Glossary entry
Local SEO
Definition
Local SEO is the practice of optimising a business for local search queries — e.g., 'plumber near me', 'best Italian restaurant in Kochi'. It covers Google Business Profile optimisation, local citations, location-specific landing pages, and review velocity.
How it works
The mechanism.
Google ranks local results in a 'local pack' (3 highlighted listings + map) above the regular results. Ranking in the local pack depends on: proximity, relevance, and prominence. Local SEO work covers all three: GBP completeness, NAP consistency across directories, location-specific content on your site, and ongoing review collection.
Why it matters
Why this matters in 2026.
70% of local mobile searches result in a call or visit within 1 hour. For any business with a physical location or service area, Local SEO is the highest-ROI digital channel.
How to check
How to test for it.
Search '[your service] in [your city]' on Google from incognito. Are you in the local pack? Visit your Google Business Profile — is it 100% complete (services, hours, photos, Q&A)? Run pagespeed.web.dev on your homepage.
Adsomia services
Where this fits in our work.
Common questions
About Local SEO.
Do I need Local SEO if I serve customers globally?
If 50%+ of your revenue comes from your local city or region, yes. If you're truly global (e.g., SaaS), regular SEO + HEO is more relevant.
How important are Google reviews?
Critical. Review velocity (new reviews in last 12 months) matters more than total count. Reply to every review within 48 hours.
Can I have multiple GBP listings?
Only if you have multiple genuine physical locations or distinct service areas. Fake GBP listings get penalised hard.
Related terms
Read next.
Want us to fix this on your site?
Talk to us about a 30-min discovery call. We'll scope what you need + send a written engagement letter inside 48 hours.