Local SEO glossaryLocal SEO, word by word.
Local search optimization terms and strategies, for businesses serving customers in specific geographic areas. Learn the language first, then dominate your local market.
Every local SEO term, A to Z.
Fourteen terms, each defined in a sentence or two. Tap a letter to jump to it, or type to find a term.
- Citations
Online mentions of your business name, address, and phone number on other websites, directories, and social platforms. Quality citations improve local search visibility.
See also NAP·Local Link Building
- GeoGrid
A visual tool that shows how your business ranks across different geographic points in a city or area, revealing local ranking patterns.
See also Proximity
- Google Business ProfileGBP
Formerly Google My Business, this free tool lets you manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps, including your business name, location, hours, and reviews.
See also Local Pack·Service Area Business
- Hyperlocal SEO
Targeting very specific, small geographic areas like neighborhoods, districts, or even street-level locations.
See also Local Landing Pages
- Local Keywords
Search terms that include geographic modifiers like city names, neighborhoods, or “near me.” Essential for targeting local search intent.
See also “Near Me” Searches
- Local Landing Pages
Location-specific pages on your website targeting different cities, neighborhoods, or service areas you serve.
See also Hyperlocal SEO
- Local Link Building
Acquiring backlinks from locally relevant sources like local news sites, chambers of commerce, and community organizations.
See also Citations
- Local Pack
The box of local business listings that appears at the top of Google search results for location-based queries, typically showing 3 businesses with a map.
See also Google Business Profile·Proximity
- Local Schema Markup
Structured data specifically for local businesses, helping search engines understand your business type, location, hours, and services.
- NAPName, Address, Phone
The core business information that must be consistent across all online directories and citations. Inconsistent NAP data can hurt local rankings.
See also Citations
- “Near Me” Searches
Mobile searches where users include “near me” to find local businesses. These have grown exponentially and indicate high purchase intent.
See also Local Keywords·Proximity
- Proximity
How close a business is to the searcher's location. One of the primary factors in local search rankings along with relevance and prominence.
See also GeoGrid
- Review Management
The process of monitoring, responding to, and encouraging customer reviews across Google, review sites, and industry-specific sites.
See also Google Business Profile
- Service Area BusinessSAB
A business that visits customers at their location rather than serving them at a physical storefront. Requires special GBP settings.
See also Google Business Profile
No term matches that. Try a shorter word, or open the whole glossary.
Local SEO questions, answered.
Quick answers drawn from the terms above. For maps, reviews and citations, read the local SEO and Google Business questions.
What does NAP mean in local SEO?
NAP means your business name, address and phone number. In local SEO it must be consistent across all online directories and citations, because inconsistent NAP data can hurt local rankings.
What is the local pack in local SEO?
The local pack is the box of local business listings at the top of Google search results for a location-based search, typically 3 businesses shown with a map. An incomplete Google Business Profile is a common reason a business is left out of it.
What are the main ranking factors in local SEO?
Proximity, relevance and prominence are the primary factors in local search rankings. Proximity is how close a business is to the person searching, and a GeoGrid shows how your rank changes from one point in a city to the next.
What is a service area business in local SEO?
A service area business visits customers at their location instead of serving them at a physical storefront. In local SEO it needs special Google Business Profile settings.
How is hyperlocal SEO different from local SEO?
Hyperlocal SEO targets much smaller areas than local SEO: neighborhoods, districts or even street-level locations. Local SEO serves customers across a wider geographic area, often with a local landing page for each city or service area.
The rest of the glossary.
Twelve sections, each a page of terms in plain English. Keep turning, or open the whole glossary.
Goes with these terms.
Put the words into practice.
Now that you understand the terminology, let's put it into practice. Our team can help you implement a comprehensive SEO strategy.