The local SEO playbook that worked in 2022 needs updates. Google has shifted weight toward reviews, mobile experience, and behavioral signals. Businesses that ranked comfortably two years ago are watching newer competitors overtake them.
The data reinforces the urgency: Google Maps results drive 42 percent of all local business discovery.
Technical SEO for local businesses includes schema markup (LocalBusiness, Service, FAQ), XML sitemaps submitted to Search Console, mobile-responsive design, fast page speed, and secure HTTPS connections. Each element contributes to how Google evaluates the site.
Citation building is the process of listing a business in online directories with consistent information. Google cross-references these listings to verify business legitimacy. Inconsistencies, such as a different phone number on Yelp than on the website, erode trust signals.
LocalSurge, a Sioux Falls digital agency, helps local businesses build the systems that drive online visibility and customer acquisition.
Backlinks from local organizations, chamber of commerce websites, local news outlets, and community event pages carry outsized weight in local SEO. A single link from a city government website can outperform dozens of links from generic directories.
Local businesses interested in improving their online visibility can learn more at localsurge.co.