Local SEO Services
Your customers are already searching for what you offer — we make sure they find you first. From Google Business Profile optimization to local keyword strategy, we help local businesses rank higher, get more calls, and turn searches into real revenue.
Your Customers Are Searching for You Right Now. Are You Showing Up?
Every day, people in your area type searches like “plumber near me,” “best dentist in [city],” or “electrician open now” into Google. They are not browsing. They are not researching for later. They are ready to call, visit, or book — right now.
The question is simple: when they search, do they find you — or your competitor?
That is exactly what local SEO decides. And at Things of Marketing, it is what we specialise in.
We help local businesses across the world show up where it matters most — in Google’s Map Pack, in “near me” searches, and at the top of local organic results — so you stop missing leads that are already looking for what you offer.
The Numbers Behind Why Local SEO Matters
Before we talk strategy, here is what the data actually tells us about local search:
46%
of all Google searches have local intent
nearly half of every search made on Google is someone looking for something nearby
1.5 billion
"near me" searches happen every month
that is 50 million local searches every single day
76%
of people who search for a local business visit within 24 hours
Rebuilt a Google Ads and paid social account from broad-match chaos to tight audience segmentation with dedicated landing pages — cutting CPL by 38% for a healthcare SaaS client.
28%
of local searches result in a purchase
compared to a 2–3% conversion rate for most online advertising
Businesses in the Google Map Pack (top 3) get 126% more traffic
and 93% more calls and actions than those ranked below position 3
62%
of consumers will avoid a business if they find incorrect information online
88%
of consumers say they'd use a business that responds to reviews
while only 47% would consider one that doesn’t respond at all
This is not a nice-to-have. For any business that serves a local area, local SEO is one of the highest-ROI investments you can make.
What Is Local SEO?
Our Local SEO Services
1. Local Keyword Research & Strategy
Everything in local SEO starts with choosing the right keywords — the phrases your actual customers type into Google when they are looking for a business like yours.
We do not guess. We research.
We use tools like Google Search Console, Semrush, Ahrefs, and Google’s own autocomplete and related searches to identify:
- High-intent local keywords with strong conversion potential (e.g. “emergency electrician [city]”)
- “Near me” variations your audience is using
- Long-tail local phrases your competitors are missing
- Question-based keywords that capture people in the research phase
- Service + location keyword combinations for every area you serve
Every keyword we target is mapped to a specific page, a specific audience intent, and a specific stage in the buyer journey — so nothing is wasted.
2. Google Business Profile Optimisation
Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is the single most important local SEO asset you have. It is the first thing people see when they search for your business or a service you offer. It is what determines whether you appear in Google’s Map Pack — those three businesses that dominate the top of local search results.
A complete, optimised Google Business Profile makes customers 2.7 times more likely to view your business as reputable and 70% more likely to visit.
We handle full Google Business Profile optimisation including:
- Complete profile setup and verification
- Business name, address, phone, hours, and category accuracy
- Keyword-rich business description written for both Google and real customers
- Service and product listings with local keyword integration
- Regular Google Posts to keep your profile active and current
- Photo optimisation — quantity, quality, and naming
- Q&A management
- Review strategy — how to generate them, how to respond to them, and how to use them as a ranking signal
- Tracking profile views, calls, direction requests, and website clicks through your GBP dashboard
We treat your Google Business Profile as a living, breathing asset — not something you set up once and forget.
3. Local Competitor Gap Analysis
One of the most powerful things we do early in any local SEO engagement is look at exactly who is outranking you — and why.
We analyse your top local competitors across every dimension:
- Which keywords are they ranking for that you are not?
- How many local citations and directory listings do they have?
- What does their backlink profile look like compared to yours?
- How is their Google Business Profile structured?
- What kind of content is driving their local visibility?
- How many reviews do they have and what is their average rating?
This analysis turns into a clear, prioritised gap-closing plan — so instead of building your local SEO from scratch blindly, we know exactly what needs to happen to overtake the businesses above you.
4. On-Page Local SEO Optimisation
Your website needs to tell Google — clearly and consistently — where you are, what you do, and who you serve. Most local business websites fail at this in ways that are completely fixable.
We audit and optimise every on-page element for local search:
- Title tags and meta descriptions with location + service keyword targeting
- H1 and header structure built around local intent
- Location-specific content on service pages and landing pages
- NAP consistency — your business Name, Address, and Phone number displayed correctly and consistently across every page
- Embedded Google Maps on contact and location pages
- Local schema markup (LocalBusiness structured data) so Google can extract and display your business information in rich results
- Internal linking structure that connects your location pages, service pages, and blog content to build topical authority
- Mobile optimisation — because the majority of local searches happen on phones
- Page speed improvements — slow pages lose local rankings and real customers
5. Local Citation Building & Directory Listings
A citation is any mention of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on the web. Citations from trusted local directories send Google a signal that your business is legitimate, established, and located where you say it is.
Inconsistent or missing citations are one of the most common reasons local businesses fail to rank.
We build and audit citations across:
- Core directories: Google Business Profile, Bing Places, Apple Maps, Yelp, Yellow Pages, Facebook, TripAdvisor
- Industry-specific directories relevant to your business type
- Local and regional directories for your city, county, or province
- Chamber of commerce listings
- Better Business Bureau
- Local news sites and community platforms
Every citation is checked for NAP consistency — because even small discrepancies in your business name or phone number across different directories can dilute your local ranking signals.
6. Local Link Building
Backlinks — links from other websites pointing to yours — remain one of the strongest ranking factors in Google’s algorithm. For local SEO, local backlinks from relevant, trusted sources in your community carry particular weight.
We build local backlinks through:
- Local business directory submissions
- Chamber of commerce and business association memberships
- Community partnerships and sponsorships
- Local press and news mentions
- Guest content on local publications and industry sites
- Supplier and partner link exchanges
- Unlinked brand mention outreach
The goal is not just quantity — it is building a local backlink profile that signals genuine community presence and industry authority.
7. Review Generation & Reputation Management
Reviews are not just a trust signal for customers — they are a direct local ranking factor. Google looks at review quantity, review quality, review recency, and how businesses respond to reviews when determining local pack rankings.
We build a systematic review generation strategy including:
- Post-purchase or post-service review request sequences
- Email and SMS follow-up templates for review requests
- QR code review cards for in-person businesses
- Response frameworks for positive and negative reviews
- Review monitoring across Google, Yelp, Facebook, and industry-specific platforms
- Using positive reviews strategically in your website content and Google Business Profile
A business that actively earns and manages reviews does not just rank better — it converts better too.
8. Location & Service Area Pages
If your business serves multiple locations or a broad service area, you need dedicated pages for each area you want to rank in. A single homepage with one city mentioned once is not enough.
We create and optimise location-specific landing pages that:
- Target location + service keyword combinations (e.g. “roofing contractor Surrey BC”)
- Include unique, locally relevant content — not copy-pasted templates with the city name swapped out
- Incorporate local landmarks, community references, and geographic signals
- Are structured for Google’s local ranking factors with correct schema, NAP, and internal linking
- Convert visitors into leads with clear calls to action
These pages extend your local reach beyond your immediate area and capture searchers across your full service territory.
9. Local SEO Reporting & Ongoing Optimisation
Local SEO is not a one-time project. Google’s algorithm changes constantly, competitors do not stand still, and local search behaviour evolves. We track, report, and continuously optimise your local presence every month.
Our reporting covers:
- Google Business Profile performance — views, calls, direction requests, website clicks
- Keyword ranking movement across local and map pack positions
- Organic traffic from local search via GA4
- Citation health and NAP consistency audit
- Review monitoring and sentiment tracking
- Competitor ranking comparison
- Monthly action plan — what we did, what we found, what we are doing next
You always know exactly where you stand and exactly what is being done to improve it.
How We Are Different From Other Local SEO Agencies
We understand local audiences — not just local algorithms.
We research how your specific customers search, what words they use, and what they need to see before they trust a business like yours. Then we build your local SEO around that.
We close competitor gaps first.
Rather than building your local SEO strategy in isolation, we analyse exactly who is outranking you and why — then build a plan specifically designed to close those gaps.
We treat your budget like it matters.
With 9 years of experience across SEO, paid media, and analytics — and having managed $200K+ in monthly ad spend across dozens of client accounts — we know what gets results and what is just busy work. We focus your budget on the activities that move the needle.
We speak plainly.
No jargon-heavy reports full of metrics that do not connect to your business. We tell you what happened, why it happened, and what we are doing about it.
We build local SEO that compounds.
Unlike paid ads that stop the moment you pause your budget, local SEO builds authority over time. The work we do in month one makes month six more powerful. We build for long-term, compounding growth — not short-term vanity metrics.
Industries We Work With
Local SEO works for any business that serves customers in a specific geographic area. We have worked with:
Contractors and trades
plumbers, electricians, roofers, HVAC, landscapers
Healthcare and medical
dentists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, clinics
Legal and professional services
lawyers, accountants, financial advisors
Real estate agents and property managers
Restaurants, cafes, and hospitality businesses
Automotive
mechanics, detailers, dealerships
Home services
cleaners, movers, pest control
Retail
local shops, boutiques, specialty stores
Wellness and fitness
gyms, yoga studios, personal trainers
Any service business that wants more calls, more bookings, and more walk-ins from people in their area
This is not a nice-to-have. For any business that serves a local area, local SEO is one of the highest-ROI investments you can make.
The Brands We Scale
We don’t just have “customers”; we have success stories. Our clients are forward-thinking businesses that understand the value of integrated digital strategy and high-performance design. From dominating search results to executing high-ROI ad campaigns, we take the mystery out of your marketing so you can focus on what you do best: leading your industry.
We Start Where Most Agencies Don't — Understanding Your Local Audience
Most agencies jump straight into technical fixes and keyword lists. We start somewhere different — with your customers.
Before we write a single piece of content or build a single citation, we take the time to understand who your local audience actually is. What do they search for? What words do they use? What are they worried about when they look for a business like yours? What does trust look like to them?
This matters because local search behaviour is deeply human. Someone searching “emergency plumber Campbell River” has a completely different intent, urgency, and need than someone searching “plumber Campbell River reviews.” The strategy, the content, and the messaging have to reflect that.
At Things of Marketing, we combine audience insight with technical SEO expertise — so your local presence is not just optimised for Google’s algorithm, it is built around the real people you are trying to reach.
Frequently Asked Questions Local SEO
How long does local SEO take to show results?
You can typically see early movement in rankings and GBP performance within 60–90 days. Meaningful, compounding results usually build over 4–6 months. Local SEO is a long-term investment — but unlike paid ads, the results do not stop when your budget does. The businesses that commit to it consistently are the ones that dominate their local market for years.
What is the Google Map Pack and why does it matter?
The Google Map Pack (also called the local 3-pack) is the section at the top of Google’s search results that shows three local businesses on a map. It appears for most local intent searches and captures 44% of all clicks on the page — more than organic results and paid ads combined. Getting into the Map Pack is one of the highest-impact things a local business can do for its visibility and lead volume.
Do I need a physical address to rank in local search?
Not necessarily. Service area businesses — those that go to their customers rather than the other way around — can still rank in local search by correctly configuring their service area in Google Business Profile and building strong location-specific content on their website. We help both physical location businesses and service area businesses build local visibility.
What is NAP consistency and why does it matter?
NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone Number. Google cross-references your business information across your website, your Google Business Profile, and dozens of online directories. If there are inconsistencies — even small ones like “St” vs “Street” or a different phone number format — it creates confusion for Google and can suppress your local rankings. We audit and correct NAP consistency as part of every local SEO engagement.
How important are Google reviews for local rankings?
Very important. Review signals — including review count, average rating, review recency, and owner responses — account for approximately 16% of local pack ranking factors according to industry research. Beyond rankings, reviews directly influence whether someone chooses your business or a competitor. We build systematic review strategies that improve both your ranking position and your conversion rate.
Can you help me outrank competitors who have been in the Map Pack for years?
Yes. Established rankings are not unbeatable — they just require a strategic approach. We analyse exactly what is keeping competitors ahead of you, identify the gaps in their strategy, and build a plan to close them. Outranking established competitors takes time and consistent effort, but it is achievable with the right strategy.
How much does local SEO cost?
Pricing depends on the competitiveness of your market, the number of locations you serve, and the scope of work required. We work with local businesses across a range of budgets — from focused single-location campaigns to multi-area strategies for businesses serving large service territories. We are happy to have an honest conversation about what investment makes sense for your business and what results you can realistically expect.
Let's Build Something That Actually Works.
You don’t need more guesswork — you need to know exactly why your website isn’t converting and have someone fix it. Tell us about your business and we’ll show you precisely where you’re losing customers and what to do about it.