Search “best [your product or service] in [your city]” on Google and check the results. If your business isn’t the first website that pops up – or doesn’t appear on the first page – you’re losing valuable potential customers.
In 2025, local search continues to dominate the digital landscape. According to recent studies, about 83% of local consumers use Google Search to find information about local businesses, and 90% will make a purchase within one week of the initial search. Furthermore, searches including terms like “near me” have grown exponentially in recent years, with “available near me” searches increasing by 100%, “now near me” searches rising by 200%, and “along my route” searches skyrocketing by 1,000% since 2020. These figures underscore the growing significance of optimizing your website for local searches.
Local SEO analysis is the first step in outshining your competitors.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the importance of local SEO analysis and how it can help you outperform your competitors:
- What is Local SEO Analysis?
- How to Perform Local SEO Analysis
- How to Outrank Local Search Competitors
What Is Local SEO Analysis?
In 2020, a Moz report revealed that nearly half of Google’s two trillion searches each year were local queries. This isn’t just a passing trend; it’s a key factor driving the success of businesses. It’s no wonder then that most companies focus on optimizing their websites for local searches – around 91% of large, multi-location businesses have dedicated SEO resources.
However, dominating local search results is highly competitive. Many business owners often wonder, “How long does local SEO take to yield results?” The answer lies in competitive analysis. To effectively improve your SEO efforts, you need to understand what your competitors are doing and how you can outpace them.
Local SEO analysis helps you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors’ strategies, providing you with insights to outperform them.
Key elements that impact a website’s visibility in local searches include:
- Google Business Profile (GBP) completeness
- NAP (name, address, and phone number) accuracy
- Local content and keyword usage
- Positive customer reviews
By assessing these elements, you can uncover why your competitors are ranking and what strategies you can use to outrank them.
How To Perform Local SEO Analysis
Performing a comprehensive local SEO analysis involves understanding your competitors’ strategies and pinpointing opportunities to outperform them. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Identify Your Competitors in Local Searches
You may already know who your competitors are, but in the digital realm, local competitors are those who rank highly for relevant searches in your geographic area. Even if your product or service is superior, if your competitors are more visible in local search results, they’ll likely attract more customers.
To identify your competitors, search for your products or services along with your location. For instance, if you run a beauty salon in Los Angeles, search for keywords like “hair extensions Los Angeles” or “women’s perm Los Angeles.” Observe which businesses show up in the top results.
Pay special attention to the businesses in Google’s Map Pack, the top three results displayed in a map box above the organic listings. These businesses are your toughest competitors as they enjoy prime visibility.
Step 2: Evaluate Competitor Strategies
Now that you know who your competitors are, it’s time to assess their strategies and compare them to your own. Focus on these key elements:
- Keyword Usage: Keywords play a crucial role in search engine rankings. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify high-volume keywords in your location. Analyze competitors’ content to check which keywords they’re targeting.
- Backlinks: High-quality backlinks from authoritative sites boost search engine rankings. Your competitors might have mentions on local news websites or blogs, which give them an edge. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyze their backlink profiles.
- Local Listings: Check which online directories your competitors are listed on. Platforms like BrightLocal can help you find these listings and evaluate their citation authority.
- Google Business Profile: Take a look at your competitors’ Google Business Profiles. Are they complete with up-to-date information, photos, and videos? What are their customer reviews like?
Step 3: Find Your Competitive Edge
Once you’ve gathered insights from your competitors, it’s time to create a plan to outdo them. Look for areas where you can improve, such as:
- Keywords they are missing but you can target
- High-authority backlinks they have that you can also pursue
- Google Business Profile enhancements, like adding more categories or media
- Local listings and citations they are leveraging that you haven’t tapped into
By identifying gaps in their strategies, you can position your business to be more visible and attract more local customers.
How To Outrank Local Search Competitors
With a solid understanding of what your competitors are doing right, you can now craft a strategy to improve your visibility and outperform them. Here are key tactics to implement:
Optimize Content With Relevant, Long-Tail Keywords
Focus on integrating long-tail keywords into your web copy, meta tags, headers (H1 and H2), and business listings. Long-tail keywords typically have lower competition and higher conversion potential because they target users with specific search intents.
Enhance Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
A fully optimized GBP can significantly boost your rankings. Make sure to:
- Provide accurate and complete business details, including your name, address, phone number, website URL, and hours of operation.
- Use relevant categories that match your services.
- Add high-quality images of your business, products, and team.
- Regularly update your GBP with posts about offers, events, and news.
- Respond promptly to customer reviews and questions, incorporating relevant keywords where possible.
Encourage Customer Reviews
Customer reviews not only help build credibility but also contribute to your rankings. Proactively request reviews from satisfied customers, and respond to both positive and negative feedback professionally. Positive reviews increase trust and can make your business stand out in search results.
Build and Manage Local Citations
Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) information across various local directories signals to search engines that your business is legitimate. Focus on building citations in trusted, high-quality directories and ensure your business information is accurate across all platforms.
Publish Local Content Regularly
Creating locally relevant content is a powerful way to connect with your community. Some ideas for local content include:
- Local guides (e.g., best things to do in your area)
- Local news and updates
- Customer success stories or testimonials
- Community involvement and partnerships
Publishing and pitching this content to local media can help you earn backlinks and drive more traffic to your site.
Get Tangible Local SEO Results by Partnering with Local SEO Guy | Umer Farooq
Local SEO is a long-term strategy, but with consistent effort, the results are well worth it. While it can take six months to a year to see tangible results, the key is consistency and strategic implementation.
Local SEO encompasses many elements, including keyword research, link building, content creation, and reputation management. Without a comprehensive, targeted SEO plan, you risk falling behind aggressive competitors who are vying for the same local market.
Partnering with Local SEO Guy | Umer Farooq can help streamline your local SEO efforts and ensure you’re executing the right strategies. We offer a results-driven approach with tailored solutions to boost your local online presence and generate leads. From conducting in-depth SEO audits to crafting customized campaigns, we are committed to helping your business succeed.
Contact Local SEO Guy | Umer Farooq today to learn more about how we can help you outrank your competitors and drive more local traffic to your website.
