Building Local SEO Outside Your Core Location

If you’re running a local business, your core location is probably the backbone of your SEO strategy. But what if you want to attract customers from surrounding areas? Expanding your local SEO beyond your primary location requires a strategic approach to ensure you’re visible to potential customers in multiple cities or regions.

Here’s how to effectively build local SEO outside your core location and grow your business’s reach.

1. Create Location-Specific Pages

To rank in search results for areas outside your primary location, you need dedicated location pages. Each page should focus on a specific city or region and include relevant information for customers in that area.

What to Include:

• The city or region name in the page title, meta description, and URL.

• Localized content, such as services offered in that area and unique challenges customers may face.

• Testimonials or case studies from customers in that location.

Example:
If your core location is Austin, TX, create pages like:

• “Pest Control Services in Round Rock, TX”

• “Termite Inspections for Cedar Park, TX Homes”

2. Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP) for Multiple Locations

If you serve multiple locations, you can create additional GBP listings for each area, provided they meet Google’s eligibility requirements (e.g., separate physical locations or service areas).

Tips for Optimizing Multiple GBPs:

• Use a unique business name variation for each location (e.g., "Smith Pest Control - Round Rock").

• Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) information is accurate and consistent across all profiles.

• Add location-specific photos and descriptions to each GBP.

• Use service areas to target nearby cities where you don’t have a physical address.

3. Build Local Citations for Targeted Areas

Citations—mentions of your business on local directories and websites—are a key ranking factor for local SEO. To expand beyond your core location, focus on building citations for surrounding areas.

Where to Start:

• Local directories specific to each city or region (e.g., city chambers of commerce).

• Popular platforms like Yelp, Angi, and the Better Business Bureau, ensuring location-specific details are included.

Pro Tip: Use citation tools like BrightLocal or Whitespark to streamline the process.

4. Leverage Location-Specific Content Marketing

Creating localized blog posts and resources helps establish your expertise in multiple areas and improves your chances of ranking in regional searches.

Content Ideas:

• Seasonal pest problems unique to each location (e.g., “How to Manage Ant Infestations in [City] During Summer”).

• Guides and tips tailored to specific cities (e.g., “Top 5 Pest Control Tips for Homeowners in [City]”).

• Local event sponsorships or community involvement stories.

5. Target Nearby Locations with Long-Tail Keywords

Using long-tail keywords that include the names of nearby cities or regions is essential for ranking in those areas. Conduct keyword research to find search terms with strong local intent.

Examples:

• “Affordable pest control in [City].”

• “Rodent extermination near [City].”

• “Best pest control company serving [Region].”

Pro Tip: Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to discover keyword opportunities in neighboring locations.

6. Invest in Paid Local Ads

SEO efforts often take time to yield results, but paid local ads can help you quickly establish visibility in new locations. Google Ads and social media platforms like Facebook allow you to target users in specific cities or regions.

What to Do:

• Use geo-targeting to focus your ad spend on high-priority areas.

• Highlight location-specific offers or services in your ads.

• Monitor ad performance to refine your targeting strategy.

7. Build Backlinks from Local Websites

Backlinks from authoritative local websites can boost your visibility in regional search results. To build links in your target areas, try:

• Partnering with local bloggers or news outlets for content features.

• Sponsoring community events or nonprofits in nearby cities.

• Listing your business on local resource pages or neighborhood websites.

Example: A link from a “Top Pest Control Companies in [City]” blog can drive traffic and improve your rankings in that area.

8. Track Your Progress with Local SEO Tools

Expanding your local SEO efforts requires ongoing monitoring to ensure your strategy is working. Tools like BrightLocal, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console can help you measure:

• Organic traffic growth from targeted locations.

• Rankings for location-specific keywords.

• Engagement metrics like clicks and calls from your Google Business Profile.

Final Thoughts

Building local SEO outside your core location is an excellent way to expand your customer base and grow your business. By creating location-specific content, optimizing your Google Business Profile, and targeting nearby areas with tailored strategies, you can effectively capture new markets and establish your presence in multiple locations.

At Pest Control SEO, I’ve helped clients successfully implement these strategies to dominate their local markets. Whether you’re serving one city or several, a strategic approach to local SEO can help you grow your business and stay ahead of the competition.