How to Show Up on Google Search: A Local Business Guide to Being Found Online
- Mike MILESI
- May 19
- 4 min read
You finally finished building your website, it looks exactly the way you want but there’s a major problem. You are wondering ‘Why my website doesn’t show up in Google search?’ The answer stands in three letters… SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
If you’re running a local business, showing up on Google Search isn’t optional. It’s essential. Whether you're a barber in Los Angeles or a florist in Miami, your customers are searching online first. If they can't find you, they're finding your competitors.
Google isn’t just about getting clicks, it’s about driving real-world results: more foot traffic, more phone calls, and ultimately, more sales. In this blog, MM Marketing walks you through the exact steps to boost your local presence online. No BS, just the practical stuff that works.
1. Understand How Google Search Works
Google uses complex algorithms to decide which results to show first. But for local businesses, it is really going down to three key factors:
Relevance: Does your business match what someone is searching for?
Proximity: Are you near the searcher’s location?
Prominence: How trusted is your business online?
Understanding these basics sets the foundation for everything else we’ll cover.
2. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile is your local storefront on Google. Here’s how to claim and optimize it:
Go to google.com/business
Sign in with your Google account.
Enter your business name and address.
Choose your category and services.
Verify your business (follow the steps given by Google).
Optimization Tips:
Fill out every field: business hours, services, website, etc… (It does matter)
Upload high-quality photos of your location, team, or products.
Respond to reviews regularly to show activity.
3. Focus on Local SEO Basics (keywords)
Optimizing your website with SEO basics helps you show up in both Google Maps Pack and organic search.
What to Do:
Identify the most relevant keywords that your clients are researching on google, and implement them in all pages on your website.
Use local keywords: e.g., “emergency electrician in Tampa”, or “quick phone repair in Belleville”.
Post content on your website with more relevant keywords in your blogs, success stories, product/service page, etc…
You can use tools like WordStream to help you find the best ones to use for your business.
4. Get More Customer Reviews
Reviews are social proof and help with SEO. They influence ranking and trust.
How to Get More:
Ask happy customers immediately after service.
Use SMS or email follow-ups with direct review links.
Display signs or QR codes in-store.
Best Practices:
Respond professionally to every review → positive or negative.
Never fake or buy reviews (Google’s penalties are serious).
Want to know more about the power of reviews for your business? Click here to read another of our blogs on the matter.
5. Build Local Citations
Citations are mentions of your business name, address, and phone number across the web.
Why They Matter:
Google uses them to verify your business data. More citations = more trust.
Key Places to List:
Yelp
Apple Maps
Bing Places
YellowPages
MerchantCircle
6. Leverage Backlinks from Other Sources (Local, if possible)
A backlink is a link going to your website, coming from another website. Backlinks are like upvotes for your website, and local ones pack a punch.
Ideas to Earn Local Links:
Join the local Chamber of Commerce
Sponsor school or charity events
Get featured in local blogs or news stories
Partner with complementary businesses for co-promotion
Be careful, getting backlinks from quality and trusted websites are crucial. Having backlinks from bad sources can seriously damage your online reputation, therefore impacting SEO.
7. Mobile Optimization is a Must
Nearly 60% of all local searches happen on mobile. If your site’s clunky on a phone, you’re losing leads.
Mobile SEO Checklist:
Use a responsive design
Ensure pages load in under 3 seconds
Include a visible click-to-call button
Avoid pop ups that block content
Pro tip:
Build your website only based on what we see on mobile. Then, optimize it for computers. That simple trick will save you tens of hours trying to fit the content that you want in a smaller screen, just because you started with a bigger one.
8. Use Content to Target Search Intent
To show up on Google, you need to answer what people are asking.
Effective Content Types:
FAQs (e.g., “How much does tree removal cost in Chicago?”)
Service Pages tailored to each location
Blog posts answering common local questions
How-to guides and checklists
You can use tools like AnswerThePublic or Google’s “People Also Ask” to get content ideas.
9. Bonus: Run Google Ads for Immediate Visibility
SEO takes time. If you want instant results, Google Ads is your shortcut.
Why Use Google Ads:
Appear at the top of search instantly
Highly targeted to your location and services
Great for promotions or new services
Cons of using Google Ads:
People will see that it is ‘sponsored’ content
It does not replace SEO
We recommend pairing ads with your organic SEO strategy for the best Return on Investment.
10. Track and Improve Over Time
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Track everything.
Tools You’ll Need:
Google Analytics (traffic and behavior)
Google Search Console (keywords and indexing)
Google Business Profile Insights (calls, views, directions)
Key Metrics to Watch:
Impressions
Clicks
Calls
Direction requests
Conversion rate
Regular reviews help you spot trends and optimize faster.
11. Conclusion
Showing up on Google Search is the modern version of being listed in the Yellow Pages, but smarter, faster, and way more powerful.
From optimizing your Google Business Profile to collecting reviews and earning local backlinks, every step we’ve outlined will bring you closer to being discovered by local customers ready to buy.
→ Want to make it even easier?
Contact MM Marketing today for a free SEO audit. We help local businesses like yours grow online and dominate their local markets. Don’t worry, no high pressure sales tactics. Just us, genuinely trying to help you out.
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