If you run a business in McDonough, Stockbridge, Hampton, or anywhere in Henry County, there's one question that matters more than any other:
When someone searches for what you do, do you show up?
Not on page 2. Not buried in the results. Right there at the top—where the clicks happen.
Local SEO is the practice of optimizing your online presence to rank higher in local search results. When someone in McDonough searches "plumber near me" or "best restaurant in Henry County," Google shows local businesses that match.
of all Google searches have local intent
of people who search locally visit a business within a day
of local searches result in a purchase
For Henry County businesses, local SEO isn't optional—it's how customers find you.
Traditional SEO focuses on ranking for broad keywords regardless of location. "Best running shoes" is a traditional search.
Local SEO focuses on location-specific searches. "Running shoes McDonough GA" or "shoe store near me" are local searches.
| Traditional SEO | Local SEO |
|---|---|
| Content-focused | Location-focused |
| Backlinks are primary signal | Citations and reviews are key signals |
| No physical location needed | Physical location or service area required |
| Google Search Console | Google Business Profile |
For local businesses, you need both. But local SEO is where you'll see faster results.
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the foundation of local SEO. It's what shows up in Google Maps and the Local Pack.
Claim and verify your profile
Choose accurate business categories
Write a complete business description (750 characters)
Add all services/products
Upload high-quality photos (logo, exterior, interior, team, work)
Keep hours updated (including holidays)
Post updates regularly (offers, news, events)
Respond to all reviews
This is the most important local SEO action you can take.
Your website needs to signal your location clearly.
Title tags: Include city/county ('Web Design McDonough GA | EJM Services')
Meta descriptions: Mention your location naturally
Headers: Use H1/H2 tags with local keywords
Content: Reference McDonough and Henry County throughout
NAP: Name, Address, Phone number on every page (usually footer)
LocalBusiness schema: Structured data for local businesses
Embedded map: Google Map on contact page
Each page should clearly indicate where you are and who you serve.
A citation is any online mention of your business name, address, and phone number.
Major directories: Yelp, Yellow Pages, Bing Places, Facebook, BBB
Industry directories: Find ones specific to your business
Local directories: Henry County Chamber of Commerce, local business listings
Data aggregators: Moz Local, BrightLocal (distribute to hundreds of sites)
Critical rule: Your NAP must be EXACTLY the same everywhere.
Reviews are a major local ranking factor. More reviews = higher rankings = more clicks.
Ask happy customers for reviews
Make it easy (send a direct link)
Respond to every review (positive and negative)
Aim for steady growth (not sudden spikes)
Encourage mention of location in reviews
For Henry County businesses, 30+ reviews with 4.5+ stars puts you ahead of most competitors.
Content helps you rank for more keywords and demonstrates local expertise.
Location landing pages (one for each city you serve)
Blog posts about local topics
Case studies featuring local clients
Local event coverage and community involvement
'Best of' lists for Henry County
Local resource guides
Each piece of content is another opportunity to rank and another reason for people to visit your site.
Backlinks (links from other websites to yours) signal authority. Local backlinks are especially valuable for local SEO.
Join the Henry County Chamber of Commerce
Sponsor local events or sports teams
Partner with complementary local businesses
Get featured in local news
Write guest posts for local blogs
Create local resources others want to link to
Quality matters more than quantity. 10 backlinks from local Henry County sources are worth more than 100 random links.
Technical SEO ensures search engines can crawl and understand your site.
Mobile-friendly design
Fast loading speed (under 3 seconds)
SSL certificate (https://)
Clean URL structure
XML sitemap submitted to Google
robots.txt configured correctly
No broken links or 404 errors
Schema markup implemented
Proper redirects if you've changed URLs
Technical issues can prevent your site from ranking. Fix them.
Use this checklist to track your progress:
Even small differences hurt. Audit all your listings and fix inconsistencies.
Your website isn't enough. GBP is where local rankings start.
"Donut Shop McDonough GA Best Donuts McDonough Coffee McDonough" — don't do this. Write naturally.
Google will catch you. It's not worth the penalty.
Most local searches happen on phones. If your site isn't mobile-friendly, you're invisible.
A website with no mention of McDonough or Henry County won't rank locally.
Initial improvements can show in 4-8 weeks. Significant results typically take 3-6 months. Local SEO is an ongoing process.
Professional local SEO services typically range from $500-$2,500/month depending on scope and competitiveness. One-time audits start around $500.
Yes, but it requires consistent effort and staying current with best practices. Many business owners find the time investment doesn't make sense.
Google Business Profile optimization and reviews. Start there.
It helps significantly. Your GBP can rank without one, but a website gives you more opportunities to rank and convert.