Today got busy, and tomorrow isn't looking better, so instead of a nice long well thought out blog, today we've got some cleaned up Q&A type responses from me (local_leaf_marketing) and my favorite reddit haunts: https://www.reddit.com/r/seo
https://www.reddit.com/r/localseo
https://www.reddit.com/r/googleMyBusiness
Q: How do you build Local Links?
Original Reddit Source
A:
Building local links isn't about checking off a box—it’s about driving visibility, building authority, and creating real relationships. Here's what works:
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Attend or sponsor local events where you're listed as a partner or donor. These often come with a backlink and help build your brand locally.
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Sponsor something visible in your community—a youth team, a fun run, a neighborhood event.
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Partner with other local businesses in non-competing spaces. For example, a home cleaner could partner with a window installer and cross-promote online.
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Offer workshops or host a class at local venues—libraries, coworking spaces, or business associations. These often promote their partners with a link.
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Audit your target local keywords and see who's ranking. Reach out for collaboration, mentions, or inclusion in roundup posts.
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Ask existing clients or partners if they'd be open to listing you on their site or giving a shout-out.
One method that still works: create a partner directory page on your own site. You can then request reciprocal links by offering your own. For a real-world model, check out our example: Local Business Directory Link Strategy.
Q: Any SEO expert in the room? I'm looking for advice on where to start.
Original Reddit Source
A:
Here's a quick roadmap if you're starting from scratch with local SEO:
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Clarify what you offer and why it matters. Your homepage should instantly answer: What do you do, and who is it for?
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Study a few competitors. Search your service keywords (“roof repair,” “event planner,” etc.) and see how others describe and structure their websites. Pay attention to language, navigation, and calls to action.
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Use that research to build specific content pages targeting local keywords. Think:
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“Best [Service] in [City]”
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“[City] [Service] Pricing Guide”
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“[Your Industry] Near Me”
These kinds of pages can pull in a lot of targeted traffic—and are essential for local SEO visibility.
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Set up Google Search Console. This tool shows you what search terms are bringing people in, and alerts you to issues holding your site back.
Once you've got clarity and a site structure built around search intent, local traffic follows.
Q: How do I make the red circles green in Local Falcon? (AKA: How do I improve my Local SEO ranking?)
Original Reddit Source
A:
If you're using Local Falcon or similar rank-tracking tools, you're probably asking: Why am I ranking in one spot but not another? That comes down to optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP) and overall local SEO strategy.
Here’s what makes a difference:
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Strengthen your GBP with accurate info, engaging photos, frequent updates, and consistent responses to reviews. Our Google Business Profile guide outlines every field that matters.
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Add local content to your website. This includes city-specific service pages, location-based blog posts, and landing pages targeting nearby neighborhoods or ZIP codes.
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Earn local citations and backlinks from relevant websites, directories, and community pages. Here’s a real example of how we do this: Local Link Building Strategies.
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Don’t obsess over the green dots. A full map of green circles might look nice, but it’s a proxy metric. What really matters is: Are you getting calls, leads, or sales from local search?
Focus on being the most useful and visible business for your area—not just a dot on a grid.
Need help applying this to your business?
Local Leaf Marketing helps local businesses get found, rank higher in Google Maps, and turn website visitors into paying customers.
Have a question you want us to tackle next? Let us know—we’re listening.
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