Organic SEO vs Local SEO: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve ever Googled something like “best pizza in town” or “how to start a blog,” you’ve probably noticed that some results show a list of local businesses right at the top of the page, while others are just regular website listings. That’s no accident, it’s SEO (Search Engine Optimization) at work!

SEO is all about helping your website rank higher in search engine results, so more people can find your business. But not every SEO tactic is made equally. Depending on your business goals and audience, you might want to focus on Organic SEO or Local SEO. Both of these strategies aim to improve your search rankings, but they take different approaches. 

What is Organic SEO?

When we talk about Organic SEO, we’re referring to the methods used to increase your website’s ranking on search engines like Google, typically aiming for a national or global audience. This is the more traditional form of SEO, where the goal is to show up in the general search results (the regular “blue links” you see under the paid ads).

Key components of Organic SEO include:

• Keyword Optimization: Researching high-value keywords and incorporating them into your content, titles, meta descriptions, etc.
• Quality Content Creation: Consistently producing informative, engaging, and original content that answers your audience’s questions.
• Link Building: Gaining high-quality backlinks from other websites to build your site’s authority and trustworthiness.
• Site Optimization: Ensuring your website is fast, mobile-friendly, and free from technical errors that could hurt your ranking.

This type of SEO is perfect for businesses that are trying to attract a broad audience, like an e-commerce store, a news blog, or a national service provider. It’s about reaching people from anywhere and everywhere who might be searching for what you offer.

What is Local SEO?

On the other hand, Local SEO focuses on improving your visibility in search results for people within a specific geographic area. It’s the strategy that helps local businesses get found when potential customers are searching for products or services nearby.

Key components of Local SEO include:

• Google My Business (GMB) Optimization: Creating and optimizing your Google My Business profile, which is crucial for showing up in local search results and Google Maps.
• Local Citations: Listing your business in online directories (like Yelp or Yellow Pages) with consistent and accurate information (name, address, phone number—also known as NAP).
• Customer Reviews: Encouraging customers to leave reviews on your Google profile or other review sites, can help boost your rankings and credibility.
• Location-Based Keywords: Using keywords that target specific cities, neighborhoods, or regions, like “plumber in Chicago” or “coffee shop near me.”

Local SEO is perfect for businesses with a physical location or those that offer services to a specific community or region, like a restaurant, a real estate agency, or a plumbing service. It’s all about attracting customers who are nearby and ready to take action.

Important Distinctions Between Local and Organic SEO

While both Organic and Local SEO have the same end goal—helping your website rank higher in search results—they use different strategies and target different audiences. Here’s how they compare:

1. Target Audience

• Organic SEO: Aims to attract a national or global audience. This is great if you sell products online or offer services that aren’t limited to a specific region.
• Local SEO: Targets a local audience—people within a specific area or city. Local SEO is key for businesses that rely on foot traffic or serve a specific geographic region.

2. Strategies Used

• Organic SEO focuses on broad strategies like content creation, keyword research, and acquiring backlinks from other reputable websites to improve your overall authority.
• Local SEO is all about optimizing your Google My Business profile, getting reviews, building local citations, and using location-based keywords to show up in local search results.

3. Search Results Appearance

• With Organic SEO, your website appears in the main search results, and you’ll typically see your listing show up among the organic (non-paid) results.
• Local SEO often shows up in the Google Local Pack—that group of three businesses that appears at the top of the search results with a map, address, and phone number. This is especially important for searches with local intent (like “best dentist near me”).

4. Keyword Targeting

• Organic SEO generally targets broad, high-volume keywords that have the potential to attract visitors from anywhere, such as “best shoes online” or “digital marketing tips.”
• Local SEO, on the other hand, targets location-based keywords, like “pizza in Brooklyn” or “tax consultant in Austin.”

When to Use Organic SEO, Local SEO, or Both

The strategy you choose depends on the nature of your business. Let’s break it down:

• Use Organic SEO if your business operates on a national or global scale. For example, if you run an online store or a digital marketing agency that serves clients anywhere, organic SEO will help you rank for broader search terms and attract a larger audience.
• Use Local SEO if you have a physical storefront or provide services in a specific location. For example, a restaurant, a local gym, or a home cleaning service would benefit from showing up in local searches, especially for people nearby looking for your service.
• Use Both Organic and Local SEO if your business has both local and national components. For instance, a coffee shop with an online store could use local SEO to attract nearby customers and organic SEO to grow its e-commerce side.

Final Thoughts

Both Organic SEO and Local SEO are powerful tools, but they’re designed to meet different needs. Organic SEO is the right choice if you’re looking to attract a broad, national (or global) audience, while Local SEO is ideal if you’re focused on attracting people in a specific area.

If your business has both a local and national component, don’t hesitate to use both strategies to cover all your bases. The key is knowing your audience and aligning your SEO strategy with your business goals. If you need help in deciding which type of SEO fits your business, reach out to us and get started!