In this post, we’re going to walk you step by step through what local SEO really is, why it matters to your business in 2025, and the exact actions you can take today to show up in search results and get more customers.
Local SEO
In this post, we’re going to walk you step by step through what local SEO really is, why it matters to your business in 2025, and the exact actions you can take today to show up in search results and get more customers.
A homeowner in Sanford, NC, discovers a dripping water heater in the middle of the night. Frustrated and worried, they grab their phone and search for “emergency plumber near me.”
A few plumber listings pop up, but your business doesn’t. They tap on one with glowing reviews a block away, and just like that, the job is gone.
In 2025, 46% of all Google searches are for local information, and over half of mobile searches include location-based terms.
Even more striking: 76% of people who search locally on their smartphone visit a business within 24 hours, and around 28% make a purchase. That’s why showing up in local search matters.
Local SEO is how you ensure your business appears when customers nearby search, especially on mobile.
In this post, we’re going to walk you step by step through what local SEO really is, why it matters to your business in 2025, and the exact actions you can take today to show up in search results and get more customers.
Local SEO, often referred to as Local Search Engine Optimization, involves strategies to enhance a business’s visibility in location-specific online searches.
It’s about ensuring that when a customer in Sanford searches for “roofing company near me” or “best landscaper in Apex, your business appears prominently.
Unlike traditional SEO, which targets broad audiences with national or global reach, local SEO focuses on geographically relevant queries.
For example, a local real estate agency in Sanford can leverage local SEO to appear when someone searches “real estate agent Sanford NC”. At the same time, a national brand might target broader terms like “real estate services”.
Google highlights the top three nearby businesses in the Local Pack—right at the top of the search results, with their map pins and star ratings.
Below those, it shows more local listings just like regular search results.
Rankings depend on three things: proximity (how close you are); relevance (how well what you offer matches the search); and prominence (how well-known you are, based on reviews and local links).
If your small business focuses on these factors, you’re far more likely to connect with more nearby customers.
The rise of smartphones has fundamentally altered how consumers find local services. Over 70% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices, and for businesses like electricians, flooring or roofers, this shift is critical.
Customers often search on-the-go, seeking immediate solutions. And 30% of mobile searches are related to location.
Optimizing for mobile ensures your business captures these high-intent searches, driving more calls and visits. Without a mobile-friendly website or optimized Google Business Profile, you risk missing out on customers who need your services right now.
Google’s local search algorithm has grown increasingly sophisticated as it utilizes machine learning to deliver precise results. It evaluates your business based on proximity to the searcher, relevance to the query, and prominence, which includes reviews and local citations.
The complexity means that a half-hearted SEO effort won’t suffice. Businesses must maintain accurate, comprehensive online profiles to rank well.
For instance, an incomplete Google Business Profile might push you below competitors. Staying ahead requires a strategic approach, ensuring all elements align with Google’s evolving standards.
When someone pulls out their phone searching for help nearby, they often type “near me.”
Over 1.5 billion searches each month include “near me,” showing that huge numbers of people are looking for nearby services.
And over 88% of people who make local searches on their smartphones end up calling or visiting a business within 24 hours.
That means missing these searches can cost you real money. For a real estate agent or HVAC provider in Sanford, not appearing when someone searches “real estate agent Sanford NC” or “HVAC provider in Sanford NC” can instantly lose potential clients.
If you want your business to appear in those local results, include location-specific keywords and keep your information accurate across platforms. That way, when someone needs you right away, they find you, not your competitor.
People decide whether to trust your business before they ever pick up the phone.
About 92–93% of consumers read reviews before deciding to use a local service, and 93% say inconsistent or incorrect information makes them lose trust.
That means if your online details, Google Business Profile, directory listings, or reviews are outdated or wrong, you could be driving people away without even knowing it.
Keeping that information accurate and showing recent positive reviews sends a message: you’re reliable and professional. For local services, that simple trust signal can be the difference between a potential client calling you or someone else.
Voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant are now common, and users often speak full questions like “best real estate agent near me.”
In fact, about 58% of people use voice search to find local businesses, and a staggering 76% of those queries include phrases like “near me” or similar local terms. That means people are speaking naturally, not typing their requests when looking for services nearby.
To show up in these spoken searches, your content and profile need to sound natural and conversational. That means using phrases people actually say, placing location cues, and using FAQs that match how people talk.
For local professionals, whether painters or cleaning service providers, optimizing this way puts you in the conversation with people asking verbally.
Local SEO is no longer optional. It’s where most local service providers compete.
In 2025, businesses investing in it see average returns of around 2.5 times their spend. That indicates that your competitors are probably already appearing in local pack results and top listings.
If you’re not optimizing your Google Business Profile, gathering reviews, and building local citations, you’re essentially handing leads to them.
So, stay proactive in local SEO, and you don't just appear but get found first. If you want to stay competitive and capture nearby clients, invest in local SEO and grow your customer base. Ocean Sky offers an SEO plan to help your business be found by local customers.
Local SEO isn’t only for restaurants or retail shops. It's crucial for home service businesses like fencing companies, plumbers, electricians, and pest control.
People searching for services like “painters near me” or “flooring contractor Sanford NC” are often ready to call right away. Local SEO helps ensure you show up in those moments by using city-specific keywords, optimizing your Google profile, and gathering reviews.
More visibility means more calls and appointments, not just website traffic and clicks. If you don’t show up, customers go elsewhere. But if you’ve invested in local SEO, you can become an obvious choice when someone types or speaks their query.
When someone looks for local services, Google Maps is often their first stop. If your profile is complete, accurate, fast-loading, and has inviting photos and recent reviews, more people will click, call, or get directions.
For service providers, appearing in the map results means you’re front and center when someone searches from their phone. This is what you need to drive visibility, appointments and inquiries in a way traditional listings just can’t match.
Online reviews are a major factor in whether someone chooses your business. Why? Because they provide valuable real-time info on your customers’ experience.
Did you know 95% of customers read reviews before buying or contacting a local service?
Not to mention, customers trust businesses that respond to feedback. If you ignore negative feedback, people notice. Instead, prompt replies and asking happy clients to leave reviews build credibility and boost your search ranking. It also tells Google your business is active and relevant.
Related: The Importance of Online Reviews for Local SEO
One big perk of local SEO? There’s less competition.
You’re mainly competing with businesses in your town or city. So, ranking is often easier than trying to win national search terms. When you ignore local SEO, you’re basically letting nearby competitors take all the visibility and leads that could've been yours.
Without local SEO, your business may not appear in the Map Pack or local organic results when customers search for services like “Sanford roofer.” Weak local presence simply means missed opportunities, as potential clients turn to competitors who are optimized for local searches.
If competitors invest in local SEO while you don’t, they’ll capture the majority of inquiries and bookings. For example, a well-optimized electrician in Sanford will rank higher, receiving calls that could have been yours, directly impacting your revenue and growth potential.
Inconsistent or incorrect business details, such as wrong hours or addresses, can frustrate customers.
If a client arrives at your closed shop due to outdated information in a directory, they’re likely to choose a competitor, damaging your reputation and losing potential business.
With the majority of online searches occurring on mobile devices, neglecting local SEO means missing “near me” queries. These high-intent searches often lead to immediate action. And without optimization, you’re invisible to customers searching for urgent services like plumbing or HVAC repair.
An unoptimized Google Business Profile can push you out of the Map Pack, where most of clicks occur. Without a strong presence on Google Maps, customers may not find your business. Result? Reduced foot traffic and inquiries, especially for location-driven services.
An incomplete or unprofessional online presence can make your business seem less trustworthy. Customers often judge businesses based on their digital footprint. A lack of reviews or outdated information may lead them to choose competitors with more robust and reliable online profiles.
SEO is a long-term strategy. Delaying local SEO efforts allows competitors to build stronger online presences, making it harder to catch up. Over time, this gap widens and reduces your ability to compete effectively and capture market share in your local area.
Local SEO focuses on making your business easy to find when someone nearby searches for the services you offer. Let’s take a quick look at the key components of local SEO:
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) serves as your digital storefront. Claiming and completing it with an accurate name, address, phone number (NAP), hours, categories, and photos is key.
Regular updates, such as posts about promotions, keep it engaging. A well-optimized GBP enhances visibility in the Map Pack, attracting more local customers.
Related: Google Business Profile: How to Use It to Get More Customers
Local citations: mentions of your NAP on directories like Yelp or Angie’s List must be consistent across platforms. Inconsistencies can confuse search engines, lowering your rankings. Ensuring accuracy on industry-specific and local directories strengthens your credibility and improves your chances of appearing in local search results.
Incorporating location-specific keywords, like “Sanford electrician,” into your website’s titles, meta descriptions, and content signals relevance to search engines. Schema markup, a form of structured data, provides additional context about your business, enhancing visibility.
Links from local websites, such as the Sanford Chamber of Commerce or local news outlets, boost your authority. These backlinks signal to Google that your business is a trusted part of the community, which improves your prominence and rankings in local searches, especially for competitive keywords.
As mentioned earlier, positive reviews on Google and other platforms build trust and influence rankings. Therefore, encourage your satisfied customers to leave feedback and respond to reviews to drive engagement.
Google pays attention to both how many reviews you have and how good they are. And this matters for your visibility.
In short, the more positive, authentic reviews you get and the more consistently you respond to them, the more likely Google is to show your business to nearby customers.
Metrics like click-through rates from search results and check-ins on platforms like Google Maps indicate user engagement. High engagement signals to Google that your business is relevant and popular. Encouraging actions like clicks and check-ins can enhance your local SEO effectiveness.
Appearing in the Map Pack or local organic results drives more customers to your physical location. For businesses like landscapers or painters, this visibility translates into more walk-ins or service calls, as customers find you when searching for nearby services, boosting your business’s growth.
A well-optimized Google Business Profile makes it easy for customers to contact you directly from search results. For home service providers, this means more inquiries and bookings, as potential clients can quickly call or schedule appointments.
Local SEO targets customers actively seeking your services in your area, resulting in high-intent leads. These leads are more likely to convert into paying customers, as they’re searching for specific solutions like “Apex roofing”.
Unlike paid ads, which require ongoing investment, local SEO provides sustained visibility with lower long-term costs. Once optimized, your business can maintain high rankings with minimal upkeep. Now this is a cost-effective way to attract customers compared to pay-per-click advertising models.
A strong local SEO presence establishes your business as a trusted community authority. Consistent visibility, positive reviews, and engaging content foster customer loyalty and referrals, building your brand over time and creating a foundation for sustained growth in your local market.
The best way moving forward is to hire an seo company that specializes in local SEO and have them build your local online presence. For example, Ocean Sky is a leading local SEO solution provider in Sanford and the surrounding areas. We can do all the heavy lifting and let you focus on other key business areas.
However, there are certain things you can start doing today.
Visit google.com/business to claim your listing. Fill out every section with accurate NAP, hours, categories, and high-quality photos of your services. Regular posts about promotions or completed projects keep your profile active, improving visibility and engagement with potential customers.
Audit your listings on directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and industry-specific platforms like HomeAdvisor. Make sure your name, address, and phone number are consistent everywhere. Inconsistencies can harm your rankings, so correct any discrepancies to build trust with search engines and customers.
After completing a job, politely ask satisfied clients to leave reviews on Google or Yelp. Provide direct links to make it easy. Responding to all reviews, positive or negative, shows engagement and builds trust, enhancing your reputation and search rankings.
Incorporate terms like “Sanford property managers” or “Holly Springs painter” into your website’s titles, meta descriptions, and content. These keywords signal relevance to search engines and help you rank for local searches. Ensure content is natural and valuable to avoid appearing spammy.
Use schema markup to provide structured data about your business, such as NAP and services offered. This helps search engines understand your site, potentially improving rankings. Tools like Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper can guide you in implementing this effectively.
List your business on local directories and seek links from local organizations. The citations and backlinks improve your authority and relevance and boost your rankings in local searches.
Ocean Sky Web Solutions is where our SEO experts take a strategy-first approach and craft custom local SEO solutions tailored to your business goals, whether you’re a Sanford electrician or an Apex landscaper.
Generic solutions don’t work; our services include optimizing your Google Business Profile, ensuring NAP consistency, managing reviews, implementing technical SEO, creating local content, and providing analytics to track results.
With real people offering responsive support, we deliver measurable outcomes, helping you attract more customers and grow your business in Sanford, NC, and nearby cities like Apex, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs.
While social media engages customers, Google dominates local search. Most customers use Google Maps or search engines to find services, and a Facebook page alone won’t ensure visibility in these results. Local SEO targets high-intent searchers and drives more relevant traffic to your business.
Local SEO requires ongoing effort to maintain rankings. Algorithm updates, competitor actions, and changing customer behaviors demand continuous optimization, including updating your GBP, managing reviews, and refreshing content to stay competitive in local search results.
Small businesses often have an advantage in local SEO due to their proximity and relevance to local customers. With proper optimization, your small business can outrank national brands for local queries.
Ranking for your business name is insufficient if customers search for services like “Fuquay-Varina roofer.” Local SEO makes sure you appear for these generic, high-intent queries, capturing customers who don’t yet know your business but need your services.
Local SEO is a necessity for small businesses. Customers search daily for services like plumbing or landscaping. Will they find you? Ocean Sky Web Solutions makes local SEO simple, human, and effective, helping you connect with more clients. Don’t let competitors steal your spotlight. Take action today to ensure your business thrives.
Schedule a free consultation with Ocean Sky Web Solutions, get a free personalized SEO audit, or contact us at services@oceanskyweb.com or (919) 352-9727. Make your business the top choice in Sanford, NC, and beyond.
