Glossary of Local SEO: Key Terms to Familiarize Yourself within 2024

Interested in expanding your knowledge of local search engine optimization (SEO)? If so, this local SEO glossary is tailored for you. Explore a variety of local SEO terms commonly encountered while refining your business SEO strategy.

Prior to delving into the complete local SEO glossary, take a look at these associated glossaries to initiate the construction of your local SEO dictionary:

  1. SEO Glossary
  2. Marketing Terms
  3. PPC Terms
  4. Marketing Buzzwords
  5. Digital Marketing Terms

Now, let’s delve into the realm of local SEO terminology with this comprehensive local SEO glossary.

A

Acxiom

Acxiom is one of the four main data sources for local business information across various search engines in the United States.

AdWords

A pay-per-click advertising platform developed by Google, currently recognized as Google Ads.

Angie's List

Now known as Angi, enables users to hire and review local service providers.

Apple Maps

Apple Maps serves as the native map application for Apple products and is the second most utilized map application after Google Maps.

The average star rating

A score derived from user ratings and other factors, is prominently displayed alongside business listings on directories, Yelp, and Google.

B

B2B local SEO:

B2B local SEO involves employing a digital marketing strategy to enhance your website’s visibility in search results, enabling you to connect with more potential business customers within your local area.

The Better Business Bureau:

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) assesses businesses’ performance and trustworthiness, publishing their findings.

Bing Places for Business:

Bing Places for Business is Bing’s equivalent of Google My Business, providing businesses with a free platform to appear on Bing’s search engine results page.

Brick-and-Mortar:

The term “brick-and-mortar” pertains to a business operating from a physical building, as opposed to a company delivering services in remote locations.

C

Centroid :

In the realm of local search, there’s a concept that delineates a focal point of geography or activity. Over the years, Google’s comprehension of the centroid has evolved, incorporating the searcher’s location to present businesses based on the user’s device. This phenomenon is recognized as “proximity to the point of search” or the “user-as-centroid phenomenon.”

Citation :

A term utilized to depict a web-based mention, whether it be partial or comprehensive, of a business’s name, address, phone number, and other fundamental details.

D

Directory

An online service based on submissions, enabling businesses to include their name and contact details, often categorized by business type or in alphabetical order.

Duplicate Listing

This occurs when there are multiple listings on a particular platform representing a single entity. It is essential to consistently check for and merge duplicate listings.

E

E-commerce local SEO:

Local SEO for E-commerce involves enhancing your website to achieve better rankings in search results, allowing you to connect with a larger audience of local customers seeking to make online purchases of your products.

Enterprise local SEO:

Enterprise local SEO is a digital marketing approach designed to expand your reach to local customers by enhancing your website’s visibility in search results. This comprehensive strategy may include the optimization of numerous web pages and the administration of physical store locations, ultimately aiding your website in connecting with a broader local customer base.

G

Geo modifier:

A shortened form of Geographic Modifier, it denotes the geographical dimension of a search term. Also recognized as a location qualifier or location modifier, a geo modifier involves appending terms like “near me” or specifying a particular city name to a search query.

Geotagging

The procedure of incorporating identifiable geographic metadata to various types of media, such as videos, websites, QR codes, text messages, and photographs.

Google Account:

An account established with Google, comprising a combination of email address and password. The creation of such accounts is essential for accessing Google products, including Google My Business.

Google AdWords Express:

A paid advertising platform owned by Google, designed for local businesses.

Google Business Photos:

Photographs captured by Google Trusted Photographers, used to create virtual tours that enhance the visual representation of a business.

Google Guaranteed:

A label for Local Services Ads, indicating that Google endorses the business. This label is exclusive to home service businesses that have successfully undergone the Google screening and qualification process.

Google My Business (GMB):

A complimentary tool developed by Google, enabling businesses to create a profile for promotional purposes. Information such as phone numbers, emails, addresses, and links to social media can be included.

Google My Business Spam:

The practice of employing spam-oriented strategies to attain a higher ranking than competitors. These tactics may involve maintaining multiple GMB listings, posting false reviews, and engaging in keyword stuffing.

H

Hyperlocal:

A term used to characterize content or a website that caters to a specific area within a city or neighborhood.

I

Infogroup:

Photographs captured by Google Trusted Photographers, used to create virtual tours that enhance the visual representation of a business.

L

Localeze:

One of the four main data sources for local business information across search engines in the United States.

Local citations:

Mentions from external sources or other websites referring to your business with “local” details such as its name, location, and phone number. This referencing can occur both on and off the web.

Local search intent:

A search query that suggests a user is seeking a local result.

Local SEO:

Similar to general search engine optimization, local search engine optimization involves enhancing the visibility of a website for organic search. However, local SEO differs in its emphasis on optimizing for local products and services, especially when searches include terms like “near me” or specify a particular city.

Local Service Ads:

Google Local Services Ads are pay-per-lead advertisements that appear prominently at the top of search results, surpassing organic results and traditional Google Ads.

Local 3-pack

A Google feature that showcases a map and information about the top three local businesses relevant to the user’s query.

N

NAP:

An abbreviation for Name, Address, and Phone number, which local search engines utilize to verify the accuracy of their indexes. Ensuring a consistent NAP across the internet can enhance search engine rankings and local customer acquisition.

P

Prominence:

One of the three fundamental principles of local search philosophy. Adhering to these principles influences Google’s local algorithm, determining the visibility of your business in the local pack and rankings. The algorithm assesses the popularity and reputation of businesses in the area.

Proximity:

A key aspect of local search philosophy that guides Google’s local algorithm and impacts the positioning of your business in the local pack and rankings. The algorithm assesses whether the business is conveniently located for the searcher.

R

Relevance:

A crucial element of local search philosophy that shapes Google’s local algorithm and determines the placement of your company in the local 3-pack and search results. The algorithm evaluates whether the business offers what the searcher is looking for.

Reserve with Google:

A service from Google facilitating reservations, ticketing, and appointment bookings.

Review:

A customer’s concise account of their experience with a specific business.

Review management:

The practice of responding to and generating customer feedback, often aided by software.

Review spam:

A fraudulent customer review concerning a specific business, which may include fabricated negative or positive statements with the intent to harm or benefit the company.

Rich snippets:

Enhanced search results display additional information such as text, star ratings, and price ranges alongside regular snippets.

S

Service Area:

The geographical region where a business offers its services, is often delineated in directories through textual descriptions or visually represented coverage areas.

Service Area Business:

Refers to a business model where services are delivered to clients at their specified locations.

Small-to-Medium-Sized Business (SMB):

A classification in the United States denoting businesses of a specific size range.

Structured Citation:

A reference to a business, including its name, address, and phone number, presented in a format optimized for efficient indexing by search engines, usually found on directory websites.

T

Third-Party Reviews:

Evaluations of a business collected by external platforms such as TripAdvisor, Google, and Facebook.

TripAdvisor:

A prominent global source for citations and reviews, particularly for hotels and restaurants.

U

Unclaimed Listing:

A pre-existing business listing that is not currently managed or controlled by the business owner.

Unstructured Citation:

A business listing containing either complete or partial contact information that is not organized within a directory.

V

Venice Update:

A Google algorithm enhancement aimed at providing more accurate local listings, irrespective of whether a specific location is mentioned in the search query.

Verify:

The process of confirming the accuracy and ownership of a business listing.

W

WordPress:

Initially a blogging platform, now widely used for website development.

Y

Yelp:

A user-generated business review platform that enables active responses to both positive and negative reviews.

YP.com:

The domain for Internet Yellow Pages (IYP), offering local business listings.

Z

Zagat:

A service specializing in restaurant ratings.

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