Local SEO
By Jenny Bernarde
If you're not thinking about local link building, you're missing out on one of the most powerful ways to boost your local SEO. And if you're already doing it, are you doing it right? We recently sat down with Greg Gifford from SearchLab and Blake Denman from RicketyRoo to dive deep into the world of local link building. These two heavyweights in the SEO world shared their tried-and-true strategies for getting the kind of links that not only boost your rankings but actually drive real-world business.
Here’s what you need to know to fast-track your way to more, and better, local links.
The Basics: Start with What Works
Before you start dreaming up wild and creative link-building campaigns, you’ve got to nail the basics. Greg Gifford puts it simply: "Start local, stay local." Your first port of call should be local directories, local news outlets, and local blogs. These links might not seem glamorous, but they’re highly relevant—and relevance is the name of the game in local SEO.
Blake Denman echoed this, adding, “If you’re not listed in the top local directories for your area, you’re already behind. But once you’ve got those covered, it’s time to get creative.”
Getting Creative: Beyond the Basics
Once the basics are locked in, it’s time to step up your game. This is where the magic happens, and where you can differentiate yourself from the competition. Greg and Blake shared some of their favorite creative tactics:
1. Sponsor Local Events
Local events are a goldmine for high-quality links. Whether it’s a charity run, a local food festival, or even a high school sports team, sponsoring these events often comes with a link from the event’s website. Plus, it’s a great way to give back to the community and build brand awareness.
2. Leverage Local Partnerships
Partnering with other local businesses can be mutually beneficial. For example, a local gym might partner with a health food store, offering each other links on their respective websites. These kinds of partnerships not only help with link building but also drive actual foot traffic.
3. Create Hyper-Local Content
Greg Gifford swears by hyper-local content. "Think about what matters to people in your town or city," he says. "Create content that speaks directly to them." This could be anything from a blog post about the best parks in your city to a guide on local real estate trends. When your content resonates locally, other local sites are more likely to link to it.
4. Engage with Local Media
Local journalists are always looking for stories, and being a go-to expert in your field can lead to frequent mentions and links. Whether it’s commenting on local news, contributing expert opinions, or offering your business as a case study, getting involved with local media can earn you valuable, authoritative links.
Tailoring Strategies to Your Industry
One of the key takeaways from the session was the importance of tailoring your link-building strategy to your specific industry. For instance, what works for a local restaurant might not work for a legal firm. Greg emphasized, "Understand where your audience hangs out online. That’s where you need to be."
Blake pointed out that for service-based businesses, reviews and testimonials are crucial. “Get your customers to talk about you online, whether it’s on their blogs, social media, or even in local forums. These are all link opportunities.”
Tools of the Trade
Both experts agreed that while tools can help, they’re not a silver bullet. Greg Gifford recommended tools like Moz’s Link Explorer or Ahrefs to find potential link opportunities, but he stressed the importance of personal outreach. “You can’t automate relationship building,” he said.
Blake added that tools like BrightLocal’s Citation Tracker can help you keep track of where you’re listed and identify gaps in your local directory presence.
Wrapping It Up: Time to Get Linking
If there’s one thing to take away from Greg and Blake’s advice, it’s this: local link building is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, effort, and a bit of creativity. But when done right, the rewards are well worth it.
In a digital world where visibility is everything, GMB Fox ensures your business isn’t just online—it’s the first choice customers make. Let us handle the complexities of digital marketing, so you can focus on what truly matters: growing your business.
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