Top 30 Local SEO Blogs To Help You Up Your SEO Skills (And Get More Work)
Sick of reading blog posts about local SEO only to find you learned nothing useful?
We get it, separating the wheat from the chaff can be tough (and time-consuming), but there is plenty of free info available online when it comes to local SEO— you just have to know where to look.
As local SEO strategies change, keeping up with the right local SEO blogs can help you stay on top of trends and drive high-quality traffic to your site. Even better, this traffic comes from your local area and is made up of customers looking for YOUR products and services.
That’s like having quality leads on tap – and we’ll show you how to turn that tap on any time you like.
Because we’ve scoured the web to find the 30 BEST local SEO blogs you need to keep an eye on.
You don’t need to waste your weekends comparing blogs and articles because we’ve done it for you. Even better, we’ll explain how each of these blogs can help you improve your local SEO to target high-quality local searchers.
“What is Local SEO and why is it important?”
Great question, let’s dive into a quick refresher…
SEO is about improving your online visibility to bring in more traffic through Google. This traffic could come from your city, a city on the other side of the country, or a city on the other side of the world.
Local SEO is more, well, local.
Instead of targeting traffic from everywhere, local SEO is about bringing in traffic through local searches, typically your surrounding suburbs and postcodes.
This is crucial for service-related businesses like plumbers, roofers, painters and so on. You don’t want leads from across the country because they’ll never become customers, but leads from people needing help in your local area are super valuable.
In short, if you service a particular area or have a physical location for people to visit, local SEO needs to be a part of your online strategy.
The 30 Best Local SEO Blogs You Need to Follow Today
If you’ve ever Googled ‘local SEO’ you already know there is enough content, articles and blogs to keep you busy from now until 2035, but we’re not going to throw random blogs at you and tell you to find needles of value in haystacks of content.
We’ve already spent time whittling down this list so every entry is laser-focused on some aspect of local SEO.
Wherever you are on your local SEO journey, the quality of the articles and news these sites provide make them instant bookmarks.
#1 – BrightLocal Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: BrightLocal’s blog provides regular updates based on extensive experience to help you build, refine, or redesign your online resources for better local SEO results.
The BrightLocal team is big on practical solutions so you won’t be sitting in a virtual classroom. Instead, their blog will teach you bite-sized nuggets of knowledge like:
- How to generate reviews for your business
- How to speed up your website
- How to make your Google My Business (GMB) listing more clickable
If it helps make you a more appealing choice for local customers, you’ll find the tips and tricks here.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- The Ultimate Free Business Directory List for the USA
- Local SEO: The Complete Guide
- How to Add or Claim Your Citysearch Business Listing
#2 – Whitespark Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: Whitespark’s Blog is a must-visit for those with a bit of SEO experience already, as there’s a ton of in-depth writing to work through.
Just click on their “Local SEO” tag to browse the archive of local SEO articles that offer creative local SEO tips like ‘Do Fiverr citations help with local rankings” or “How to get more photos on your GMB listing”.
Thanks to their myth-busting articles, they also serve as a valuable counterpoint to the common local SEO myths that plenty of business owners believe without knowing what is and isn’t supported by the evidence.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Everything You Need to Know About Google My Business Posts
- Why Did Google Remove Some of My Reviews?
- 39 comments on “How to Remove Fake Google Reviews
#3 – Sterling Sky Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: Do you love data? Then you’ll love the Sterling Sky Blog.
Keeping up with changes in how search engines rank local pages is important, but wrapping your mind around data analytics and bigger-picture concepts is critical too.
Sterling Sky’s blog features case studies and other analytical-driven research to help you develop a more holistic view of local SEO. We love how they’re able to convert complex ideas into actionable concepts – for example, ‘50 examples of Google penalizing keyword stuffing’.
Blogs like this give you theory, then show you how to move forward and apply each strategy yourself.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- How do I Contact Google My Business Support?
- Why You Should Embed a Google Map on Your Website
- [2020] The Ultimate Guide to Fighting Spam on Google Maps
#4 – Advice Local Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: If there’s one word to encapsulate Advice Local’s blog, it’s data.
Make sure to check out their in-depth, data-heavy articles for proven insight to guide your local SEO efforts.
Extensive GMB studies and research help you understand these essential elements of effective SEO, and can help you elevate your own GMB from a brochure-style business card to an engaging and interactive business listing that makes people think “wow, I need to get in touch with this awesome business”.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- What are Data Aggregators? A Look at How Local Business Data Gets Distributed Online
- How to Add Your Business to Hotfrog |Local Site Submit
- 5 thoughts on “How To Add A Listing To Insider Pages
WHY WE LOVE IT: Local Visibility System’s blog primarily features articles by Phil Rozek – an internationally-recognized expert on local SEO.
Even better, his writing style makes SEO concepts easy to digest so this blog is great for beginners and intermediate SEO levels alike.
Guest articles also ensure you have plenty to read and since each blog is endorsed by a recognized SEO expert, you know you’re in safe hands. Expect to find articles will help you upgrade your Google My Business skills and Google Maps ranking – both of which are key to attracting more local leads.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- How to Add a Free CitySearch Business Listing (Temporary Solution)
- Now You Can Fix Your Yahoo Local Listing without Paying for Yext
- Ultimate List of Review Widgets and Badges for Your Local Business Website
WHY WE LOVE IT: One of Rio SEO’s primary goals is to simplify complex local marketing concepts, and their blog shows that their dedication has paid off.
Thanks to their combination of news, clear explanations of complex topics, and easy-to-follow guides, Rio SEO can help those at all experience levels.
Don’t miss out on their monthly review of 500,000 local businesses to know how industry-specific trends are evolving, as it helps you know how your site is performing compared to similar businesses.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- How to Optimize for the Google Local 3-Pack
- How does the new Google My Business Agency Dashboard impact me and my business?
- Businesses May Now Respond to Google Reviews Again After Temporary Hiatus
WHY WE LOVE IT: Inspiration is a key element of success in local SEO, and SearchLab’s blog provides clever, actionable ideas to spur your creativity.
We also love the simplicity of their approach with articles like ‘Learn everything you need to know about SEO in 2 minutes”. For a complex subject, who wouldn’t be keen to check out an article like that?!
The team at SearchLab makes local SEO super digestible with plenty of videos, so there’s no need to strain your eyes for hours. Or, try listening to their “Suds & Search” podcast as part of your regular weekly schedule; their interviews are fun and insightful.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Which categories should car dealers choose in GMB?
- Google announces plan to retire Target CPA and Target ROAS bidding strategies
- How to set up GMB department listings
#8 – Staylisted Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: Staylisted has a focus on local SEO topics that makes their blog a wonderful resource for small to medium businesses in all industries.
- How to use local publications to earn quality backlinks
- Top 3 video content tips for small businesses
- Top 3 video content tips for small businesses
These types of articles are HUGE since 46% of all searches are for local businesses, so finding ways to become more visible is key to bringing in more leads.
Furthermore, the Staylisted blog offers advice for combining your local SEO with other local-focused means of reaching customers, like distributing flyers. Local SEO demands a multi-faceted approach, so check out their articles to ensure you’re covering all your bases.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- What is a Google My Business Listing and Do I Need One?
- 7 Customer Tracking Techniques You Should Implement Right Now
- 10. Google My Business Listing Suspensions 101
#9 – Semrush Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: We’re in the Big Leagues now.
SemRush is a titan of the SEO world, but thankfully the local SEO articles on Semrush’s blog focus on providing basic information that any business owner can apply.
Whether you’re new or experienced in local SEO, their simple explanations give you a solid foundation of SEO knowledge to ensure you’re on the right path on your local SEO journey.
Adding even more value, their scope of topics cover reputation and traffic management (like “27 Free and Paid Local Business Directories”) through to more theoretical (like “How to do local SEO keyword research in 2021).
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Top 100: The Most Visited Websites in the US [2021 Top Websites Edition]
- How To Do a Reverse Image Search (Desktop and Mobile)
- Top Google Searches and Trending Keywords in 2020
#10 – Ahrefs Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: The Ahrefs blog is a no-nonsense introduction to local SEO that’s refreshingly clear.
Expect to find a series of articles and guides in the form of detailed tutorials for you to follow and implement, as well as case studies to show what type of results your local SEO strategies can deliver.
Make sure to check out their videos too, which are great for both beginners and SEO veterans looking for a refresher. Sometimes getting back to the basics is what you need for effective local SEO, and Ahrefs’ guides give you a clear and strong plan to follow.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Top Google Searches (2021)
- Affiliate Marketing for Beginners: 7 Steps to Success
- 10 Free Keyword Research Tools (That Aren’t Google Keyword Planner)
#11 – The Moz Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: In addition to providing timely SEO news and updates, The Moz Blog also features excellent categorization, making it easy to find what you’re looking for.
Just click on the “Local SEO” category to find a wealth of helpful local SEO articles, and feel free to check out their other categories while you’re there if you want to level up your broader digital marketing knowledge.
Moz provides plenty of numbered lists within their blogs so you can form your own actionable checklist for improving your web resources.
We highly recommend checking out the ‘Local SEO Checklist’ for a broad overview of what you need to do, but more importantly, how you need to do it.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Beginner’s Guide to SEO [Search Engine Optimization]
- What is SEO? Search Engine Optimization 2021
- SEO 101: What is it, and why is it important? The Beginner’s Guide to SEO
#12 – Search Engine Journal
WHY WE LOVE IT: Frequent news and information updates, combined with helpful videos, make Search Engine Journal a great option for honing your local SEO skills.
Search Engine Journal is a trusted online resource for all things SEO, and their local SEO articles are thorough yet easy to read (because no one wants to struggle through endless marketing jargon and buzzwords).
As a bonus, their broad focus across all forms of SEO and digital marketing can help inspire you to try out new ways of complementing your local SEO efforts with other marketing strategies.
Imagine getting more site traffic, growing your brand online, increasing your leads and improving your conversion rate…with Search Engine Land’s wide range of topics, you can.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- 17 Great Search Engines You Can Use Instead of Google
- 25 of the Best Examples of Effective FAQ Pages
- The 11 Best Image Search Engines
#13 – Yoast SEO Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: A combination of audio interviews, tutorial-like local SEO guides, and other content make Yoast’s SEO blog a resource well worth exploring.
If you didn’t already know, Yoast is the extremely popular SEO plugin for WordPress and with WordPress powering north of 39.5% of ALL websites, that makes Yoast plenty popular.
Yoast’s topics provide an organized way to absorb content so you won’t be jumping from one idea to the next without a clear roadmap of where to go, and their focus on Google and its algorithms ensures you’re getting cutting edge tips to rank for more local searches.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Transition words: why and how to use them • Yoast
- How to create the right meta description • Yoast
- What is local SEO? • SEO for beginners • Yoast
#14 – Search Engine Land
WHY WE LOVE IT: With multiple posts every day, Search Engine Land provides ample reading material to keep you busy.
Their regular news feed keeps you up to date on the latest in local SEO, so if there’s a new feature added to GMB, or a change in the way Google ranks local businesses, you’ll know about it.
We recommend visiting regularly to ensure you aren’t missing out on important news while evolving your local SEO strategy. As local SEO is constantly changing, Search Engine Land’s blog is a must-read destination.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- What Is SEO / Search Engine Optimization?
- How To Use Google To Search
- Google Search may be showing featured snippets less often
#15 – Backlinko
WHY WE LOVE IT: Founded by well-known and highly accomplished SEO expert Brian Dean, Backlinko delivers an informative newsletter popular among established entrepreneurs and those new to SEO.
Backlinko was more of a traditional blog though the entire library of content is now available to email subscribers only. This is less a chore and more an example of how Brian and the Backlinko team are constantly innovating (something also required to stand out when applying local SEO strategies).
Because the newsletter is so influential, you’ll want to subscribe to receive each new local SEO article as it drops. This will help you spot which local SEO ideas and trends are likely to rise in popularity and dominate the online conversation – that way you can apply them before your competition.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Creating YouTube Channel Art
- What Are SERPs and Why Are They Important for SEO? [Here’s the Answer]
- YouTube SEO: How to Rank YouTube Videos in 2021
#16 – Search Engine Roundtable
WHY WE LOVE IT: With its newspaper-like design, Search Engine Roundtable offers a pleasant interface that’s easy to digest, and when SEO can be dryer than freshly dried clothes, easy-to-consume content is priceless.
One of the most active SEO blogs online, Search Engine Roundtable is a great site to bookmark and check out when looking for insight and inspiration for upgrading your local SEO skills.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Google Blink HTML Easter Egg Also Works On Query Refinements
- Google Redirects Some Quality Raters Guidelines To New URL
- Google’s Matt Cutts Slams whocalld.com Over Phone Number
#17 – Search Engine Watch
WHY WE LOVE IT: Search Engine Watch provides a 30-second summary of each of its articles, helping you cover the basic facts before delving deeper (which is a God send for busy business owners).
Also of note are their downloadable whitepapers, which help you gain the in-depth knowledge needed to develop your own unique, and effective, local SEO strategies.
While many of the local SEO blogs on this list focus on niche local SEO strategies, whether that’s a specific optimization tweak to your GMB or a change in local keyword research, Search Engine Watch encourages you to constantly up your strategy from a holistic point of view.
Articles like “Where do you take your marketing strategy from here?” are for the big-picture business owners who aren’t just adding local keywords to land a few more clicks from surrounding postcodes, but who plan on transforming their online marketing to become more successful than ever.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- SEO basics: 22 essentials you need for optimizing your site
- A quick and easy guide to meta tags in SEO
- Which is the best search engine for finding images?
#18 – Seer Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: Seer’s blog covers a lot of topics, with plenty of personal articles, but their local SEO content is excellent.
It’s worth noting the Seer approach is HIGHLY analytical, so you’ll see plenty of articles for business owners keen on programming and coding as well as more traditional local SEO approaches.
Try limiting posts by the ‘SEO category’ if you want to avoid the overly technical stuff. Of course, when you’re ready to learn programmatic SEO and other advanced topics, their blog will serve as a powerful foundation.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- The Johari Window: A Simple Exercise to Improve Your One-on-One Meetings
- How to Find Your Sitemap
- 3 Free Alternatives to Keywords Everywhere
#19 – Cognitive SEO Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: In-depth SEO articles with plenty of visual elements make Cognitive SEO’s blog a compelling visit.
We’re also big fans of the highly active comment sections that provide a place for authors to further explain their reasoning to readers. This is crucial because tons of local SEO articles can leave you thinking “huh, how does that apply to MY business?”.
But with authors regularly interacting with readers, you can get tailored advice for your local SEO problems, whether that’s a lack of traffic or being squeezed out of the rankings by competing businesses.
You’ll also come across experiment-like feature posts that can inspire you to try out some unconventional but innovative local SEO approaches.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Affordable SEO Services for Small Business – The 2021 List
- SEO Writing for Copywriters → The Ultimate Guide
- Cracking Facebook SEO – Optimization Tips That Win Higher Page Rankings
#20 – SEOPressor Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: On the SEOPressor’s blog, you’ll find articles that focus on core concepts to help you advance your SEO skills – with the ability to filter blog posts to local SEO if you want to stay on topic.
Although the SEOPressor blog isn’t updated aren’t as frequently as other blogs online, their articles focus on common mistakes that were applicable last year, this year, and more than likely next year.
Local SEO isn’t always about doing things right – it’s also about avoiding doing things wrong, and this blog can help you avoid common local SEO pitfalls.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Blog Title Generator « SEOPressor – WordPress SEO Plugin
- HTTP vs HTTPS: The Difference And Everything You Need To Know
- 21 Inspiring & Best Mobile Website Design « SEOPressor – WordPress SEO Plugin
#21 – GatherUp Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: At four updates a month, GatherUp’s blog isn’t the most prolific, but their focus on making the most of customer interaction helps you improve your local SEO efforts.
Why? Because user signals are a HUGE part of local SEO – we’re talking about reviews, GMB clicks, map direction requests and so on.
And the GatherUp blog is all about building relationships with your customers. This includes earning 5-star reviews, handling customer complaints, gathering customer insights through surveys and more.
In short, following their guides will make your customers happier and more likely to leave helpful positive reviews – and those are going to boost your local SEO in a BIG way.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- 3 Ways to Find the Google Review Link URL for Your Business
- Study Shows Perfect 5 Star Review Ratings Aren’t Best
- A Big Change To Facebook Reviews, 5-Star Reviews Are Now Recommendations
#22 – Raven Tools Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: Though still a blog, Raven Tools provides a variety of organized guides to get your local SEO efforts off to a strong start.
Bookmark some of their entries for times when you feel like really sinking your teeth into in-depth material to further develop your strategies. The blog is designed to teach all business owners, from beginner to advanced including a highly recommended “Local SEO Checklist” to help you move the needle on your local search goals.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Rank and Rent: Local SEO Without The Clients (The Beginner’s Guide) – The Raven Blog
- How to Audit your Website: An SEO Beginners Guide
- Bing Rank Tracker: How to Check Bing Rankings & Why You Should
#23 – Traject Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: In addition to solid SEO guidance, the Traject blog also contains a host of interviews with SEO experts so you get a personal, authentic feel rather than dry info splashed on the page.
Their audio interviews are great for learning while away from your computer, whether on the commute to work or relaxing on the couch after a long day. By listening to a broad range of opinions you can learn to craft new and powerful techniques to help boost your local search engine rankings.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Compare Search Engines: Google vs. DuckDuckGo vs. Bing
- 13 Types of Search Results You Need to Know About
- How You’ll Benefit From White Label Social Media Management
#24 – The Builtvisible Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: Click on the SEO category on the Builtvisible blog for informative posts about SEO topics with a focus on actionable strategies.
Plenty of local SEO blogs are well-informed, but a blog like this that comes packed with tips and tricks you can apply instantly is priceless. Their articles do cover many advanced techniques, like maximizing your link profile or using excel formulas to track your SEO results, but if you’re ready to up your game these blogs can help you separate your content from the local competition.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- How to download, install and use WGET in Windows 10
- How to Use VLOOKUP in Microsoft Excel (versions: 365, 2019, 2016 and 2013)
- Customer Value: What it Means & Why It’s Important
#25 – Robbie Richard’s Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: SEO expert Robbie Richard’s blog shares bite-sized articles that get down to the facts without any fluff.
If your goal is to find actionable content, especially content related to building links and keyword research for your local SEO efforts, make sure to pay his blog a visit. This is crucial because links are often overlooked as a more traditional SEO tactic, but the right link building strategy can spike local search results, and Robbie will show you how.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- 70 Experts Reveal Best Keyword Rank Tracker (With Leaderboard)
- Check How Much Traffic A Website Gets: 3-Step Analysis (with TEMPLATE)
- 6 Best SERP Tracking Tools for 2020 [In-Depth Review]
#26 – SEO by the Sea
WHY WE LOVE IT: Bill Slawski’s SEO blog goes into the nitty-gritty of search engines and rankings, so prepare for detail.
Spartan graphical elements provide clarity, and Bill regularly answers questions in the comment section so there’s a give-and-take that elevates these blogs above your standard articles.
In general, Bill’s insights focus on the underbelly of Google’s algorithm and how it works, so while you won’t find your stock-standard local SEO tips here, you will understand what’s happening under the hood at Google, which provides a strong base for future local SEO strategies.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
WHY WE LOVE IT: News and insightful analysis typify Marie Haynes’ blog.
While some of the topics aren’t particularly beginner-friendly, her clear writing style and insight mean you should check her blog out on occasion. The information she offers about Google will help hone your focus on local SEO.
For example, articles on the importance of user intent represent the future of keyword research and content writing, and when you get in on the ground floor with info like this, you’ll have the advantage over every other business in your local area.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Google Algorithm Update History – Penguin, Panda and more
- An intensive analysis of the May 2020 Google Core Update by MHC
- The September 27 – early October algorithm update was likely about Google’s ability to assess trust
#28 – Lion Zeal Blog
WHY WE LOVE IT: The Lion Zeal blog features sparse updates, but their SEO guides, audits, and case studies are well worth reading and often surprising. Who doesn’t enjoy seeing how local SEO strategies have worked for businesses just like yours???
A visit to the Lion Zeal blog and you’ll walk away with a better understanding of how to leverage data to improve your local SEO performance.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Beginners to Advanced Guide to Building a PBN in 2020
- Rank and Rent: A Guide To Renting Local SEO Websites
- How I spammed my way to six figure earnings
#29 – Uberall
WHY WE LOVE IT: “Near me” searches have exploded by 200% over the past 24 months. That means more and more people are looking for “restaurants near me”, “plumbers near me”, “hair salons near me” and so on.
Uberall’s blog focuses on this trend and provides actionable tips to help your business rank when people go looking through “near me” searches. Their articles focus on the link between improving your local SEO and building your brand online for a holistic view of local search that can help you increase your rankings AND become a more trusted and sought after local business.
Win-win.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Marketing 2021: 10 Trends to Watch
- The Most Important Local Search Ranking Factors You Need To Know Now
- How to Improve the Customer Experience Through Your Local Social Pages
#30 – Tradie Digital
WHY WE LOVE IT: We’re not going to say we’ve saved the best for last, but we are including our own Tradie Digital blog on this list of the top 30 local SEO blogs you need to follow because we’re experts at helping small businesses get more local work and we’ve got plenty of blog posts and in-depth guides to prove it.
Expect to find a mixture of short and sharp answers to your local SEO questions, like “What local SEO tips should I be focusing on in 2021?” as well as comprehensive guides that take you from beginner to pro in the space of one article, like our popular ‘What is Local SEO?’ guide.
We pride ourselves on being a jargon-free local SEO resource, so if you’re sick of buzzwords and want easy-to-digest tips that actually work, our blog has everything you need.
Check out their top 3 most popular articles:
- Competing with a Company With Far More Resources Than Mine
- Do You Guarantee 1st Page Results
- Do I Need a Blog to Rank My Tradesperson Website?
Let’s recap what we’ve learned in 30 seconds
No business owner would turn down more local work.
Getting customers in your postcode – or surrounding suburbs – is how you develop your reputation and become the most trusted business in your niche. This boosts your word of mouth as more people hear about how awesome you are, and helps your bottom line as you can find better clients locally, reducing the need to stretch out your day travelling to service low-quality customers.
You’ve now got 30 of the BEST Local SEO blogs to keep track of, all full of actionable tips and practical steps to help you become more visible when people go looking for businesses in your area.
As for what’s next? Well you’ve got TWO steps to take now…Firstly, pick a local SEO tip and start applying it! There’s no time like the present and the sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll see results.
