55 Local SEO & Search Resources for Business


Local business success story Naked Pizza

Update July, 3rd 2009: Added 12 local SEO & search resources suggested by readers in the comment section and on Sphinn + some newly researched links.

The most obvious trend when it comes to SEO is “going local”. Ever since Google introduced Google Maps and Local Business Center and later added local search results to Universal Search displaying them on top of everything else businesses everywhere strive to be there. Additionally the proliferation of smartphones and netbooks accelerates this development even more.

You have to perform in local search and on sites that enable users to find local businesses in their respective area. Classic SEO is just not enough anymore for small business owners and location based big business.

There is already a plethora of very helpful resources that deal with local SEO. While to some extent local SEO resembles traditional SEO with on site measures and link building the substantial differences have even led to a specialization in the industry.

By now we have SEO specialists and publications predominantly dealing with local search issues and local SEO.

Thus I complied a list of the most useful resources, mostly from blogs: 55 local SEO & search resources for business.

Why do I add the seemingly obvious “for business” part in the headline? In most cases you won’t optimize your private homepage to be found in a specific area. Local search is a mostly business only domain.

Local SEO & Search Blogs

Local SEO Overviews for Starters and Lists

Local Search Ranking Factors

Local SEO Techniques

Local SEO Internationally

Local SEO Case Studies

Local Analytics

Other Local Search and SEO Resources

Initially I planned to compile a list of both local and mobile SEO resources due to their obvious correlation. After some research the sheer amount of must read resources for local SEO & search outgrew the combined list quickly. Thus I will publish a new list in 2 weeks from now: 30 Mobile SEO Resources.

As always this list doesn’t claim to be complete.
So you’re welcome to add your links or resources you are missing in the comment section. You can also add mobile SEO articles for the next list post to be included.

Last updated: May 18th, 2011.

SEO 2.0 living and working in Germany as a blog & SEO consultant. I'm blogging in English for SEO blogs around the world. My real name is Tadeusz Szewczyk but my friends who don't speak Polish - my mother tongue - call me Tad Chef or onreact.

38 Comments

Got something to say? Feel free, I want to hear from you! Leave a Comment

  1. Paul says:

    Wonder if my interview with Dev Basu about local seo is good enough for your list ? http://www.northsouthmedia.co.uk/blog/dev-basu-interview-local-seo/

  2. jasonspalace says:

    awesome list! here is a resource i have heard good feedback on: http://getlisted.org – though i don’t know if it falls into the context of Local SEO Resources.

  3. Tad Chef says: (Author)

    Thanks guys! They both fit perfectly. I’ll collect a little more additions and then edit the post at once.

  4. Jeff Howard says:

    I’d like to nominate a case study link, http://catchsearchmarketing.com/local-search-training-community/local-seo-case-studies.

    Also nominate a new category, “local search training” http://catchsearchmarketing.com/local-search-training-community.

  5. Hello,

    Thank You for these resources. You have some good authoritative endorsements.
    I would like to self promote my work. I have a 184 pages, step by step free ebook on marketing local business online. I have an agency with 100′s of National clients we’ve worked with for 5 years with consistent and predictable results.

    I would like to expose your readers to this free information and free blog. Please visit http://www.scott-gallagher.net.

  6. Great list Tad. May have to rip it off and put it on my blog :)

  7. Another reason to use Google Local Search is that Google wants us to. It is widely believed that Google gives your website a little more authority by listing in Local Search. In other words, Google will reward us for listing in Google Local.

    Here’s another case study: http://www.findandconvert.com/get-found-on-the-web-without-a-website/

  8. SEOWebHelp says:

    Would this link fit into your local SEO?

    http://www.seowebhelp.com/2009/03/searching-for-visitors-search-engine-marketing

    Thanks for making the list. I’m going to visit ALL of them to see what new information I can soak into my brain.

  9. Gerald Weber says:

    My business model is pretty much based on the local search aspect. Thanks for the resources. Just tweeted! ;-)

  10. Mike Belasco says:

    We just started this 7 part series you might want to add to the list: Pimp Google Analytics For Local Search Part 1 of 7: Tracking Traffic From The 10 Pack http://bit.ly/WBImN

  11. Jeff Woelker says:

    I’ve also compiled this list here: 5 SEO tips for local restaurants, with a side of usability: http://www.jeffwoelker.com/2009/05/29/5-seo-tips-for-local-restaurants-with-a-side-of-usability/

  12. Tad Chef says: (Author)

    Hey Jeff,
    the topic is right but the cases are too short and the pages too salesy, maybe you can point out or write a blog post that elaborates without overselling?

    Hey Scott,
    I came across your blog and I almost added an article of yours to the list already. Thanks for suggestion. I’ll include it.

    Andrew, why not? Ask Kevin for permission and we might create a win 2 win situation here.

    Bernie, thanks for the addition!

    “SEOWebHelp”: This is a little too short and broad to me. Maybe you can add something more substantial?

    Hey Gerald, good to hear. Why don’t you share some of your insights then? I surely won’t outrank you in your area ;-) !

    Mike, Jeff: Excellent resources, will be added!

  13. Susan Hallam says:

    I know you have Mihmorandum elsewhere in the list, but I would recommend adding his citations series into the International section http://www.davidmihm.com/blog/local-seo/international-citations/

  14. Muiden says:

    Excellent list! I am really excited about the new possibilities local seo bring. There are quite a lot of ‘easy wins’ because it still is a developing area in seo.

  15. That’s an excellent resource for people to utilize in their local search strategy. Will be sharing this on Twitter with three of my profiles that would be contextual. This will help anyone that wants more information or even the person who’s never implemented it.

  16. This is a really great compendium of local SEO resources. Thanks!!

  17. Shubham says:

    As usual, a great list for people to grow their market..
    Thanks so much for sharing.

  18. leon says:

    best local seo list found in internet :)

  19. Brad L. says:

    As a photographer marketing myself on the web I find this list of resources to be useful and informative. Now it’s going to take a bit to get through.

  20. Yes – we fired our local SEO guru – as he was just depositing checks and nothing else – thank you for this resource – as we are starting from scratch.

  21. Ben says:

    Local seo takes more finesse than standard search rankings where you can throw thousands of links at a website and rank top 3. Mihm’s local search ranking factors is a good starting place. I like how he does one each year.

  22. Mike says:

    this is without a doubt the best resource i’ve found for local seo. thanks

  23. Great resource for SEO, thanks for sharing

  24. I love the listing it will help me in the web site that I am right now.

Trackbacks for this post

  1. http://bookmark.giorgiotave.it
  2. 33 Mobile SEO & Mobile Analytics Resources | SEOptimise
  3. Local SEO & Search Resources for Business | SEOptimise « agentis e.K.
  4. The Top 100 Internet Marketing Posts of 2009
  5. Be Seen Seo » Blog Archive » ocal SEO & Search Resources for Business
  6. Local Search – Can Your Business Be Found? | The Latest in SEO and Social Media News | HelpfulGuy.com
  7. SEO, Search Engine Optimisation in Stockport | website design stockport

Leave a Comment

Let us know your thoughts on this post but remember to play nicely folks!