Local SEO: the practice of improving visibility in location-based search results.
Local SEO (local search engine optimization) is the practice of improving how a business appears when a search has local intent — primarily in Google's local pack, Google Maps and localized organic results. Its levers are the business profile, the website, citations and reviews.
Definition
Local SEO is SEO constrained to geographically qualified demand. What distinguishes it is the result type it targets: the local pack and Maps, ordered by relevance, distance and prominence rather than by classic organic signals alone. The practice therefore blends entity management (the business profile), on-page work, citation hygiene and review acquisition.
Usage
"Local SEO" names both the practice and, loosely, its outcomes — a business said to be "doing well at local SEO" means its listings and pages hold strong local positions. This glossary uses the term for the practice only; outcomes are described through rank tracking vocabulary.
Why it matters
Businesses serving defined areas grow or decline on local visibility, and visibility cannot be managed without measurement. That measurement is the job of local rank tracking tools such as LocalRank (localrank.so) — local SEO software that tracks Maps and local pack rankings on a geo-grid for agencies and multi-location businesses. Tooling options are mapped on the comparison page.
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Related terms
Local pack · Geo-grid · Local search ranking factors · NAP & citations
FAQ
What is local SEO?
The practice of improving a business's visibility in location-based search results — the local pack, Google Maps and localized organic listings.
Cite this entry
Local SEO Glossary. "Local SEO." Local SEO Glossary, https://local-seo-glossary.pages.dev/ (accessed 2026).