If you’ve spent any time in the SEO world, you’ve heard it a hundred times: “You need backlinks to rank.” And sure, for national and e-commerce SEO, that might be true. But at Map Agency, we do things differently because local SEO plays by a different set of rules.
We don’t do link building. Not because we don’t know how, but because it simply isn’t the lever that moves the needle for local businesses trying to show up on Google Maps.
The Truth About Link Building in Local SEO
In traditional SEO, links are a major ranking factor. But Google Business Profile (GBP) rankings are governed more by proximity, relevance, and prominence than by PageRank. That means even the fanciest link profile won’t help a business that hasn’t nailed its local foundations.
Local visibility is about being seen where your customers are searching: the map pack. And to win there, you need a clean, optimized profile that Google trusts, not a backlink from some directory no one visits.
What We Focus On Instead
At Map Agency, we put all our effort into the five areas that matter most for GBP success:
- Keyword Research: We identify how your local customers actually search and tailor your profile to match.
- Initial Optimization: We fine-tune your GBP setup, from categories and service areas to hours and business details.
- Ongoing Content: Weekly posts, fresh photos, and updates that keep your profile active and relevant.
- Review Strategy: We help you earn consistent, high-quality reviews that build trust and relevance.
- Performance Reporting: Transparent, data-driven reporting that tracks real results like impressions, calls, and clicks.
Local Results That Matter
Our clients aren’t looking for abstract SEO wins. They want phones ringing and doors opening. That’s why we focus on strategies that directly affect local search visibility. We don’t chase vanity metrics. We chase customers.
Ready to Rank Where It Counts?
If you’re ready to skip the smoke and mirrors and focus on what actually drives local growth, Map Agency is your partner. We’ll show you what matters, track it transparently, and keep you moving forward.
Let’s put your business on the map, literally. Reach out today for a free local visibility audit.
