Last updated: May 2026. Originally written for 2024, this guide has been substantially expanded with a new section reflecting the 2026 landscape.
Growing a local business can be a challenge. When you have a limited budget, investing in local Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) can seem like a big expense. But the reality is that your customers are online, and they’re using search engines like Google to find the businesses in their area. That means your website needs to show up in the search results, and investing in SEO is the best way to claim the #1 spot.
The good news is that there’s heaps of opportunities for local businesses to succeed using SEO! In this article we’re going to cover some of the basic tips and tricks you can use to kickstart your local SEO Brisbane strategy.
Our Top 5 Local SEO Tips and Tricks
1. Claim Your Google My Business Profile
One of the best things you can do to boost your local SEO campaign is to claim your Google My Business (GMB) profile. GMB accounts function a little bit like a social media page, but they are closely tied into the Google Search and Google Maps results.
If you search for a local business on Google Maps and click on the pin that comes up, that’s a Google My Business listing. Your GMB contains all sorts of important information, like your location, products, services, contact details and more. Setting up a GMB profile means your business will appear front and centre in those local searches, and potential customers will be more likely to call your shop, check out your website or visit your location.
2. Get Social
Maintaining social media profiles can be time consuming for business owners. But it’s one of the best ways to show that your business is active in the local community! Most businesses should maintain an Instagram, Facebook or Linkedin profile, or a combination of the three. Posting on a regular schedule (we recommend at least 2-3 times per week) demonstrates that your business is ongoing, and it helps to make your business more visible online.
Social media is also one of the easiest ways to interact with your customers. Encouraging conversation, responding to comments and messages, and engaging with customers helps to build valuable relationships. Those relationships may not turn into immediate sales, but the more effort you put in, the more likely your customers are to spread the word about their positive experience with your business.
3. Research Local Keywords and Content
Keywords and content are the backbone of every SEO strategy. Small business owners often think of SEO as a game that’s limited to the large players, but it’s actually an effective tool for businesses of all sizes.
When doing local SEO, it’s important to focus on local keywords. If you can find keywords that people in your area are searching for, you’ll be able to create content that attracts nearby audiences. Look for keywords that pertain to your area. For example, a plumbing business might like to target the phrase “blocked drains repairs [suburb].” Similarly, a local restaurant might target something like “best restaurants in [city]” by writing a blog and reviewing some of the area’s best eateries.
4. Build Local Backlinks
No SEO strategy is complete without backlink building. Backlinks are the hyperlinks that point to your website from a third party site. Google sees these links as a vote of confidence that the content on your website is high quality and that it offers something of value to customers. The more of these links you collect, the higher you appear in the search rankings.
For local businesses, the best strategy is to focus on building links with other local websites and directories. This is typically done by reaching out to the owners of other websites and asking them to place a link back to your own site.
When building backlinks you should avoid your direct competitors. Instead, look for businesses that complement your own. For instance, a local plumber could approach a local hardware store and ask them to place a backlink. This could be done through the hardware store’s blog, and the plumber could even supply a how-to article containing the backlink for the hardware store to publish.
5. Optimise Your Website for Mobile Users
More than half of all web users are browsing using their smartphone or mobile devices. That’s important for every brand, but local businesses stand to gain the most. You see, 78% of all local mobile searches result in an offline purchase. Meaning the customers in your area are out and about, using their phones to search for local businesses, and there’s a high chance they’ll visit your location and make a purchase.
Optimising your website for mobile users is fairly simple these days. Platforms like WordPress allow you to install “responsive” website themes that automatically adjust to suit the size of the user’s screen. But don’t rely on pre-built themes alone. Get out your phone and double check that everything works properly. Make sure that buttons and calls to action are highly visible and easy to use, and ensure your website’s content encourages visitors to become customers.
What’s changed by 2026: Local SEO in the AI era
Local SEO in 2026 has changed enough since this guide was written that some priority order needs rebalancing. The fundamentals (GBP, reviews, NAP consistency, local content) still apply, but the relative weighting has shifted.
AI Overviews are now the top local SERP feature
For most local queries in 2026, Google’s AI Overview appears above the Local Pack. This shifts the optimisation goal: being cited in the AI Overview matters more than ranking #1 in the Local Pack. Citation requires structured data, extractable answers to common local questions, and authoritative cross-references (Wikidata, local press, industry bodies).
Reviews now weight by recency, response, and specificity
Review count was the dominant signal for years. In 2026 the algorithm weighs heavily: review recency (in last 90 days), business response rate (replying to both positive and negative reviews), and review specificity (vague “great service” reviews count less than reviews mentioning specific staff names, services, locations). A business with 50 specific recent reviewed-and-responded reviews now outranks one with 300 generic old unanswered reviews.
Geo-grid rank tracking is the new monitoring standard
Standard SEO tools that show a single rank per keyword underrepresent local SEO performance because rankings vary by exact location. In 2026 the better monitoring approach is geo-grid tracking — checking your rank from dozens of points within your service radius. Tools that do this surface real geographic gaps that single-rank tools miss entirely.
GBP posts work again
Google Business Profile posts were considered low-value for years. In 2026 they re-emerged as a meaningful signal, especially when posted weekly, with specific local references and original photos. The AI Overview frequently cites GBP post content when answering local queries. Consider GBP posts the local equivalent of social media — frequent, current, location-specific.
Apple Business Connect matters more
Apple Business Connect (the equivalent of GBP for Apple Maps, Siri, and Spotlight) is now a significant local visibility channel as more users default to Apple Maps. It’s free, takes 20 minutes to set up, and gets you into the local search results visible to iPhone users.
2026 local SEO priority order
- GBP optimisation (photos, posts, response rate, recent reviews)
- AI Overview citation optimisation (structured data, FAQ schema, LocalBusiness schema)
- Apple Business Connect setup
- Local press mentions
- NAP consistency across directories
- Location-page content quality
- Link building (now lower priority than the items above)
Related: How Much Does an AI Consultant Cost in 2026? The Honest Price Bands (From Someone Who Charges Them)
Related: how to make money on Instagram with 1k followers
This builds on my main SEO guide, my main guide on the topic.
Related reading: Why you need to rank for NYC related keywords as well if you have a local New York City business and Ranking Your Business through Local SEO.
