Keyword Research for Local SEO: What You Need to Know

8 min readJun 18, 2023

Keyword Research for Local SEO: What You Need to Know

Understanding how to identify the best local keywords and incorporating them into your website and content can help increase your visibility in search results and drive more traffic to your business.

In this article we will have a look at Keyword Research for Local SEO, and What You Need to Know about it.

What is Local SEO and Why is Keyword Research Important?

Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website and online presence to improve visibility in local search results. For example, if you own a pizza restaurant in New York City, your goal would be to rank highly in search results when someone searches for “pizza delivery in New York City.”

Local SEO takes into account factors such as location, relevance, and distance to determine which businesses to show in search results.

The Importance of Keyword Research for Local SEO

Keyword research is an essential part of local SEO. By identifying the best local keywords for your business, you can create content that is optimized for search engines and meets the needs of your target audience.

Without proper keyword research, your website and content may not be discovered by people looking for your products or services.

Local Intent and Target Keywords

One of the key components of local keyword research is understanding local intent. Local intent means that the person performing the search is looking for something in their immediate area.

For example, someone searching for “pizza delivery” likely wants to find a pizza place near them. By targeting keywords with local intent, you can increase the likelihood that your business will show up in search results for people looking for local products and services.

Using Keyword Research Tools

Keyword research is the process of identifying and analyzing the search terms that people use when looking for products or services online.

There are several tools available to help you with keyword research, including the Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and SEMrush.

These tools can help you discover which keywords are popular in your industry, how competitive they are, and how many searches they receive each month.

Identifying the Best Local Keywords for Your Business

Once you have a list of potential keywords, you’ll need to analyze them to determine which ones are the best fit for your business. Look for keywords that have high search volume and low competition.

You’ll also want to consider the intent behind the keyword. If you own a pizza restaurant, you might want to target keywords like “pizza delivery near me” or “best pizza in [your city].”

Tracking Your Local Keyword Rankings

Once you’ve identified your target keywords, it’s important to track your local keyword rankings. This will allow you to see how your website and content are performing in search results over time.

There are several tools available to help you track your keyword rankings, including SEMrush and Ahrefs. By tracking your rankings, you can identify areas where you need to make improvements and adjust your local SEO strategy accordingly.

The Role of Business Listings in Local SEO

One key factor that affects local keyword rankings is your business listings. Business listings, such as those on Google My Business, Yelp, and Facebook, play a critical role in local SEO.

These listings provide important information about your business, including your address, phone number, and website. By claiming and optimizing your business listings, you can improve your local SEO and increase your visibility in search results.

Optimizing Your Website for Local Search

In addition to optimizing your business listings, it’s also important to optimize your website for local search. This includes adding location-specific content to your website, such as pages for each of your business locations, and using local keywords throughout your website and content.

You may also want to consider creating a blog where you can publish regular content related to your industry and location.

The Relevance of Organic Search Results for Local Keyword Rankings

Finally, it’s important to note that organic search results play a role in local keyword rankings as well.

Even if you have a strong presence on social media and business listings, if your website and content aren’t optimized for search engines, you may struggle to rank well in search results.

This is why it’s important to incorporate relevant keywords into your website and content and to regularly publish fresh, high-quality content.

Addressing Keyword Difficulty in Local SEO

One challenge in local keyword research is keyword difficulty. Keyword difficulty refers to how hard it is to rank for a particular keyword. If a keyword has high competition, it may be difficult to rank for it in search results, even if it has high search volume.

When conducting local keyword research, it’s important to consider both search volume and competition to identify the best keywords for your business.

Matching User Search Intent with Relevant Keywords

Another challenge in local keyword research is matching user search intent with relevant keywords. It’s not enough to simply target keywords with high search volume and low competition.

You also need to ensure that the keywords you target are relevant to the needs and desires of your target audience. This requires an understanding of your audience and their search habits, as well as an ability to create content that meets their needs.

Navigating Changes in Local Search Engine Results Page (SERP) Features

Finally, it’s important to be aware of changes in local search engine results page (SERP) features.

Google and other search engines are constantly updating their algorithms and changing the way they display search results. It’s important to stay up-to-date on these changes and adjust your local SEO strategy accordingly.

Applying Local Keyword Research to Your SEO Strategy

Keyword research is an essential part of any local SEO strategy. By identifying the best local keywords for your business, you can create content that is optimized for search engines and meets the needs of your target audience.

Maximizing Local SEO to Reach Potential Customers

By optimizing your website and online presence for local search, you can increase your visibility in search results and reach potential customers who are looking for your products or services.

The Benefits of Relevant Keywords for Your Product or Service

Using relevant keywords in your website and content can help increase your visibility in search results and drive more traffic to your business. By incorporating local keywords into your local SEO strategy, you can reach more potential customers and grow your business.

Frequently asked questions

In this FAQ section, we’ll address common questions about keyword research for local SEO, helping you uncover valuable insights to enhance your online presence and attract more local customers:

Q: What is local SEO keyword research?

A: Local SEO keyword research is the process of finding relevant and location-specific keywords for a local business to target in their SEO strategy.

This aims to attract more local traffic to the website and improve the chances of appearing in local search results.

Q: Why is local keyword research important?

A: Local keyword research is crucial for local businesses as it helps them optimize their website content, listings, and other online assets for the phrases and words people use to search for services in their local area.

This increases the businesses’ visibility in local search results, boosts website traffic and ultimately leads to more inquiries and sales.

Q: What are local keywords?

A: Local keywords are phrases or words that people are searching for when looking for local services. Examples of local keywords include “best pizza restaurant near me,” “dentist in downtown,” or “local bike repair shop.”

Q: What is the process of finding local keywords?

A: The process of finding local keywords involves identifying seed keywords, using a tool like Google Keyword Planner to generate a list of related keywords, analysing the search volume, and filtering those keywords that have local intent.

You can also look at the search queries in your website’s search bar or rely on local business listings and reviews to identify new keywords.

Q: What is a keyword research tool for local SEO?

A: A keyword research tool for local SEO is a software that helps businesses find relevant and location-specific keywords to optimize their website content and listings.

Some popular tools like Google Keyword Planner, Moz Local, and Ahrefs offer comprehensive local keyword research features.

Q: How can local businesses track their local keyword rankings?

A: Local businesses can track their local keyword rankings using tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or SEMrush. These tools provide insights into how a given keyword is performing in search results and help businesses optimize their SEO strategy accordingly.

Q: What is the difference between local keyword research and traditional keyword research?

A: Local keyword research focuses on location-specific phrases and terms, whereas traditional keyword research considers keywords on a broader scale.

Local keyword research aims to attract customers in a specific geographic area, while traditional keyword research aims to attract a general audience.

Q: Can businesses benefit from local keyword research even if they don’t have a physical location?

A: Yes, businesses can benefit from local keyword research even if they don’t have a physical location. They can use local keywords to target their audience in a specific geographic area or optimize their content for local searchers.

Q: What is local pack in local SEO?

A: Local pack is the block of organic results that appear in Google’s search engine results page when people search for local businesses. This block usually includes a map with pins indicating businesses’ locations and addresses, as well as business names, reviews, and website links.

Q: Is keyword stuffing acceptable in local keyword research?

A: No, keyword stuffing is not acceptable in local keyword research. Google penalizes websites that try to manipulate search results by using repetitive and irrelevant keywords on their content or listings. It is important to use only relevant and high-quality keywords that serve the searcher’s intent.