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Local SEO Basics

These are the questions owners ask before they spend money on local SEO, and the ones that come up when results are slow: does it work, do you need it, how do you measure it, and why a competitor is ahead.
By Eric Walker · Last updated October 2026

Questions in this topic

Does local SEO still work?
What the evidence says about the map pack and AI answers, and where the effort pays off now.

How do you know if you need local SEO?
A five-minute self-test, plus the signs that you need help and the signs you can wait.

What is the difference between local SEO and regular SEO?
Two kinds of results, two sets of ranking factors, and how to tell which problem you have.

How do I check where my business ranks on Google?
Why your rank changes with location, and the free and paid ways to measure it properly.

Why is my competitor ranking higher than me?
A five-point comparison of category, distance, name, reviews, and profile completeness.

Do backlinks matter for local SEO?
What a 2026 survey shows for the map pack and for regular results, and which links are worth getting.

Do I need a page for every city I serve?
When a city page earns its place and when it counts as a doorway page.

Where to go next

If you want the fundamentals first, start with what local SEO is. If you already know you need help and want to do the work yourself, see the DIY local SEO questions. For profile questions, go to the Google Business Profile questions.

Want a second opinion on your own business?

Every business starts from a different place. If you would rather have someone look at your Google Business Profile, your website, and your competitors, I will tell you what is worth fixing first and what can wait.
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