How to Outrank Competition with Local SEO in 90 Days
How to Outrank Competition with Local SEO in 90 Days
How to Dominate Local Search and Outrank Your Competition
In today’s competitive digital landscape, local businesses must take control of their online presence to generate more leads and increase revenue. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through proven strategies to dominate local search rankings and outrank your competition. These are the exact methods we use for our clients, and you can replicate them to achieve similar success.
Tracking Local SEO Performance
One of the key elements of local SEO success is tracking keyword performance. We use a tool called BrightLocal, which allows us to track 500 keywords weekly and monitor their rankings.
For example, when we started tracking a bathroom remodeling company’s rankings on July 5th, they had:
- 5 keywords in position one
- 6 keywords in positions two through five
Over time, our strategy increased their rankings to:
- 19 keywords in position one
- 76 keywords in positions two through five
This kind of growth significantly improves visibility, traffic, and ultimately leads. Now, let’s break down exactly how we achieved these results.
Step 1: Optimize Your Google Business Profile (Off-Site SEO)
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) plays a crucial role in local search rankings. Here’s what you need to focus on:
1. Select the Right Primary Category
Many businesses make the mistake of selecting a general category instead of their specific service. For instance, a company that wants to rank for kitchen remodeling but chooses general contractor will struggle to appear in kitchen remodel-related searches.
To check this:
- Search for your service + location (e.g., “electrician Dallas Texas”).
- Look at the Google Business Profiles that appear and note their selected categories.
- Adjust your own category to match the highest-ranking businesses in your industry.
2. Get More Google Reviews
Google heavily prioritizes businesses with a high number of quality reviews. If your competitors have 500+ reviews and you have only 50, it will be difficult to outrank them.
To get more reviews:
- Ask past customers for feedback.
- Request reviews from vendors and referral partners.
- Make leaving a review easy by providing direct links via text or email.
3. Maintain Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number)
Your business’s NAP must be consistent across all platforms, including:
- Google Business Profile
- Yelp
- Better Business Bureau
Google uses this information to verify legitimacy. If your contact details are inconsistent, Google may hesitate to rank your business higher in search results.
To maintain consistency, use tools like Yext or BrightLocal to audit and update your citations regularly.
Step 2: Improve Your Website SEO (On-Site SEO)
Even with a well-optimized GBP, your website must also be optimized for local SEO to maximize rankings.
1. Optimize Title Tags, Meta Descriptions, and H1 Tags
For each service page, include:
- Title Tag: Clearly state your service and location (e.g., “Custom Kitchen Remodeling in Jacksonville, Florida”).
- Meta Description: Summarize your service and include your target location.
- H1 Tag: Ensure your page headline reflects your service and location.
Most businesses miss these basics, but getting them right can significantly boost rankings.
2. Create Service Area Pages
If you serve multiple locations, create individual pages targeting each area. For example:
- yourwebsite.com/kitchen-remodeling-jacksonville
- yourwebsite.com/kitchen-remodeling-st-augustine
Each page should include unique content to avoid duplication penalties. These pages help build a content map around your business, increasing visibility in surrounding areas.
3. Use Internal Links and Location-Specific Content
- Link service area pages together.
- Add local case studies, customer testimonials, and before-and-after images to increase engagement.
- Include Google Maps embeds of your business location.
Step 3: Track Progress and Make Adjustments
SEO is an ongoing process. Use tools like BrightLocal, SEMrush, and Ahrefs to track:
- Keyword rankings
- Website traffic
- Competitor insights
Regularly audit your Google Business Profile to ensure that AI updates haven’t changed your business category or details.
Outrank Your Competition
By focusing on Google Business Profile optimization, on-site SEO, and consistent tracking, you can dominate local search and drive more high-quality leads to your business!