Building Local SEO Outside Your Core Location

Building local SEO (search engine optimization) for your business is essential for attracting local customers. But what if you want to expand beyond your core location? Whether you're a service-based business looking to grow regionally or a brick-and-mortar store with plans for multiple locations, you can take several practical steps to boost your local SEO presence outside your main geographical area. Here’s how you can do it.

1. Create Location-Specific Pages

One of the most effective ways to build local SEO in areas outside your primary location is to create separate landing pages for each location or service area.

How to do it:

• Create unique pages for each location: Each page should have its own title, meta description, and localized content. For example, if you’re a plumber expanding to a new city, have a dedicated page like “Plumbing Services in [City Name]”.
• Include local content: Don’t just copy and paste content from one page to another. Mention specific landmarks, neighborhoods, and customer testimonials from that area. Highlight services that cater to the needs of that specific location.
• Use local keywords: Conduct keyword research to identify the search terms people in that location are using. Incorporate those into your content naturally.

Example:

If you're a coffee shop with locations in several cities, create pages like:

• “Best Coffee in San Diego”
• “Coffee Shop in Los Angeles”
• “Premium Espresso in Santa Monica”

Each page should be tailored to the unique aspects of the area.

2. Claim and Optimize Google Business Profiles for Each Location

Google Business Profiles (formerly Google My Business) are essential for local SEO. Each of your business locations should have its own Google Business listing.

How to do it:

• Create individual listings: If you have multiple locations, create separate listings for each one with accurate contact details, addresses, and operating hours.
• Optimize the profiles: Add photos, respond to reviews, and regularly post updates. Ensure that each profile has a distinct description that reflects the services or products available at that specific location.
• Use Google Posts: Share location-specific events, promotions, or new products through Google Posts to engage with local customers and increase visibility.

3. Get Local Reviews

User reviews are a significant factor in local SEO rankings, and gathering reviews from different locations will help you establish credibility across multiple areas.

How to do it:

• Encourage reviews from different locations: Politely ask customers from each of your business locations to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, and other local review platforms.
• Respond to reviews: Engage with reviewers by responding to their comments, whether they’re positive or negative. This shows potential customers that you value feedback and are actively managing your business.

Pro Tip:

If you operate a service business, send a follow-up email or SMS after completing a job, asking for a review, and including the direct link to your Google Business profile.

4. Leverage Local Directories and Listings

Registering your business in local directories for each city or town where you operate can give you a boost in local SEO.

How to do it:

• Submit your business to local directories: Many cities and towns have specific directories for local businesses. Make sure your business is listed in these to improve local visibility.
• Ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number): Across all platforms and listings, your NAP details must be identical. Inconsistencies in this information can hurt your local SEO rankings.

Examples of directories:

• Yelp
• Yellow Pages
• Chamber of Commerce websites
• Industry-specific directories (e.g., HomeAdvisor for contractors)

5. Create Location-Based Content

Beyond optimizing individual pages for specific areas, creating blog posts or articles that focus on local topics can help build SEO in locations outside your core area.

How to do it:

• Write about local events: Feature local festivals, news, or community events in your blog or news section. For example, a real estate agency might write about “Top Neighborhoods in Austin to Buy a Home in 2024”.
• Publish case studies and testimonials: Share success stories, projects, or case studies that took place in a specific location. This adds valuable, location-specific content to your site.
• Highlight community involvement: If your business sponsors local events, participates in charity work, or hosts community activities, write about it! It can both improve local SEO and build trust with the community.

6. Build Local Backlinks

Backlinks from reputable local sources can significantly improve your SEO efforts. The more locally relevant links pointing to your site, the more credibility Google assigns to your business in that area.

How to do it:

• Reach out to local businesses and organizations: Collaborate with local businesses to exchange backlinks or write guest posts on each other’s blogs.
• Sponsor local events or charities: Sponsorships often come with backlinks from the event website or charity organization’s page.
• Submit press releases to local media: If you open a new location, submit press releases to local newspapers, blogs, and media outlets. This can generate news coverage and valuable backlinks to your website.

7. Optimize for “Near Me” Searches

Many users search for services using “near me” or “close by” phrases. Optimizing for these searches is essential, especially if you want to expand your SEO efforts beyond your core location.

How to do it:

• Include “near me” keywords: Incorporate phrases like “best [service] near me” or “[service] nearby” into your content, especially on location-specific pages. Use them naturally within headings, meta descriptions, and body text.
• Geotag images: On your local pages, use images with geotags to help Google associate them with specific locations.

8. Create Citations in Multiple Locations

Citations (mentions of your business name, address, and phone number) from trusted websites can strengthen your local SEO outside your main location.

How to do it:

• Create citations on high-authority sites: Submit your business information to trusted citation sources such as Better Business Bureau, Angie's List, or industry-specific sites.
• Focus on local and niche citation opportunities: If you're targeting a specific region, look for local media, directories, or websites where your competitors are listed.

9. Use Local Schema Markup

Schema markup is a type of microdata that helps search engines understand the content on your pages. Implementing local schema markup can give your location-based pages an extra boost in the rankings.

How to do it:

• Add local business schema: Use structured data to include information like your business name, address, phone number, and operating hours for each location.
• Include opening and event schema: If you’re launching a new location or hosting a local event, add schema markup to highlight this information for local search results.

10. Utilize Social Media for Local Engagement

Social media platforms provide a great way to engage with local audiences and build your brand's visibility in new areas.

How to do it:

• Create location-based social media profiles: If you have several locations, create separate Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn profiles for each one to target different local audiences.
• Engage with local communities: Join local groups, interact with local influencers, and post about local events or promotions. Engaging locally helps drive more traffic to your site from the specific areas you're targeting.

Local SEO on Steroids

Expanding your local SEO efforts beyond your core location requires a combination of tactics, from creating localized content to managing multiple Google Business Profiles. The key is to make each area you serve feel like your business is an integral part of the local community. Consistency, localized strategies, and ongoing optimization will help you build a strong SEO presence in multiple regions, driving traffic and growing your business.

By following these practical steps, you can effectively increase your reach and visibility in new geographic areas while maintaining a solid SEO foundation for your business.