Do Local Service Websites Need Backlinks? (Hint: No)
Stop buying backlinks for your plumbing business—they're not helping. Local service businesses need CITATIONS, not backlinks. Google Maps dominates local search, and traditional SEO link-building is far less relevant for local services than proximity and relevance signals.
Why Local ≠ National SEO
National SEO
Relies heavily on backlinks from high-authority domains (e.g., New York Times linking to your SaaS tool). This signals global authority.
Local SEO
Relies on Proximity + Relevance + Authority. Authority in local search comes from CITATIONS (being listed in trusted directories), not just backlinks.
What Actually Works for Local Services
Solid Citation Foundation
Yelp, Google Business Profile, Apple Maps, top local directories.
On-Page SEO
Local keyword optimization + service pages + schema markup.
Local Reviews
Google Reviews, Yelp reviews (velocity and recency matter).
Backlinks
Only consider after Tiers 1-3 are perfect, and only if budget allows.
The Reality Check
80% of your ranking power comes from Citations + Reviews + GBP Optimization.
20% comes from traditional backlinks.
Most local businesses waste thousands on link-building services without having a strong citation base. It's like putting a new roof on a house with a crumbling foundation.
Backlink Strategy (If You Must)
If you have extra budget and Tiers 1-3 are maxed out, focus on:
- Local News Mentions: PR for local events or charity work.
- Sponsorships: Little League teams, local 5ks (usually get a link on their site).
- Local Associations: Chamber of Commerce, BNI chapters.
- AVOID: Generic link-building services selling DA 50+ links from random blogs.
Audit Your Foundation First
Don't spend a dime on backlinks until your citations and GBP are perfect. Let us check your foundation.