Local SEO Content Marketing: How to Create Content That Ranks Locally

January 25th, 2024, 09:00 AM

If you want your business to appear at the top of Google Maps and local search results, a strong content strategy is essential. Local SEO isn't just about keywords—it's about creating content that resonates with your audience, highlights your business's location, and signals relevance to search engines.

In this guide, we'll show you how to create local SEO content that improves your rankings, attracts the right customers, and sets your business apart from competitors.

Why Local SEO Content Matters

Search engines prioritize content that is relevant to a specific location. By producing high-quality local content, you can:

  • Increase visibility in local search results

  • Attract customers actively looking for services near them

  • Build authority in your niche and location

Well-crafted content can appear in local map packs, blog searches, and even AI-generated search summaries, giving your business multiple ways to be discovered.

Example: A coffee shop in Seattle that writes blog posts about "Best Coffee Shops Near UW Seattle" can rank for local searches while providing value to students and residents looking for recommendations.

Step 1: Understand Your Local Audience

Before creating content, know who you're writing for. Ask yourself:

  • What local problems are your customers trying to solve?

  • What questions do they ask about your products or services?

  • Which neighborhoods, cities, or regions do they live in?

Pro Tip: Use Local Falcon's Local Keyword Tool to help generate topic ideas based on both traditional and AI search engines.

Example: A pet grooming salon in Toronto may discover that customers often ask, "Where can I find a dog groomer near Queen Street?" or "Which salon does mobile grooming in Toronto?" Knowing this allows the salon to create targeted content that answers these queries.

Step 2: Plan Content Around Local Topics

Rather than only focusing on keywords, focus on topics that serve local intent. Examples include:

  • City-specific guides: "Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago"

  • Neighborhood-focused content: "Top Plumbing Services in Downtown Seattle"

  • Local events or news: "How [City] Businesses Can Prepare for Summer Festivals"

  • Customer stories/testimonials: Highlight experiences from local customers

This approach not only signals local relevance to Google but also makes your content more useful to readers.

Step 3: Optimize Pages for Local Signals

Integrate location naturally in your website content without overstuffing keywords. Focus on showing relevance, not just inserting city names.

  • Location Pages: Create a page for each business location with address, map, and service details.

  • Service Pages: Include local phrases naturally: "Emergency AC repair in Phoenix"

  • Blog Posts: Incorporate city names or neighborhoods where relevant.

  • Testimonials & Reviews: Display customer reviews that mention your location or services.

Pro Tip: Use local schema markup for addresses, phone numbers, and business hours. Structured data helps search engines and LLMs understand your content and improves your chances of appearing in rich results.

Step 4: Use Content Formats That Boost Local SEO

Different content formats capture attention and improve rankings.

  • FAQs: Answer local questions like "Where can I find the best cupcakes in NYC?"

  • Guides/How-Tos: Step-by-step instructions with local examples

  • Case Studies: Show local success stories

  • Videos & Infographics: Highlight local events, landmarks, or processes

Step 5: Promote Your Content Locally

Content alone isn't enough. Amplify its impact by:

  • Sharing on social media with local tags

  • Linking from local directories and partners

  • Featuring in Google Business Profile posts

  • Engaging local influencers or community blogs

Step 6: Monitor, Analyze, and Refine

Track how your local content performs using analytics tools and local rank trackers. Pay attention to:

  • Pages driving local traffic

  • Keywords generating clicks and impressions

  • Engagement metrics like time on page and bounce rate

Pro Tip: Regularly update your high-performing content with new local information, events, or testimonials. Fresh content signals ongoing relevance to search engines.

Step 7: Incorporate Conversational & Voice Search Keywords

With AI and voice search on the rise, optimize content for questions customers might ask naturally:

  • "Where can I find the best pizza near me?"

  • "Which florist delivers same-day flowers in Toronto?"

  • "How much does a plumber charge in [city]?"

Using these conversational keywords increases your chances of being featured in featured snippets, AI-generated overviews and answers, and voice search results.

Tip: Include these questions as H3 headings and answer them concisely in 40-60 words. Google often pulls these answers directly for snippet results.

Step 8: Leverage Reviews and Testimonials

Customer reviews are a powerful form of local content. They:

  • Include natural local keywords

  • Increase trust and credibility

  • Can be repurposed in blogs, case studies, or service pages

Key Takeaways

  • Local SEO content is about useful, locally relevant content, not just keywords.

  • Know your audience and create content around local topics and questions.

  • Optimize pages with location-specific content, structured data, and reviews.

  • Diversify formats: blogs, FAQs, guides, videos, and case studies.

  • Promote content locally through social media, partnerships, and GBP posts.

  • Monitor performance and continuously refine your strategy.

  • Incorporate conversational/voice search keywords to capture featured snippets.

By following these steps, you can make your local business website more visible across both traditional and AI-powered local search, attract targeted traffic, and ultimately drive more customers to your business.

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