SEODec 5, 20249 min read
Local SEO for Service Businesses: What Actually Works
When someone searches "plumber near me" or "landscaper in [city]," you want to show up. Here's how local SEO actually works for service businesses.
Google Business Profile Is Everything
- Claim and verify your listing
- Complete every field
- Add photos regularly
- Get and respond to reviews
- Post updates weekly
Service Area Pages
Create a page for every city/area you serve. "[Service] in [City]" format. Include:
- • City name in title and content
- • Specific mention of serving that area
- • Unique content (not just city name swapped)
- • Local landmarks/references if natural
Reviews Matter
- Quantity matters — More reviews signal trust
- Recency matters — Recent reviews rank better
- Responses matter — Reply to every review
- Ask happy customers — Make it easy with a direct link
Citations (NAP Consistency)
Your Name, Address, Phone number should be identical everywhere:
- • Google Business Profile
- • Yelp
- • Industry directories
- • Everywhere
On-Page Basics
- City in title tags
- Service + city in headers
- Schema markup for LocalBusiness
- Fast, mobile-friendly site
What Doesn't Work
- Buying fake reviews (Google will catch you)
- Keyword stuffing
- Creating fake locations
- Ignoring your GBP