Local SEO Basics for Small Businesses (Australia Edition)

Running a local business? Want to make sure your customers can actually find you online? You’re in the right place.

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) helps your business appear when people search for services near them. Whether you’re a café in Ballarat or a plumber in Parramatta, optimising your local presence can help you stand out from the crowd — even if you don’t have a huge marketing budget.

Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to help you get started with local SEO in Australia.

1. What Is Local SEO and Why Does It Matter?

Local SEO is all about helping people in your area find your business online. It’s different from regular SEO because it focuses on geography. That means showing up in Google Maps, “near me” searches, and local listings.

For example: If someone Googles “hairdresser near me”, Google tries to show results based on the person’s location — and that’s where local SEO steps in.

Why it matters:

• If you’re not showing up, your competitor likely is.
• 76% of people who search for something nearby visit a business within a day.
• More than half of all searches on Google have local intent.

2. Set Up (and Optimise) Your Google Business Profile

This one’s a non-negotiable. If you only do one thing for your SEO, make it this:
👉 Claim your free Google Business Profile

Add all the details your customers need:

• Business name (exactly as it appears elsewhere)
• Address and service area
• Opening hours
• Website
• Phone number
• Business description (use relevant keywords!)
• Photos of your business, team or products
• Services or products you offer

📝 Hot Tip: Keep your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) consistent across your website, directory listings, and social media. Inconsistencies can confuse Google — and your customers.

3. Add Your Business to Local Directories

Getting listed on reputable directories not only helps customers find you — it also builds trust with Google.

Here are some popular Australian directories to get you started:

• Yellow Pages Australia
• True Local
• Hotfrog
• StartLocal
• AussieWeb

📝 Make sure the details match your Google Business Profile exactly.

4. Ask for Reviews (and Reply to Them!)

Customer reviews are gold when it comes to local SEO. They:

• Boost your credibility
• Improve click-through rates
• Help you rank higher on Google

💡 Ask happy customers to leave a review on your Google Business Profile. You can even create a direct link and include it in your email signature or post-service messages.

And don’t forget to reply to your reviews — good and bad. It shows you’re active and care about your customers.

5. Optimise Your Website for Local Search

Your website is still the hub of your online presence — so make sure it backs up what Google is seeing elsewhere.

Here’s how:

• Include your suburb and region naturally in your website copy
• Add your business name and location to page titles and meta descriptions
• Embed a Google Map on your contact page
• Include your full address in the website footer
• Add schema markup for local businesses if you have a developer

6. Track Your Progress

Once your listings are in place, track your visibility and customer actions using:

• Google Business Profile Insights
• Google Analytics
• Google Search Console

Keep an eye on:

• How people are finding you (search terms)
• What actions they’re taking (calls, website visits, direction requests)
• Where your traffic is coming from (search, social, referrals)

Want to Make It Easier?

We’ve created a free Local SEO Checklist for Small Business Owners — perfect if you’re ready to tick things off as you go.

👉 Download the free Local SEO checklist here

Need Help?

At Uplift Web Solutions, we don’t just build websites — we help you get found. If you’d like a hand with your website, your local SEO setup or want us to take care of it for you, get in touch today.