Local SEO makes sure you get found when someone searches Google for your service in your region, such as “gardener Eersel” or “website design Hapert”. GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) makes sure AI search engines such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI mention your business in their answer. The good news: the same basic principles work for both. With the seven steps in this article you can put them into practice right away.
In short
- Make sure Google, AI and customers find the same, correct business details everywhere.
- Create a page per town and service with real, local content.
- Write answer-first: the answer at the top, the explanation below.
- Reviews, mentions in the region and a fast website complete the picture.
What is the difference between local SEO and GEO?
With local SEO you want to rank high in the search results and on Google Maps. With GEO you want an AI assistant to recommend your business or use it as a source. Google looks at relevance, distance and prominence. AI search engines mainly look for clear, reliable information they can easily summarise. A website that clearly answers customer questions scores on both.
Step 1: Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing people see of you. Fill in everything: category, services, service area, opening hours, photos and a short, clear description. Post an update or a photo of recent work now and then. It shows your business is active.
Step 2: Keep your business details consistent
Your name, address and phone number must be exactly the same everywhere: on your website, in your Business Profile, on social media and in business directories. Small differences cause doubt for search engines. Put your details in your website footer and in structured data too.
Step 3: Create local pages with real content
Do you work in several towns, such as Hapert, Bladel, Eersel and Reusel? Then create a page per town with real, local content: projects in that town, how you work there and what customers say. A page where only the town name has been swapped does not work and can even count against you. An example is our page about web design in Hapert.
Step 4: Write answer-first
AI search engines and Google like to pull a short, clear answer from your text. So start every page and every section with the answer to the question, and only then the explanation. Use headings that sound like real questions, such as “How much does a website cost?”. That helps your reader and the search engine.
Write for your customer, not for yourself. The question “what does my customer gain from this?” is the best SEO tip there is.
Step 5: Add structured data
With structured data (schema.org) you tell search engines in their own language who you are, where you are, what you do and what customers think of you. Think of LocalBusiness, Service, FAQ and reviews. It increases the chance of eye-catching search results and helps AI search engines understand your information. A well-built website does this automatically.
Step 6: Collect reviews and respond to them
Reviews are worth their weight in gold, for Google, for AI and for new customers. Ask happy customers for a review afterwards and make it easy with a direct link. Respond to every review, including the critical ones. It shows you care.
Step 7: Build authority in the region
The more often your business is mentioned on trustworthy sites in the region, the stronger you are. Think of the local business association’s website, sponsoring the sports club, an article in the local paper or a collaboration with other businesses from the Kempen. Every mention signals that you are a real, local player.
Bonus: make sure your website is fast and technically healthy
All the steps above work better on a fast website. A slow site costs visitors and rankings. Read our article on Core Web Vitals to learn how to measure and improve this.
Common local SEO mistakes
- The same text on every town page, with only a different town name.
- Outdated opening hours or an old phone number in your Business Profile.
- Not responding to reviews.
- Writing about the same topic with the same keywords over and over, so your pages compete with each other.
- No clear next step: visitors find you but don’t know how to get in touch.
How does Klerks Webdevelopment help?
We build websites that are ready for local SEO and GEO from the ground up: fast technology, structured data, local pages and copy that answers your customers’ questions. Want to get found in the Kempen too? See our approach to online marketing or get in touch.
