What is the difference between local SEO and national SEO?
Local SEO targets searches with geographic intent — "HVAC repair Aurora," "flag store Denver," "best gluten-free bakery near me." The goal is to appear in Google’s local pack and in location-specific organic results. National SEO targets broader non-location-specific searches where the searcher’s location is less relevant.
For a Denver or Front Range small business, local SEO is almost always the higher-leverage investment. You’re not competing against national brands. You’re competing against other local businesses — and most haven’t invested seriously in local SEO.
What signals matter most for local rankings?
Google weights three areas: relevance (does your GBP and website match what was searched), proximity (how close is the business to the searcher), and prominence (how well-known and authoritative based on reviews, links, and content).
For most Denver small businesses, relevance is the fastest lever. GBP category, on-page keyword alignment, and locally-specific content can be addressed quickly. Proximity is fixed. Prominence builds over time.
What does a local SEO setup require?
A correctly configured Google Business Profile, Google Search Console connected, Yoast configured across all templates, a keyword strategy built around local commercial intent, location-specific page content, and a content program building topical authority.
Ongoing: monthly content publishing structured for AEO as well as SEO, GBP management, Search Console monitoring, keyword tracking.
How is AI search changing local SEO in 2026?
ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews generate direct answers to local questions — pulling from authoritative sources. Local businesses structuring content for AEO alongside traditional local SEO capture both Google Maps results and AI-generated answers. Most local competitors aren’t doing this yet.