Most business owners think local SEO is just about Google Business Profile and reviews.
They’re half right. Those things matter a lot, but the real separator between page one and page two is local link building.
Almost every local SEO expert surveyed by BrightLocal agrees: link building works for regional rankings. In fact, link signals are the fourth most significant factor in the local pack and one of the most important factors in local organic results.
Here’s what most guides miss: a handful of truly local, contextual links now outpower hundreds of generic ones. These links don’t just help Google understand you’re legitimate. They train every central AI system (Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, Claude, Kimi, Copilot) to recognize your business as the default, most trusted answer when someone asks for the best plumber, dentist, café, or lawyer in your city.
Get this right, and you unlock more prosperous snippets, bilingual featured snippets in non-English markets, 25–45% higher click-through rates, and consistent appearances in AI-generated answers, even when people search in Bengali, Arabic, French, Spanish, or any local language. Pair these tactics with bullet-proof Local SEO foundations, and you create momentum that compounds for years.
What is local link building?
Local link building means earning backlinks from websites that are both relevant to your business and tied to your geographic area. These sites might be city blogs, local news outlets, chamber of commerce directories, school or university pages, or nearby partner businesses.
Think of these links as local proof. When those sites link to you, they tell Google and other search engines that:
- You are a real business.
- You serve a specific area.
- People in that area trust you enough to recommend you.
Google uses links to discover pages and measure relevance and authority. Local links work within that system’s strong location filter, so they carry more weight for “near me” and “[service] in [city]” searches than generic links.
Many people confuse links with citations, so it helps to separate them:
| Aspect | Local Citations | Local Links |
| Purpose | Prove NAP consistency | Pass authority and local relevance |
| Examples | Yelp listing, Google Business Profile | Chamber sponsor page, local news story, city blog post |
| Impact | Support map pack and entity recognition | Boost organic rankings and drive referral traffic |
| Effort | List and keep details updated | Build and maintain genuine local relationships |
Both matter, but links move rankings and traffic much more. You start with locally relevant opportunities because relevance beats volume. A link from your city’s news site or chamber of commerce usually beats ten random high-DA directories, which is where most businesses go wrong.
Why local link building matters for your business
If you rely on people in a specific area, links are not a nice bonus. They are part of your base. Here is why.
Local search drives real buying decisions.
BrightLocal found that the large majority of consumers use Google to research local businesses before they call, visit, or buy.
That means your visibility in local search and maps influences real sales, not just traffic graphs.
At the same time, Ahrefs found that almost all pages online get no organic traffic from Google.
The study showed that more than 90 percent of pages sit in that “no traffic” bucket, and lack of backlinks is one of the key reasons.
If you want your local pages to live in the small group that does get traffic, you need links that support them.
Links, rankings, and click-through rate.
Backlinko analyzed millions of search results and found that the top organic result in Google gets about 27.6 percent of all clicks. The first three results together get more than half of the clicks.
So every small ranking gain matters. Moving from position 8 to position 3 for “plumber near me” or “[city] dentist” can double or triple the number of real people who land on your site.
Local link building helps in two ways:
Rankings
- Quality local links act as strong authority signals for your domain and your key local pages.
- Independent analyses of Whitespark’s local ranking factors show that link signals remain one of the top groups for local organic results, just behind on-page content.
Better clicks and conversions
- When you appear inside “Best of [City]” guides, chambers, and local news, people see your name in more than one place.
- That extra trust often lifts your click-through rate when you show in search and maps. More engaged visitors send stronger behavioral signals, which support your overall local visibility.
Why Local Relevance Now Crushes Raw Domain Authority
Google’s algorithm now rewards local relevance more than raw authority. A link from your city’s chamber of commerce, a trusted local news site, or a nearby partner business usually beats a generic high-DA national directory. These links drive stronger user signals such as higher CTR, more prosperous snippets, more direct visits, and less pogo-sticking, which can lift local pack clicks by 30% or more. They also boost your “entity authority” in AI systems. Hence, tools like Gemini and ChatGPT are more likely to cite you as the best local option, especially when you earn links and mentions in both English and regional languages in bilingual markets.
Traditional Links vs Modern Local Links That Actually Win
| Old Thinking | What Wins Today |
| High DA = best link | Local relevance + context = best link |
| More links = better | 8–15 perfect local links > 300 generic ones |
| Only dofollow matters | Nofollow + mentions train AI models |
| English-only | English + local language → bilingual snippet dominance |
14 Proven Local Link Building Strategies
Ready to act? Break them into tiers. Start easy, scale up. Each includes steps and real-world tips.
5 Easy Wins for Quick Links
- Claim Directory Listings: Hit Google Business Profile, Yelp, Bing Places. Add your site URL. Global tip: Use Yandex for Russia, Baidu for China.
- Fix Unlinked Mentions: Set Google Alerts for your brand. Email sites: “Love the shoutout. Can you link?” 30% convert, says Ahrefs.
- Optimize Social Profiles: Link your site to Facebook, LinkedIn, and local groups. Join city pages.
- Write Testimonials: Partner with non-competitors. “Loved their service!” They link back.
- Leverage Supplier Pages: Ask vendors for “preferred partners” links. Common in B2B.
5 Intermediate Tactics
- Guest Post on Local Blogs: Pitch “Top 10 [City] Tips.” Use tools like BuzzSumo for sites.
- Create Localized Content: Build “Ultimate [Neighborhood] Guide.” Share with locals. They link naturally.
- Outreach Local Media: Email newspapers: “Expert quote on local trends?” Tools like Hunter.io find contacts.
- Join Forums and Groups: Answer questions on Reddit r/[city], Nextdoor. Signature links count.
- Spy on Competitors: Ahrefs shows their links. Reach out: “Saw you linked them. We’re similar.”
4 Advanced Strategies
- Sponsor Events: Fund little league or festivals. Get sponsor pages. ROI: 2-3x traffic lift.
- Launch Scholarships: Offers $500 in scholarships to local students. Colleges list on .edu pages—gold for authority.
- Run PR Campaigns: Share original data like “[City] Business Survey.” Media eats it up.
- Collaborate with local influencers, such as YouTubers or Instagrammers: co-create content and share mutual links.
| Strategy Tier | Effort Level | Expected ROI |
| Easy Wins | Low | Quick 5-10 links/month |
| Intermediate | Medium | 20% ranking boost |
| Advanced | High | Authority surge + traffic |
Track with Google Analytics. Focus on dofollow from relevant domains.
Essential Tools and Best Practices for Local Link Building
Tools make it simple. Ahrefs or Semrush for prospecting. Moz Local for citations. Google Alerts for mentions.
Best practices? Quality first. One relevant link tops 50 spammy ones. Nurture nofollows; they drive traffic. Authenticity wins. Give value, links follow.
Add schema markup. Use LocalBusiness for your site, FAQPage here. Rich snippets boost CTR by 30%.
At SEO Services.com.bd, we track these daily for clients. Results speak.
Advanced “Link Magnet” Strategies That Attract Links & AI Citations Naturally
Once foundations are solid, switch to magnets — content and campaigns that make people want to link to you.
Create the definitive local resource for your city
Examples that attracted 50–200+ natural links each:
- “Ultimate Guide to Weekend Getaways Within 2 Hours of Dhaka” (tourism board linked)
- “Best Hidden Coffee Shops in Manchester 2026” (multiple blogs linked)
- “Cost of Living Comparison: Dubai vs Abu Dhabi 2026” (with original data).
Competitive link gap attack (60-minute process)
Put your top 3 competitors into Ahrefs or Semrush → filter links by “local” keywords in anchor/page title → sort by relevance → email the sites asking for a link with this template: “I saw you linked to [Competitor] in your resource about [topic]. We actually offer a [better/updated/more comprehensive] version here: [your URL]. Thought your readers might find it useful too!”
Average result: 3–8 new links per hour spent.
Multilingual link magnets for bilingual snippet domination
Publish the same ultimate guide in English + local language (Bangla, Arabic, French, etc.). Regional language versions earn links from local blogs and news that English-only competitors can never get → you dominate AI answers in both languages.
Digital PR campaigns that still crush it
Original local data studies (“Average Restaurant Food Waste in Dhaka 2026 Survey”) → Local rankings/lists (“Top 20 Family-Run Restaurants in Manchester”) → Reactive PR — comment on local news stories within hours with real expertise.
These campaigns regularly land links from the highest-authority local sources: newspapers, Measurement, Maintenance & Staying Google-Proof Forever.
Measurement, Maintenance & Staying Google-Proof Forever
Track these KPIs monthly:
- Growth in referring domains (local relevance filter in Ahrefs/Semrush)
- Local Pack position changes (use LocalFalcon or Local Search Grid)
- CTR increase in Google Search Console
- Appearances in AI answers (search your brand + city in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok
Google-proof rules that will never change:
- Never buy links or use PBNs
- Relevance always beats quantity
- No-follow links and brand mentions still help AI training
- Focus on relationships and value — links follow naturally
Top agencies maintain client dominance with this quarterly schedule:
In the first quarter, focus on securing 5–10 relationship-based or sponsorship links.
During the second quarter, publish one strong primary link magnet that can attract natural backlinks.
By the third quarter, execute a competitive link gap attack alongside targeted media pitches.
In the final quarter, run a review-to-link campaign and refresh or relaunch your scholarship initiative.
Conclusion & Your Next Move
3-8 high-relevance local links quarterly create unstoppable momentum. After a year of consistent effort, you begin to own positions that competitors can’t simply buy. These principles work in any country, industry, or language, but only if you apply them every month. Most owners are too busy running their businesses to research, pitch, and follow up at this level. That is where SEOservices.com.bd comes in, building dozens of relevant local links each month while you focus on customers. Want to see your missed opportunities? Request a free local link audit or book a strategy call.
FAQ
What’s the difference between local link building and regular link building?
Local link building and general link building are two strategies used in search engine optimization (SEO) to improve a website’s search engine rankings and online visibility. While they share some similarities, they also differ in their target audiences and goals.
Are links still important for local SEO?
Definitely, yes. The reason is that Google’s algorithm has changed over the years, but links remain one of its most important local SEO ranking factors.
According to Whitespark, inbound link quality and quantity are the 3rd-most-important local ranking factors.
How do I find local link building opportunities?
There are several easy things you can do to find local backlinks: create great content and reach out to local websites to ask them to link back to your website.
Start by checking where your competitors get links using tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush. Also, look for local blogs, news sites, directories, and event pages in your area.
Should I use local directories for link building?
Citation building is still an effective strategy. The benefits of building citations are enormous, especially if you run a small or medium-sized business. With citations, you can easily improve your online visibility and get more customers to visit your website and browse through your products and services. If you put in the effort to list your business on many credible directories across the Web, you’ll significantly improve your position in Google’s result pages.
Can I use Reddit for local link building?
Forum links are experiencing a comeback thanks to Reddit’s dominance in SERPs and the growth of AI search. The links may not pump a lot of link juice because they have a UGC or nofollow parameter, but they still bring referral traffic and get your business mentioned in AI overviews, ChatGPT, or Perplexity.
How do I build links on local subreddit forums?
Successful Reddit link building requires you to become an accepted member of these communities, and means you can’t just pop in to drop a link and disappear. Reddit users are known for their candor and will downvote or flag anything that resembles spam. Therefore, understanding the community dynamics and contributing meaningfully is key to mastering Reddit link building.
How much should I budget for local link building?
Limited opportunities are one local link-building challenge. Limited budgets, averaging $300-$500, are another.
Is paid local link building worth it?
Paid link building can cost quite a lot of money and violates Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. The best way to acquire links is to focus on organic link building.
What are the biggest local link building mistakes to avoid?
- Neglecting User Intent: Failing to answer the questions your local audience is asking.
- Damaged Reputation: Associations with questionable sites can harm your brand image.
- Wasted Resources: Time and effort spent acquiring low-quality links yield minimal ROI.
- Incomplete Listings: Failing to provide complete business details can confuse potential customers and search engines.
Do nofollow local links have any value?
They either don’t provide backlinks to the businesses they cite or they don’t offer dofollow links. If you find yourself getting this type of digital PR, don’t despair. Branded mentions (where your business name is mentioned, not linked to) and nofollow links (links that do not pass on any link juice) are still good ways to get your name out there and, in the case of nofollow links, they can still bring in traffic and even result in conversions.
Do social media profiles count as local backlinks?
Do social media profiles count as local backlinks? Not directly for SEO, but they help build local visibility and traffic. They can also lead to organic backlinks when shared or cited by others.
Do social media profiles count as local backlinks?
What are the best local link building tactics?
How does local link building help with AI search results?
Are forum links making a comeback?
Forum links are experiencing a comeback thanks to Reddit’s dominance in SERPs and the growth of AI search. The links may not pump much link juice because they have a UGC or nofollow parameter, but they still drive referral traffic and get your business mentioned in AI overviews, ChatGPT, or Perplexity.
Why is local link building important for small businesses?
Local link building helps small businesses appear in local search results, making it easier for nearby customers to find them. It enhances credibility and can significantly boost foot traffic and sales.
Can I do local link building myself or do I need an agency?
How do I start local link building?
What are the best local link building services or agencies?
What companies or businesses should use local link building?
From Adsy blog interview: “What’s special about local link building? What companies should use this tactic?” (e.g., small/local firms).