What Is Local SEO Tips 2019 and Why Does It Matter

Local SEO encompasses the strategies and tactics that help businesses rank in search results for location-specific queries—when someone searches "plumber near me" or "Italian restaurants in Denver," local SEO determines which results appear first. For agencies and web designers, understanding local SEO is critical because it represents a massive revenue opportunity. Clients in home services, healthcare, retail, and professional services desperately need local visibility, and they'll pay well for results. Unlike national SEO campaigns that take months to gain traction, local SEO often delivers faster results, which means happier clients and quicker portfolio wins. The landscape in 2019 and beyond has been shaped primarily by Google's emphasis on Google My Business, local citations, reviews, and location-specific content. These factors carry substantial weight in how Google determines which businesses appear in local pack results—those three prominent business listings that appear above organic search results for location-based queries.

For your agency specifically, local SEO offers multiple revenue streams. You can offer GMB optimization packages, local citation building services, review management programs, and location-specific content creation. These services have clear deliverables and measurable results, making them easier to sell and explain to clients than abstract technical SEO work. A contractor or dentist can immediately see the impact when they start getting calls from local customers who found them through improved local rankings. This clarity translates directly into client retention and referrals. Additionally, local SEO work is scalable for agencies—you can systematize GMB optimization, develop templates for local content, and build repeatable citation workflows that work across multiple client industries.

Practically speaking, your local SEO offering should start with Google My Business optimization. Most small business owners have barely touched their GMB profile, leaving money on the table. Ensure the business name, address, and phone number are consistent and complete, add high-quality photos regularly, respond to reviews systematically, and use all available GMB features like posts and questions. Next, focus on local citations—mentions of a business name, address, and phone number on other websites. Directories like Yelp, Apple Maps, and industry-specific directories still carry weight with Google's algorithm. Building citations isn't glamorous work, but it's a straightforward deliverable you can bundle into service packages. Reviews matter enormously for local rankings, so position review management as a core offering. Help clients systematically ask customers for reviews and respond professionally to all feedback.

Content-wise, location pages and locally-focused blog content help agencies serve clients operating in multiple areas. A roofing company serving five towns needs five location pages optimized for each market, not one generic homepage. This creates real content work your designers can execute alongside SEO optimization.