Building local SEO outside your core location means creating unique location pages. Also, optimizing Google Business Profiles, acquiring local backlinks, and maintaining NAP consistency can help expand visibility, rankings, and customer base beyond your main city.
Running a business in one city doesn’t mean your reach has to stop there. If you serve customers in nearby towns or want to expand into new areas, focusing solely on your “home base” SEO won’t suffice. You need to appear in searches and on maps in those other places as well. Without flooding your site with duplicate pages or thin content.
Let’s discuss one by one why local SEO matters and what it can do for you, and effective strategies for location-based SEO. Also, how Google currently handles search intent locally and the best practices to apply with smart processes.
What Local SEO Can Do for You
Local SEO is like putting your store on the map, but it’s done online and can reach more people. Best local SEO focuses on local customers to make sure that your business is the first one they see when they look for things like “outdoor blinds in Queensland” or “pool installers near Brisbane.”
Local keywords, customer reviews, and optimizing your Google Business Profile are used in this process. Outdoor living companies can reach people who want to make changes to their homes but don’t know how.
Why Expanding Local SEO Really Matters
These numbers aren’t just trivia. It should make every business owner sit up a little straighter:
- Around 46% of all Google searches are local. Nearly half of what people type into Google is tied to where they are.
- “Near me” searches happen hundreds of millions of times a month, and the number keeps climbing.
- 76% of people who search locally visit a business within 24 hours. That means most of them are ready to take action right away.
- Reviews matter. 78% of people skip businesses rated under 4 stars. And 62% won’t bother if the hours or address are wrong.
So what do these stats tell us? Two things. First, local searches usually come from people who are serious buyers, not window-shoppers. Second, plenty of businesses still aren’t paying attention. If you take the time to build your presence in more than just your hometown, you can scoop up traffic, leads, and sales that your competitors are ignoring.
Key Concepts & Terms
If you’re serious about showing up in searches outside your main or core city, there are a handful of ideas you’ll need to get straight.
First is location-based SEO. That simply means tweaking your site so people in other areas can actually find you.
Then there’s SEO for multiple locations. This comes into play when your business has more than one branch or storefront, and you need each one to stand out on its own in search results.
You’ll also hear about location pages (sometimes called city pages or service-area pages). These are dedicated spots on your website where you talk about the work you do in a specific town, zip code, or region.
Next up is the Google Business Profile, or GBP. That’s the official listing you see on Maps and in search results. Each physical location needs one.
And finally, NAP consistency. Your name, address, and phone number should look exactly the same wherever they’re listed online. Even small differences can throw things off.
7 Effective Strategies: How to Build Local SEO Outside Your Core Location
Here’s a practical playbook. These are the moves that separate businesses that dominate local search from those that barely show up.
1. Choose Your Target Locations Wisely
Do not take on too much. You should choose the cities, towns, or regions where you can really fight and do a good job for your customers. Focus on places where people want to buy, not just places where you’d like to rank.
Do some research before you jump in. Check out the websites of people who already rank well for local keywords and see what kind of reviews they have. You know what you’re up against and what you need to do to stand out after reading that.
2. Make Pages For Each Location
It’s no longer enough to list every service area on a single page today. Every market should have its own page. Personalize them by including pictures of the neighborhood, testimonials from people who live there, or events that are happening in that place. Don’t forget to include the basics, such as the address, phone number, hours, and even parking tips if applicable.
A map is useful. Search engines can read the information better if you use schema markup. Add the location naturally to titles and meta descriptions as well. Use smart internal links to connect these pages and make it all fit together.
3. Make A Google Business Profile For Each Area
Local SEO runs on your Google Business Profile. Each of your physical places needs its own verified profile if you have more than one. Make a Service Area Business page instead if you don’t have a storefront but cater to a certain area. The most important thing is that your name, address, phone number, and hours are always correct.
Post new pictures, updates, and content to keep it engaging. These reviews are gold. Customers should be asked to leave comments about the places they’ve visited, as this builds trust and visibility on Maps.
4. Do Research On Local Keywords And Write Content That Fits Your Needs
You can’t move up in a new place unless you can talk to the people there in their language. Look for searches that include “service + city” that match what people are looking for. Like “best bakery in Austin” or “plumber in Chicago.” Don’t forget about the “near me” crowd; they’re looking harder than ever.
When you use these words, make sure they don’t feel crammed in. Make it even better by writing guides or posts that are special to your city, like “5 Tips for Homeowners in Atlanta” or “Where to Get Reliable Car Repairs in Phoenix.” It helps people and lets Google know you’re serious about that market.
5. Build Backlinks And Citations In Your Area
You can’t become an authority in a new place unless the people there tell you what to do. First, make sure that your business is listed in area directories that people can trust. Your NAP (name, address, and phone number) must be the same everywhere.
After that, look for local links, like those from chambers of commerce, neighborhood blogs, news sites, or even events you’ve sponsored in your area. Backlinks like these let Google know that you’re from the area and give people more reasons to trust you.
6. Make Technical And On-Page Seo Tighter
Even if you have the best location plan, it won’t help if your site is hard to use. If you want people to find you locally, your site needs to be quick, flexible, and simple to use on phones. Use clean URLs that clearly indicate the page’s content, such as/location/city/service. Do not copy and paste the same text onto every page.
Every spot should feel like a helpful hub that has everything someone in that city needs. Search engines can check that you are who you say you are, where you are, and what you do when you add local business data.
7. Follow, Measure, And Make Changes
If you don’t measure it, you can’t make it better. With a local rank tracker, you can see where you stand in each area. Take a look at the information in your Google Business Profile. Calls, requests for directions, and site visits are all useful data. Review the traffic sources in Google Analytics to determine if the pages for each location are attracting the intended audience.
Following the money is the most important thing to do. Keep track of how many leads or sales come from outside your main city. Do more of what works once you know it. Change something until it starts to work if it’s not working.
[A business using these kinds of proven strategies typically sees improved ranking in the Local Pack, more calls and visits from outside their core location, and better ROI. As the leading SEO agency, we can help you achieve outstanding results in the core area. Always staying ahead of your competitors.]
How Google Handles “Local Search Intent”
How does Google find “searcher intent” and handle it? What patterns, words, and phrases tell Google that the searcher wants local information, services, or goods instead of content that isn’t specific to a place?
Three types of queries typically result in local SERP results. The searcher can use any or all of these, and Google may interpret the search intent differently based on the type.
Non-Geo Modified: When someone performs a keyword search with just the word or phrase they want, there is no indication of where the results are located. For example, searching for “solar installer” and “insulation” without adding a city or town name would show that the person doing the search wants results in their area. This doesn’t mean that non-geo personalized searches won’t return local results.
Geo-Modified: A keyword search that includes a name or term that is specific to a place. “Portland insulation provider” or “Portland solar installer” are two examples. Google considers “geo-modified” searches as having “explicit intent,” so the SERP is likely to display local results tailored to the searched location rather than the searcher’s location.
This preference doesn’t work if the searcher types “near me” instead of “in [city].” When people use “near me” or similar terms, Google knows they want results that are close to them.
Geo-Location: If a searcher has “location services” enabled on their device, the search provider can display results based on the searcher’s current location. The SERP may favor closeness if no manual geo-modifier is used.
[Even searches that aren’t geo-modified may still be considered “geo-location” searches by Google if the user hasn’t set their device’s privacy and location services settings to stop apps and software from sharing their physical position. This is called “implicit intent.” This means that most searches are now “local searches.”]
Pitfalls to Avoid
A few traps are easy to fall into. The big one is duplicate content. Copy-pasting the same wording across every location page. Search engines see that as lazy and won’t reward it.
Another is ignoring local intent. If your copy sounds like it could be about any city in the world, it won’t resonate. Adding details about neighborhoods, landmarks, or even local quirks makes a huge difference.
Inconsistent NAP info is another killer. One site says “Ave.” while another says “Avenue”? Believe it or not, that can cause confusion.
And last, don’t make the mistake of putting all your weight on your Google Business Profile. It’s important, sure, but if you skip building real content, local links, and credibility in the community, you’ll only get so far.
Example Outline: How to Apply This
If you’re a business owner in the US and want to improve your local SEO outside of your main city, here is a plan you might follow:
| Phase | Action Steps | Key Focus |
| Research & Setup | Choose 3 nearby cities or ZIP codes. Do keyword research. Check competitors. Update Google Business Profiles (or service area profiles). | Target locations with clear demand. |
| Build Location Pages | Create unique city pages with local info, photos, and useful details. Use clean URLs, schema markup, and mobile-friendly design. | Strong, user-friendly city pages. |
| Listings & Reviews | Ensure Name, Address, Phone (NAP) consistency. Claim directory profiles. Collect and manage reviews actively. | Build trust and credibility. |
| Local Content & Links | Publish location-specific blogs/guides. Partner with local press, events, or businesses for backlinking. | Increase authority and local relevance. |
| Track & Adjust | Use ranking trackers, Google Business Profile insights, and Analytics by location. Measure calls, visits, leads, and sales. | Monitor results, refine strategy. |
Best Practices to Keep in Mind
- Always focus on the customer first; accuracy, helpfulness, and trust always beat shortcuts.
- Use the idea of “building local SEO outside your main city” as your north star.
- Keep your information consistent across all online platforms.
- Avoid spammy tricks. Google catches them, and customers don’t like them either.
- Be patient. Results build up over weeks and months, not overnight.
If you want to avoid these hassles, consider hiring or working with professionals like us through our local SEO service and see results. Get reliable SEO for a local business today.
Get started Today
Expanding your reach beyond your home city isn’t optional anymore. Customers are searching “near me” in every zip code, and if you’re not visible, someone else will be. By building strong location pages, optimizing your Google Business Profile, and engaging with the local community through content and links, you’ll not only reach more people but also establish a genuine competitive edge.
Virtual is here to build local seo outside your core location, with an effective strategy. Get a free consultation now, and discuss the possibilities.
What Tools Help Track Multi-Location SEO Performance?
If you have more than one site, you’ll need tools to track the performance of each one. Google Business Profile Insights, Search Console, and Analytics should be used first. They give a great breakdown of traffic and sight. For more in-depth tracking, BrightLocal, Whitespark, and Semrush can look at city phrase rankings, citation issues, and competitors. The mix of free and paid tools makes things clearer.
Do Service Area Businesses Need Physical Addresses?
Not all the time. Google allows businesses in specific service areas to define their service areas by city or zip code, rather than a physical shop location. It’s usually better to list your actual office. Google gives honest companies more visibility and trust from customers.
How Do Local Citations Impact Multiple Locations?
A citation is the name, location, and phone number of your business that can be found in directories and on websites. Many people don’t realize the importance they hold. Single-location uniformity is very important. It’s more important in a few places. This list should be accurate and consistent across all branches. Ranks go down if facts don’t match up on Google. When they line up, though, each branch gets authority.
How Often Should Location Pages Be Updated?
Location pages should be live parts of your site, not ones that don’t change. A range of 3-6 months is a good timeframe. Post pictures, information about staff, customer comments, and reports on local events. Google views small updates as new, and customers perceive them as members of a group working together. To prevent losing conversions, it pays to adjust the hours and content.
What Is The Biggest Mistake In Multi-Location SEO?
The biggest mistake is putting the same information on multiple city pages. Google and customers both see it right away. Each place page should feel different, like a branch minisite. Offer area reviews, introductions to staff, and custom services. More people will interact with and put the page higher if it talks to the community.