Local SEO is about making sure your business shows up when people nearby search for the services you offer. It’s not just about ranking anywhere in Johannesburg; it’s about being visible where your potential customers actually live and search.

Think about it this way: if someone searches for “call out natural hairdressers in Sandton,” they expect to find professionals nearby, not across town.

Or imagine you live in Roodepoort and need a makeup artist – would you hire someone based in Kempton Park? Probably not, unless it’s a big event like a wedding that justifies the travel.

This local intent matters because people want convenience and fast service. A plumber in Randburg won’t get many calls from customers in Soweto if they don’t appear in local search results for Soweto-based queries.

Similarly, a catering business in Alberton – like one of our clients who got her first lead within two weeks of launching her optimised website – benefits hugely from targeting nearby suburbs where people are actively searching for her services.

Focusing your SEO on local keywords and suburbs where your customers are increases your chances of appearing in Google’s local pack (those map listings at the top of search results), which drives real customer calls and enquiries.

This kind of targeted visibility beats generic city-wide SEO that might attract website visitors from miles away who will never become customers.