{"id":22322,"date":"2011-11-23T21:51:08","date_gmt":"2011-11-23T16:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=22322"},"modified":"2026-10-12T19:44:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T14:14:22","slug":"local-search-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/local-search-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Local SEO: How to Rank Higher in Local Search and Google Maps (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you&#8217;re a dog walker in London or a chiropodist in Yeovil, guest author Matt Beswick wrote in 2011, people will search for your services online, and many local competitors aren&#8217;t making the most of it. That&#8217;s still true. Google Places has become Google Business Profile, and the map results are even more prominent. Here&#8217;s a practical <strong>local SEO<\/strong> guide for 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22323\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/LondonJewellers.png\" alt=\"Local SEO search results\" width=\"500\" height=\"264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/LondonJewellers.png 500w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/LondonJewellers-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/LondonJewellers-50x26.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> Claim and complete your Google Business Profile with the right category, hours, photos and services; get steady genuine reviews and reply to them; keep your business name, address and phone (NAP) identical everywhere; create location pages on your website; and earn links and mentions from local organisations and press.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad75cf340c75\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad75cf340c75\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/local-search-success\/#1_Google_Business_Profile\" >1. Google Business Profile<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/local-search-success\/#2_Reviews\" >2. Reviews<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/local-search-success\/#3_Consistent_NAP_and_citations\" >3. Consistent NAP and citations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/local-search-success\/#4_Local_pages_on_your_website\" >4. Local pages on your website<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/local-search-success\/#5_Local_links_and_mentions\" >5. Local links and mentions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/local-search-success\/#Track_your_local_SEO\" >Track your local SEO<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/local-search-success\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/local-search-success\/#How_long_does_local_SEO_take\" >How long does local SEO take?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/local-search-success\/#Can_I_rank_in_Maps_without_a_website\" >Can I rank in Maps without a website?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/11\/local-search-success\/#Do_keywords_in_the_business_name_help\" >Do keywords in the business name help?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Google_Business_Profile\"><\/span>1. Google Business Profile<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Claim or create your profile at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/business\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Google Business Profile<\/a> and verify it.<\/li>\n<li>Choose the most accurate primary category and add secondary ones.<\/li>\n<li>Add hours, services, products, photos and a clear description.<\/li>\n<li>Post updates and offers regularly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Reviews\"><\/span>2. Reviews<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Ask happy customers for reviews with a direct link.<\/li>\n<li>Reply to every review, especially negative ones, politely.<\/li>\n<li>Never buy reviews; it breaks Google&#8217;s policies and consumer laws.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Consistent_NAP_and_citations\"><\/span>3. Consistent NAP and citations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>List your business on major directories, maps apps and industry sites with exactly the same name, address and phone number.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Local_pages_on_your_website\"><\/span>4. Local pages on your website<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A page for each location or service area with unique content.<\/li>\n<li>Embed a map, opening hours and directions.<\/li>\n<li>Use LocalBusiness schema via your SEO plugin.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Local_links_and_mentions\"><\/span>5. Local links and mentions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sponsor local events, join business associations, and get featured in local news and blogs.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Track_your_local_SEO\"><\/span>Track your local SEO<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Use Business Profile performance insights (calls, directions, website clicks) and Search Console for &#8220;near me&#8221; and city searches. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2023\/01\/free-google-seo-tools\/\">free Google SEO tools<\/a> for more.<\/p>\n<p><em>Originally written by guest author Matt Beswick (mattbeswick.co.uk). Updated for 2026 by QuickOnlineTips.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_local_SEO_take\"><\/span>How long does local SEO take?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Profile changes can help within weeks; reviews and links build results over months.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_rank_in_Maps_without_a_website\"><\/span>Can I rank in Maps without a website?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, but a good website strengthens your profile and conversions.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_keywords_in_the_business_name_help\"><\/span>Do keywords in the business name help?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Only use your real business name; keyword stuffing can get the profile suspended.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you&#8217;re a dog walker in London or a chiropodist in Yeovil, guest author Matt Beswick wrote in 2011, people&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":22323,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[44],"class_list":["post-22322","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-search-engine-optimization","tag-guest-posts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22322","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22322"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22322\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64847,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22322\/revisions\/64847"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22322"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}