local seo guide for businesses

Local Keyword Research for Service Businesses: Finding What Your Customers Search

Local Keyword Research for Service Businesses: Finding What Your Customers Search

Local Keyword Research for Service Businesses: Finding What Your Customers Search

Discover how to find the exact search terms local customers use to find services like yours and dominate your market

Discover how to find the exact search terms local customers use to find services like yours and dominate your market

Discover how to find the exact search terms local customers use to find services like yours and dominate your market

Chapter 4: Local Keyword Research

Chapter 4: Local Keyword Research

Chapter 4: Local Keyword Research

Local keyword research is different from regular keyword research. You're not just looking for high-volume keywords, you're looking for keywords with local intent and commercial intent.

Local keyword research is different from regular keyword research. You're not just looking for high-volume keywords, you're looking for keywords with local intent and commercial intent.

Understanding Search Intent

Understanding Search Intent

Understanding Search Intent

Someone searching "how to detail a car" is researching, not buying. Someone searching "auto detailer near me" is ready to book. Focus on bottom-of-funnel keywords.

Someone searching "how to detail a car" is researching, not buying. Someone searching "auto detailer near me" is ready to book. Focus on bottom-of-funnel keywords.

The Local Keyword Formula

The Local Keyword Formula

The Local Keyword Formula

Local service keywords follow patterns:

  • [Service] near me

  • [Service] in [city]

  • Best [service] [city]

  • [Service] [neighborhood]

  • Emergency [service] [city]

  • Affordable [service] [city]

Local service keywords follow patterns:

  • [Service] near me

  • [Service] in [city]

  • Best [service] [city]

  • [Service] [neighborhood]

  • Emergency [service] [city]

  • Affordable [service] [city]

SEO isn't just about rankings — it's about building a system that works while you sleep. [Learn more about our SEO approach]

SEO isn't just about rankings — it's about building a system that works while you sleep. [Learn more about our SEO approach]

Learn More
Learn More

Finding Your Keywords

Finding Your Keywords

Finding Your Keywords

Use Google's autocomplete. Start typing your service and see what Google suggests. These are real searches people are making.


Look at "People also ask" boxes in search results. These reveal related questions and search terms.


Check "Searches related to" at the bottom of Google results pages.


Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic, or Ubersuggest to expand your keyword list.

Use Google's autocomplete. Start typing your service and see what Google suggests. These are real searches people are making.


Look at "People also ask" boxes in search results. These reveal related questions and search terms.


Check "Searches related to" at the bottom of Google results pages.


Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic, or Ubersuggest to expand your keyword list.

Competitor Keyword Analysis

Competitor Keyword Analysis

Competitor Keyword Analysis

Look at what keywords your top-ranking competitors are targeting. Visit their websites and see what services they're highlighting, what their page titles mention, what their content covers.

Look at what keywords your top-ranking competitors are targeting. Visit their websites and see what services they're highlighting, what their page titles mention, what their content covers.

Long-Tail Local Keywords

Long-Tail Local Keywords

Long-Tail Local Keywords

These are your secret weapons. Instead of just targeting "contractor," target "kitchen remodeling contractor [city]" or "emergency plumber [neighborhood] 24 hour."


These keywords have less competition and higher conversion rates because they're more specific.

These are your secret weapons. Instead of just targeting "contractor," target "kitchen remodeling contractor [city]" or "emergency plumber [neighborhood] 24 hour."


These keywords have less competition and higher conversion rates because they're more specific.

These are your secret weapons. Instead of just targeting "contractor," target "kitchen remodeling contractor [city]" or "emergency plumber [neighborhood] 24 hour."


These keywords have less competition and higher conversion rates because they're more specific.

Creating Your Keyword Map

Creating Your Keyword Map

Creating Your Keyword Map

Organize keywords by:


  • Service pages (one keyword theme per service)

  • Location pages (if you serve multiple cities)

  • Blog content (informational keywords)


Don't try to rank for everything on your homepage. Create dedicated pages for each major service and location.

Organize keywords by:


  • Service pages (one keyword theme per service)

  • Location pages (if you serve multiple cities)

  • Blog content (informational keywords)


Don't try to rank for everything on your homepage. Create dedicated pages for each major service and location.

Organize keywords by:


  • Service pages (one keyword theme per service)

  • Location pages (if you serve multiple cities)

  • Blog content (informational keywords)


Don't try to rank for everything on your homepage. Create dedicated pages for each major service and location.

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