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
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:
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.
Sponsor something visible in your community—a youth team, a fun run, a neighborhood event.
Partner with other local businesses in non-competing spaces. For example, a home cleaner could partner with a window installer and cross-promote online.
Offer workshops or host a class at local venues—libraries, coworking spaces, or business associations. These often promote their partners with a link.
Audit your target local keywords and see who's ranking. Reach out for collaboration, mentions, or inclusion in roundup posts.
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.
A:
Here's a quick roadmap if you're starting from scratch with local SEO:
Clarify what you offer and why it matters. Your homepage should instantly answer: What do you do, and who is it for?
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.
Use that research to build specific content pages targeting local keywords. Think:
“Best [Service] in [City]”
“[City] [Service] Pricing Guide”
“[Your Industry] Near Me”
These kinds of pages can pull in a lot of targeted traffic—and are essential for local SEO visibility.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.