Is your local competitor always showing up first when nearby customers search for “[your service] near me”? You’re not just missing leads—you’re leaving tangible revenue on the table.
As a local SEO consultant, I work with a small number of businesses to build and execute long-term strategies that dominate neighborhoods, Google Maps, and even AI platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity. No bloated retainers. No outsourced fluff. Just a roadmap that gets results.
What Is Hyper‑Local SEO?
Hyper-local SEO is the practice of optimizing your business for extremely specific geographic areas—often a neighborhood, a street, or a cluster of ZIP codes. These micro-targeted queries are gold: they often come from customers ready to act.
I’ve seen firsthand how dialing in on those high-intent, location-based searches can completely transform a business’s inbound traffic. That’s what I help you do—whether you’re launching a new location, stuck with inconsistent rankings, or tired of agencies delivering empty reports.
How Google and AI Choose Local Winners
Search engines like Google still use the basics: relevance, distance, and prominence. But platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews are changing how people discover local businesses.
Today’s AI-driven search pulls from:
- Structured data on your site
- Consistent branding across platforms
- Reviews that show trust and expertise
- Clear business entities and relationships
I design strategies that hit both fronts: the traditional local pack and the emerging AI results that are already shaping buying decisions.
What I Look at First (and Why)
Every local project starts with a deep audit of these foundational elements:
- NAP Consistency: I make sure your Name, Address, and Phone are identical everywhere online. Even minor mismatches cause major trust issues for Google.
- Citation Cleanup: I map where your listings are wrong, outdated, or missing entirely—and give you a fix plan.
- Review Velocity & Quality: I help build systems to get more high-quality reviews that mention services, staff, and neighborhoods.
- Local Backlinks: I identify real local link opportunities—community blogs, sponsorships, media mentions—that boost your neighborhood authority.
- Structured Data & Entity Signals: I implement the right schema (LocalBusiness, Service, FAQ, etc.) to help AI models and Google understand exactly who you are and what you offer.
Finding Hyper-Local Keyword Gaps (Block by Block)
Hyper-local searches don’t always show up in keyword tools—so I dig deeper. Here’s how:
- Ahrefs & Semrush for base keyword discovery
- Google Search Console for actual local queries your site already ranks for
- Geo-grid tools like Local Falcon or Local Viking to map how visible you are block-by-block
Then I turn that data into a neighborhood-specific keyword map, showing what content to create or fix—and where you can beat competitors.
My Google Business Profile (GBP) Playbook
Your GBP isn’t a listing. It’s a conversion engine—if you use it right.
Here’s what I focus on:
- Category Optimization: I help choose the right primary and secondary categories based on your services and what’s ranking.
- Geo-tagged Photos: These reinforce your location relevance and improve visual engagement.
- Q&A Section: I write and pre-answer high-intent local questions to capture visibility and trust.
- UTM Tracking: I set up clean links so you can see exactly what traffic, leads, and actions are coming from your GBP.
How I Optimize Local Websites
Your website still matters—a lot. But most local businesses underuse it. Here’s how I turn it into a real asset:
- Location-Specific Landing Pages: I recommend and structure robust pages for each neighborhood or service zone. No fluff. Just what converts.
- AI-Friendly Content & Schema: I add schema and FAQs that answer real-world questions people ask—so your content appears in AI Overviews and direct answers.
- Core Web Vitals: I make sure your site loads fast, performs well on mobile, and supports “near me” conversions.
Building Local Authority (Not Just Links)
If you’re not mentioned or linked in your local area, search engines won’t see you as a trusted choice. I fix that:
- Citation Building & Cleanup: I submit or correct your listings across all major and niche directories to ensure full NAP consistency.
- Local Backlink Outreach: I find real, local opportunities—think event sponsorships, interviews, press mentions—and help you earn links that Google actually values.
- Unstructured Mentions: I guide you in turning partnerships, sponsorships, and events into mention-worthy assets.
- Review Strategy That Works: I craft location-specific prompts that drive detailed, keyword-rich reviews on autopilot.
Tracking What Matters (Without Guessing)
You can’t improve what you can’t measure. I set up the systems that show you where your results are coming from:
- Geo-Grid Rank Tracking: See how visible you are by ZIP code or neighborhood.
- UTM Links: I apply campaign tagging to GBP and other assets so you can attribute form fills, calls, and visits properly.
- Looker Studio Dashboards: Visual, live dashboards so you or your team always know what’s working.
- AI Mention Monitoring: I track if—and how—your brand appears in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other AI search results.
Consultant vs. Agency: What You’re Really Getting
I don’t run an agency. I work with a limited number of clients to build and execute a hyper-local SEO strategy that drives long-term visibility.
You get:
- A hands-on consultant, not an account manager
- A strategy built for your business—not a recycled playbook
- Clear priorities, fast feedback loops, and ongoing support
- Visibility on Google, Maps, and emerging AI channels
This means no cookie-cutter solutions, no bloated reports—just expert insight and execution support tailored to your market.
FAQs
How soon will I see results?
Most clients see traction in 30–60 days, with more significant growth over 3–6 months depending on their market and competition.
Can I rank in more than one neighborhood?
Yes, with the right content strategy, reviews, and local links. I’ll show you how to structure it properly.
Do I need a physical address?
Not necessarily. I’ve helped service-area businesses rank without a storefront—by defining their zones and building local trust signals.
Can AI platforms like ChatGPT really drive leads?
Yes. I monitor AI mentions and help clients get cited in AI-generated search results by optimizing their site, schema, and brand entity structure.
Ready to Own Your Neighborhood?
If your business should be the obvious choice when someone nearby searches, I’ll help you get there—with a clear strategy, precise execution, and long-term growth in mind.