The local SEO playbook for small businesses

For a local business, being 'third on Google for your city' matters more than ranking nationally. Local SEO is about making it unambiguous to Google what you do, where you are, and why you're the right answer for a nearby search.

Start with the basics: a consistent name, address, and phone number across every directory; a claimed and completed Google Business Profile; and reviews — real, recent, and replied-to. These three outrank most other tactics.

Then fix the site: accurate schema markup, a fast mobile experience, and location-relevant content. In our LocalBite work, this playbook took a restaurant from invisible to the top of the map pack in months — reservations followed.