In 2023, Google’s updates have continued to value high-quality content and improve the user experience for searchers. Moreover, they’ve introduced advancements to better understand the nature of local businesses and the needs of local searchers.
There is now a stronger emphasis on local content, local links, and the accuracy of Google Business Profile listings. As a result, businesses have to prioritise local optimisation more than ever before.
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Key elements for optimising your Google Business Profile
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Tips for building citations and local listings
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Techniques to optimise your website for local keywords
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Insights on generating and managing online reviews
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Strategies for creating high-quality local content
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Advanced SEO techniques for local success
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Ways to monitor and optimise your Local SEO performance
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Common mistakes to avoid in Local SEO
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“Near me” searches have increased by 500% over the past 5 years: People are increasingly looking for businesses near their location.
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Local Pack results receive 42% of all clicks from Google users: When conducting a local search, the Local 3 Pack is given much higher priority than the organic results that follow.
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76% of people who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit a business within 24 hours: Local SEO can drive foot traffic and offline purchases.
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46% of voice search users look for a local business on a daily basis: Almost half of all Voice Searches are for local businesses.
Core Web Vitals: Launched in 2021, Core Web Vitals are a set of user-centered metrics that reflect aspects of web usability such as load time, interactivity, and stability of content as it loads.
Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business): In late 2021, Google renamed Google My Business to Google Business Profile and introduced several updates. With the new Google Business Profile, businesses can manage their appearance on Google Search and Maps directly from search results. They can also access more insights about who’s viewing and interacting with their business profile on Google.
Local Trust Pack: In 2022, Google launched the Local Trust Pack — a new feature that highlights businesses with strong trust signals, including verified reviews, complete business profiles, and consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) data. This feature rewards businesses that invest in building local credibility.
Here’s Why Local SEO Matters in 2023
Local SEO is no longer optional for businesses with physical locations. With consumers increasingly relying on mobile search to find nearby businesses, having an optimized local presence directly impacts foot traffic, phone calls, and revenue.
The checklist covers everything from setting up and optimizing your Google Business Profile to building citations, managing reviews, creating local content, and monitoring your performance over time.