Local SEO / SEO Terms Local SEO Local SEO (search engine optimisation) is the practice of optimising a business’s online presence to improve visibility in local search results. It focuses on helping organisations appear when people search for products, services or causes near them. Local SEO is especially important for brick-and-mortar businesses, service-area companies and nonprofits with a physical presence, as well as for national brands with local branches. Key elements of local SEO include optimising your Google Business Profile, ensuring consistent name, address and phone number (NAP) information across directories, gathering reviews and using location-specific keywords on your website. Other important tactics include building local backlinks, adding schema markup and creating content that reflects community engagement or service areas. For example, a nonprofit food bank in Toronto might optimise for searches like “food donations Toronto” or “volunteer opportunities near me.” Strong local SEO improves your chances of appearing in Google’s local pack, map results and geographically targeted organic listings. This can lead to increased website visits, phone calls, store visits or donations from local supporters. For nonprofits, local SEO makes it easier for people to find events, services and impact stories in their area. For B2B or service-based businesses, it supports lead generation within specific regions. Whether your goal is more foot traffic, appointment bookings or community engagement, local SEO helps you connect with people when and where it matters most.