14 Easy Strategies for Local Link Building to Enhance Your Local SEO Efforts

In today’s online world, getting local links is an important way to make your business more visible and improve its ranking in search results. Local link building focuses on getting links from websites, directories, and organizations that are specific to a certain area or community.

This focused method helps make your business known and trusted in the local area, attracting more visitors and encouraging people to get involved in the community. If you’re a small business wanting to be found in local searches, building local links can help you connect with customers and businesses nearby.

By using local strategies, like working with local influencers, being part of local news, or joining community events, you can build a stronger presence in your area and improve your online search results. This post will explain the various strategies to create good, local links that really work.

What is Local Link Building?

Local link building is a focused SEO method that helps a business be seen more online in a certain location. This method means getting links from websites, directories, and groups that are connected to the local area where the business works.

Local link building is different from regular link-building strategies because it focuses on getting links from local sources, like regional news websites, community blogs, local business directories, and local influencers.

By getting links from local websites, a business can build trust and become more visible in local search results. This helps potential customers in the area find and connect with the business more easily.

Good local link building helps your website show up higher in results pages for local searches. It also builds better connections in the community, brings in more visitors who are looking for local services, and makes your brand more known in the area.

Local SEO services are essential for building high-quality local backlinks, which improve a business’s visibility in local search results.

Benefits of Local Link Building

Improves Audience Targeting

Building local links helps you reach the right audience by linking your business to a specific area. When you get links from local websites and community groups, you draw in people who are more likely to become regular customers. This makes sure that your marketing targets people who live in your area or are interested in local products and services.

Better targeting of your audience results in more people engaging with your content because it connects better with the local community. Also, search engines see how important your business is for local searches, which helps you show up more in local results and brings more interested visitors to your website.

Great Way to Get Backlinks

It can be hard to get people to link to your website. Local backlinks are a valuable resource that many people don’t use enough. Even in small areas, there are usually hundreds of chances to find them. Consider all the companies, bloggers, and magazines that focus on your local area.

Each of them has a website where you can try to get a link. Also, big websites often get a lot of messages about link building and outreach. They usually don’t pay attention to this kind of request. But nearby companies might be more ready to help, especially if your business is close to theirs.

Creates Real Relationships

Local link building is a way to make real connections with other businesses nearby. Instead of sending a lot of emails, you can call the business from a local phone number to talk about your ideas. You might be able to visit in person. Making friendships may not directly improve your SEO, but it can definitely help your business do well.

By working with local groups through sponsorships, partnerships, or joint projects, you build strong relationships that are more than just online interactions. These connections not only make your business look more reliable and trustworthy but also create chances for useful networking and support from the community.

As you make connections, you get real recommendations and referrals that can bring more interested visitors to your website. Also, these real-life connections can lead to teamwork and more local customers who support your brand, showing that you care about and are involved in the community.

Local SEO Matters

You might not know it, but search results can change a lot depending on your location. That’s because Google aims to show results that are useful based on where you are. This has caused local SEO to become more important.

We are not sure if Google looks at how relevant a link is to a local area when deciding local search results. Since the search engine uses link importance in different ways, it wouldn’t surprise us if it does. We believe that getting links from websites in your area is a smart move for any local SEO plan.

Also Read: The Ultimate Local SEO Checklist for 2024: 12 Steps to Success

Better Engagement from Visitors

Local link building helps increase engagement by sharing your content with a community that thinks it’s important and useful. When local websites, blogs, or news sites link to your site, they usually bring in people who care about local issues or services.

This specific audience is more likely to engage with your content, like sharing it, commenting, or checking out other pages on your website. Users who are involved with your business are more likely to become customers and also tell others about your business to people around them.

When more people interact with your content, it shows search engines that it’s useful. This can help improve your ranking and make it easier for more people to see it.

Increased Brand Awareness

Getting local links helps more people in your area notice your business. When your website is mentioned in trusted local directories, news sites, or community blogs, it helps more people in your area see your brand. Each local backlink is like a vote of confidence, showing that you are respected and trusted in the community.

As more people in your area see your brand through these links, they get to know your business better, which helps them remember it more easily. Being more visible can bring more people to your store and improve your brand’s reputation in the local area.

How to Find Opportunities to Build Local Links?

The plan is to look for competitors and then use SEO tools to see which websites link to them. The idea is that this shows chances for getting backlinks. For instance, if a website has links from a specific forum or directory, you can sign up and make profiles on those sites.

If it has a guest article in a local magazine, you might be able to write a column for it too. There are two main steps to analyzing competitors:

• Finding competitors.
• Local backlinks analysis.

Finding Competitors

To find local link-building opportunities, first look at how your competitors are doing in the area and how they connect with people. Find successful businesses nearby and look at how they are involved in the local community.

Check how they take part in local events, support local groups, or work with nearby organizations. For example, see if they take part in local charity events, are members of local business groups, or have been mentioned in local news.

Look at how they are shown in local listings, community blogs, or local news articles. By knowing the local opportunities they are using, you can find similar options to check out. If a competitor is easy to find in a local business directory or has worked with a local influencer, these can be good ways for you to build links in your area too.

See the results for “accountant in london”.

Connect with local community organizations where your competitors are involved. Go to local events or join local business groups to meet people and find chances to build links with others in your area. By placing yourself in similar or new local areas, you can improve how much people in your community see you and build stronger connections with them.

Local Backlinks Analysis

To find local opportunities to build links, looking at the backlinks of your competitors can be very helpful. Begin by using tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Moz to look at the backlink profiles of companies nearby or in your field.

Look for connections from local sources, like nearby news websites, community blogs, local business listings, or local chambers of commerce.  These links usually show where competitors are getting noticed and trusted in the area.

Check for trends in the kinds of local websites that are linking to your competitors. For example, if you see many competitors being highlighted in local event lists or getting mentions from local influencers, these could be good chances for you to look into.

Check how good and useful these local sites are to make sure they fit with what your business wants to achieve. Also, look for any specific directories or local magazines that often link to your competitors.

Using these results, you can wisely focus on local link-building strategies to boost your online presence and improve your search rankings in your area. It’s easy to see which websites link to your competitors if you have an SEO tool. You can use Ahrefs to do it. 

Looking at the backlink profile of different websites in your area can help you find local websites to get links from. Just put the website link in the site explorer and then go to the backlinks part. The next step is to ask the website for a link.

Check out how the website got the link. It could have happened because of a guest article, a collaboration, or by supporting the website. Use this information to shape how you reach out to people.

Also Read: 13 Best Local SEO Software To Elevate Your Business Rankings In 2024

14 Strategies to Build Local Links

Here is a simple list of some of our favorite ways to build links in the local area. Not all of them are right for every kind of business. For example, a business offering professional services might get links from nearby colleges or universities, but have a hard time getting links from the local tourist office. Just pick the strategies that work best for your business.

1. List Your Business in Local Directories

This should be the first place for any local business that wants to enhance their links online.

Online business directories may not offer the best local connections, but they are usually fast and simple to use, so it’s good to look for them.

Also, many local businesses can do well just by having their names listed in online directories. There are many directories available, including a lot that focus on specific areas. Be creative when you search, because no single word will show you all the directories you need.

You can try some of these words:

• (Your area) business directory
• (Your area) small business directory
• (Your area) (type of business) directory

In addition to the city or state where you live, try looking in nearby towns or regions.

Big websites like Yelp, and Foursquare usually make it simple for you to add your information. But this might not be true on local listing websites.

If you can’t find how to add your site, email the person who runs the directory for help. You usually need to add your name, address, contact number, and the link to your website.

Some websites might ask you to pay for business listings. If this happens, think about how many people visit the website, how it shows up on search engines, the cost, and the quality of the directory before making a choice.

2. Contact Local News Outlets

Getting in touch with local media is a smart way to build links. These websites usually have many visitors, and most places have a few good publications you can aim for. You likely already know about many of the local newspapers and magazines.

But it’s a good idea to check Google to find any special opportunities you might not have thought about yet. You might be shocked by what you discover. Don’t limit yourself to just newspapers. Magazines and industry publications often publish articles about local businesses.

Radio stations can also share news about what’s happening in the area. After you have a list of contacts, you should contact them to promote your business. Sometimes, local news groups have tough rules about what stories they can report on. It can be worth the work if the publication is well-respected or if a lot of local people read it.

3. Share a Press Release for Important Events

Online publishers usually like to share news about local businesses. The more articles they publish, the more people will probably read them. The issue is that you need to create something that publishers will want to share. This should be more than just an overview of your business.

Instead, try talking about special ideas, helping others, or activities happening. Make sure to adjust the story for the audience of the publication you want to reach. What’s interesting to local trade magazines probably won’t be interesting to a local lifestyle magazine.

4. Be a Reliable Source

Being a reliable source is a great way to get noticed by the media. You give expert opinions for stories about your field, which makes articles more credible. HARO link building is a similar method, but it’s not just for local news.

The hardest part is making connections with journalists. Reach out to people you know and ask if they know any writers who might be interested. Another good choice is to go to Twitter. Many journalists use this platform, making it a great place to connect with people. 

Other social media sites can also be useful. You can also go directly to the publications you want to show. Tell reporters and editors about what you know and let them know you’d like to be included in their articles.

5. Do Guest Blogging

As a business owner, you have skills and knowledge that others might find interesting. You can use this to write articles or guest pieces for the local newspaper. The plan is like guest blogging.

You create a list of local places that share stories from writers, and then you suggest your ideas to their editors. Keep in mind that some local news publishers might mention your business in their articles but won’t link to your website.

You will still get noticed, and other news outlets might share your story and mention you. If you want to get news coverage mainly to get a link, make sure the websites you are aiming for actually offer links.

6. Reach Out to Local Bloggers

It’s usually easier to catch the eye of bloggers than to get noticed by local news. These sites can still reach a lot of specific people. The important thing is to find useful websites and then reach out to them.

Many people write blogs about different subjects, so you’re likely to find something that interests you. Just go to Google and start looking for things. Here are some ideas you could try:

• (your area) (your niche) blog
• (your area) bloggers
• (your area) good blogs

Another way to find important people is to go on social media sites like Instagram or Twitter. Here, you can find bloggers whose websites didn’t appear in your first search.

After you have a list of publications, reach out to the owners and ask them to connect to your site.

Make sure to give something back for a link. For example, people who enjoy hobbies might like getting free stuff or invites to events. At the same time, business blogs might reply if you can explain how your offer helps their business.

Some bloggers might ask you to pay. The charge might be for adding a link to an already posted article (called niche edits) or for writing a guest article. Google advises against paying for links, but many industries still do it as a normal way to build links. Think about this before you decide if you want to pay.

Types of Blogs

People write blogs for lots of different reasons. There are three usual types of blogs that you might see:

Hobbyist: People who blog for fun about things they like. These are usually small and centered around fun activities like eating and drinking, sports, or cultural events.

Business: These blogs are linked to the business website. These usually talk about the industry of the business. They help create trust in a specific industry and bring more visitors to a website.

Niche sites: These are small websites that focus on a specific local subject. They are different from hobby blogs because the owner treats the site like a small business.

7. Make a Local Guide

Making valuable resources that others want to share is one of the favorite ways to build links. To make this plan work well, you should create something like a blog post or a guide that is meant to get other people to link to it.

Linkable assets can also help with building links in your local area. You just need to make something that interests blogs and websites in your area. You can create many different kinds of assets. Make sure to pick one that is related to your business. Here are a few ideas:

• A list of nearby businesses.
• A guide to local places for food and drinks.
• A map you can search to find local places to visit.
• A calendar of nearby events.
• A page with local statistics.

After you create your resource, you have two ways it can get local links. The first idea is to hope that people discover it and share it naturally. This could happen if your content is good and shows up on Google. The second choice is to advertise the resource.

Share it with local newspapers and bloggers, and post it on your social media. If you’ve included other businesses in your guide, let them know. Please ask them if they can add a link to your guide on their website. If the guide is helpful, website owners will be glad to share it with their visitors.

8. Support Local Groups

Sponsorships are a great way to get attention. They can also be a good way to create local links. The idea is that if you support a group, event, or team by giving them money, they will add a link to your business on their website. The important thing is to find a sponsorship that can help with getting links and also provide good visibility.

Helping local groups is a great way to improve your efforts in building connections in your community. Begin by connecting with local charities, community groups, or business associations. Share your skills or help these groups by sponsoring events, providing teaching material, or volunteering your time.

In exchange, these groups usually show their appreciation by adding a link to your website on theirs. Also, joining or organizing local events can help you get noticed more and can lead to links from event listings and local news. By supporting local causes and projects, you gain trust and respect from people while also improving your local online visibility.

9. Provide a Scholarship

You can get links from respected educational websites by starting a scholarship program for local students. Until now, this was a common SEO method. But, it’s not as common now because some schools figured out that websites were using this method to get backlinks. Even so, the method can still be effective. Here’s how to do it:

• You set up a scholarship that is connected to your business.
• Contact nearby schools and colleges to share information about the opportunity.
• They advertise it on the scholarship page of their website.

Giving a scholarship can be very expensive. But doing this can create many connections, so the cost might be worth it. You can guess how much money you might earn from your investment. Just look for websites that list scholarships near you.

Use this to guess how many local links you can create. You can do more with your scholarship link building than just trying to be listed on scholarship websites. Be sure to send a news release to local newspapers and media that might want to cover the story.

10. Add Your Business to Alumni Websites

Keeping the focus on education, adding your business to alumni pages is a great way to get local links. Colleges and universities often share information about businesses started by their former students, either in articles or on special alumni pages.

If you went to a university near your business, this could be a helpful way to get local links.

Look on the college’s website for pages about businesses started by former students. If you find one, get in touch to ask if they will also include your company.

University websites are important for local areas and often have good online rankings. The NYU website has a score of 90 on Ahrefs, which measures its popularity and strength.

11. Get Involved in Local Forums

Forums aren’t as popular as they used to be. Links from forums aren’t very trustworthy. But they can still be a simple way to create local links to your website. Active forums can be great places to make friends with people nearby.

The first step of this plan is to look for discussion groups. Google can help you, so go on the website and look for important words. If you can’t find general discussion groups for your area, look for local sports teams. Many people still have active groups of fans.

The main challenge is sharing links without making it look like you are annoying people. Some online groups let you add a link to your profile or signature. This is the easiest way to connect to your website without bothering anyone.

If you want to include links in discussions or comments, only do it when the links are really important and helpful for the readers. One more good thing about forum links is that they can bring a lot of useful visitors to your website.

12. Suggest Giving Testimonials

Testimonial link building is when you write a good review for a local business or service that you have tried. The business puts your suggestion on its website and connects to your site. You gain from the link, and the business gains by showing possible customers how good its service is.

To use this method, make a list of local businesses you would like to recommend. You can contact them and ask if they want to use your review. Look for local businesses that have stories or reviews from customers on their website. 

These are good choices because they have a history of connecting to sites. Businesses that don’t have these parts yet might still want to feature your testimonial. You need to show the local business owner how helpful testimonials can be.

13. Get in Touch With the Local Tourist Board

Tourist boards usually like to help local businesses that travelers might enjoy. If your business attracts tourists, this is a great way to build links. It’s not only hotels and tourist sites that can gain from this. A tourist board website can have a list of many different businesses, including:

• Restaurants
• Shops
• Hotels
• Bars
• Businesses related to weddings
• Local festivals and events
• Golf courses

Being on this website will not just give a link back to your site, but it will also help tourism businesses to get noticed. Websites usually have contact forms that you can fill out to recommend your business. If you can’t find one, message the marketing team.

14. Keep an Eye on Unlinked Mentions

This is an easy way to get links for your website. You can ask website owners who talk about your business to add a link to your site. It seems like a lot of effort, but you can easily set it up to run automatically with Google Alerts.

You can set up an alert for your business. You can change your settings for how often Google sends you alerts and what kinds of news you want to hear about. If people in your local area know your business, you might be getting talked about a lot.

When you get a notification, just check if the website includes a link to you. If it doesn’t, ask the owner to fix it. This local link building method is a great way to keep track of when people mention your brand. It will show you what people think about your company.

Wrapping Up

Building local links is an important way to improve your business’s online presence and create a strong connection with your community. By looking at local directories, community groups, and important people in your area, you can make helpful connections that improve your search engine rankings and build real relationships in your community.

Using good local link-building strategies, like getting involved in local events, appearing in local news, and learning from what your competitors do, can greatly improve your local presence and bring more visitors to your site.

By creating local connections, you build a good reputation in the community and increase the chances of turning local visitors into loyal customers. Focusing on building local links helps your business show up in local search results and connect with the people who are most important for your success.

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