Easily

If you want your business to appear on local SERPs, it is mandatory that Google’s crawlers can know beyond doubt where your business resides. Include your address in your website’s footer and choose a font and color that is easy to read.
If your business has multiple locations, you must create a landing page for each one. The footers of each location’s landing page should have the unique address, hours, and phone number applicable to the proper location.

Utilize Schema Markup

A schema is a form of structured data. This information is included by developers and only seen by search engines, not searchers. The information allows search engines to understand the content on your website and present it to searchers.

A local business schema is still structured data. It is focused on relaying your business’s exact whereabouts and industry to a search engine. By exploring and adding all relevant schemas to the backend of your website, you can increase your business’s prevalence in similar searches.

Focus on Keywords Associated with Your Business

If a consumer uses words associated with your business or industry in their search, it is important that your business appears on their SERP. To make sure your company is on a result page, aim your focus on keywords that are relevant to your brand.

Relevant keywords are words or phrases that acknowledge your business industry and your surrounding location. If you own a pizza place near New York City’s Madison Square Garden, you may want to aim your focus on “New York City pizza” or “Madison Square Garden Pizza.”

It is critical to stay current with language to have the best keywords associated with your business and listings.

Make Your Meta Title & Description Accurate & Concise

Metadata is code included in the backend of a webpage. Meta tags inform search engines in detail about your website. When you see a listing on a SERP, you actually see their meta title and description; this is what sells your listing to a searcher in an attempt to convert them to a customer. Every page of your website is unique and should likewise have meta titles and descriptions complementary to it. However, your homepage still needs to be in the best shape of them all. You will have to decide for yourself what the best keyword for your company is and add it, as well as your exact location, to your website’s homepage meta details

Don’t Allow Local SEO Practices to Slip Through the Cracks

There are many methods to better your local SEO, but you don’t want to let on-site, off-site, and technical SEO slip through the cracks. These practices will aid your business in appearing on local SERPs. The best thing you can do is make it easy for users to navigate the content on your site. When you have links bringing searchers back to your site and surpassing technical SEO demands, you will better your ranking for local SEO.

Pay for Advertisements and Google Guaranteed Placement if Your Budget Allows

It’s all too common for small marketing teams to have little to no budget for advertising, but if you have the money, it may be the breakthrough you need. Organic SEO and a Google My Business account are not the strategies for bettering your local SEO. If your organic local search isn’t getting the coverage you’re hoping for, you can always try paying for Google advertisements or paying to be included in the Google Guaranteed program.

Be At the Top of Local Searches and Convert Consumers to Customers

If your business depends on the consumers relative to where your company is located, your biggest concern needs to be appearing in local searches. Use what you have learned to perfect your business’s online appearance and reputation. After some work, your business should start appearing in the searches of nearby consumers when they type your focused keywords and phrases.

Local SEO for Your Business

Do you want your business to be found by local consumers actively searching for products or services that you offer? If so, then you will benefit from implementing local SEO. BAA-Solutions has been helping small businesses for more than 20 years; contact us today!