Local SEO Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Local SEO | Local businesses such as restaurants, dentists and hair salons receive a special place within the Google SERPs and, sometimes, their location is shown on the Google map. Optimizing a site to appear in results for queries with local intent is called Local SEO. |
| Local Pack | For queries with local intent, such as “restaurants in New York City,” or “dentists near me,” Google displays three results with map localization at the top of the SERP, which is called the Local Pack. The majority of those searches are performed via mobile devices. These search results vary by users’ locations. |
| Citations | Google uses citations or online references from business directories when ranking its local search results. Business name (N), address (A) and phone number (P) (NAP) must always remain up-to-date, especially when changing location, as Google uses these citations when evaluating the online authority of your business. Examples include business directories, such as Yellow Pages or Superpages, and mapping applications, such as Mapquest or Apple Maps. Citations may or may not be accompanied by a backlink to your site. |
| Google My Business | Google My Business is a free platform for businesses, brands, artists and organizations to manage their online presence across Google, including Google Search and Google Maps. Once the My Business account is verified, the business listing can be updated regularly to ensure your customers have the most accurate information about your business. |