How do I do local SEO for a business in India?
Indian local SEO comes down to four levers: a fully-completed Google Business Profile (GBP), consistent NAP (Name-Address-Phone) across 30+ Indian directories, weekly Google reviews (target 4.6+ rating), and a city-specific landing page on your website with embedded map and local schema. Most local businesses can rank top-3 in the local pack within 60–90 days.
Step 1 — Google Business Profile: claim it, fill 100% of fields (categories matter most — pick a primary + 3–5 secondary), upload 20+ photos including interior/exterior/team, post weekly updates, and respond to every review within 48 hours. GBP is responsible for 60–70% of local pack rankings for Indian SMEs.
Step 2 — Citations: get your business listed on the high-authority Indian directories: Justdial, Sulekha, IndiaMART, TradeIndia, Yellowpages.in, AskMe, plus Google Maps, Apple Maps, Bing Places, Yelp. The Name/Address/Phone must match exactly across all — even one variation hurts. Budget ₹15–30K one-time for a citation audit + fix.
Step 3 — Reviews: aim for 30+ Google reviews in year 1 with a 4.6+ average. Use a QR-code-to-review-link on bills/packaging, ask happy customers via WhatsApp within 24 hours of service, and respond to every review (good and bad). Never buy reviews — Google detects and penalises within 30–60 days.
Step 4 — Localised website: city landing pages with embedded Google Map, LocalBusiness schema, customer testimonials with city/area mentioned, and FAQ targeting 'near me' queries. Internal-link these pages from your main service pages. Pair with backlinks from local Indian publications (YourStory city editions, Times of India city pages, local business associations).