Once you start getting serious about growing your business online, there is a high chance you will get into the endless discussion of SEO vs. Local SEO.

Both are powerful and boost your visibility. But the purpose of each of them is very different than one another.

Gladly for you, today we have decided to break it down end-to-end without any cover-up, buzzwords, or complicated definitions. 

Let’s go ahead and learn what sets apart SEO and Local SEO, how they are different from one another, and which one or both you should use for your business.

Break SEO and Local SEO One-by-One

What is SEO?

Starting from the basics, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a process to help your website rank higher on search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing worldwide.

For example, when someone types “BEST AFFORDABLE CLOTHING BRANDS” on Google, SEO helps the search engine decide which brand will appear, your’s or your competitor’s.

You need to understand two things when it comes to SEO: one is what is on-page SEO, and the other is what is off-page SEO.

On-page SEO is one of the many components of SEO, and optimizing title tags, headers, meta descriptions, images, internal links, and URLs so Google understands (and loves) your site is part of it.

Off-page SEO improves your website performance using external sources, and local SEO is one of the most important parts of it.

SEO services commonly focus on:

• Keyword research and optimization

• Developing high-quality, relevant content

• Building backlinks (relevant and high-quality sites linking to yours)

• Technical SEO (site speed, mobile-friendliness, structured data)

Why SEO Matters

• According to BrightEdge, 68% of online experiences start with a search engine.
• According to Backlinko, 27.6% of all clicks on Google’s organic search go to top results.

If your focus is to sell your products/services online, and you are ignoring SEO, well, my friend, the results you will get will be similar to operating a business in the desert. Zero!

SEO in Action

Imagine you are targeting people looking for eco-friendly yoga equipment, and you are targeting people from New York, Los Angeles, or Tokyo to find you.

You’re not tied to a physical location instead, you’re tied to keyword intent.

Here, the job of on-page SEO starts, and you might need to outsource SEO to experts who know how to climb the rankings.

What is Local SEO?

Now, turn to the other side of the coin: local SEO is not about the world, it’s about places near your business.

Let’s first answer the most basic question: What is local SEO?

It is the process of optimizing your online presence for a specific location to dominate searches happening around it. For example, “best pizza place in Chicago” or “affordable plumber near me.”

Local SEO is a combination of strategies like:

• Building and optimizing a Google Business profile (GBP).

• Collecting positive customer reviews

• Building local connections (mentions of your business across the web)
• Optimizing for mobile and voice searches

• Including location-specific keywords

According to HubSpot, 46% of all Google searches have a “local intent”. That’s almost half the people surfing online!

Local search optimization isn’t just a choice if you’re operating a physical business — it’s a must to have.

Local SEO in Action

Suppose you have a plumbing business operating in New York. Without a New York plumbing market plan, you’re likely to miss your ideal customers.

A customer looking for bathroom supplies in Tokyo is not the right audience for you. A customer nearby searching “plumber near me” is everything.

Local SEO should be your go-to strategy if you are ready to dominate Google Maps SEO or appear in the Google 3 Pack.

Local SEO vs Traditional SEO: Head-to-Head Comparison

When you use phrases like “local SEO vs traditional SEO,” it often sounds like a competition, but in reality, both of them serve different purposes.

Let’s go deeper.

Style Differences

• Traditional SEO is a sustainable growth strategy as it helps with long-term stability and compounding growth.
• Local SEO is more local-champ. It’s about rapid growth, quick local visibility, and winning over the competition in real time.

Both have their charm, but you have to know which is the better fit for you.

When Should You Focus on SEO?

You should focus on traditional SEO if you:

• Trade products online that can ship globally
• Have a blog, magazine, or publication
• Develop software, apps, or courses
• You are looking for national brand recognition

Why on-page SEO is important is that it helps Google to understand who you are and what you do with the help of every piece of content you post on your site.

As outsourcing SEO services might look easy but it can make or break your brand, as global competition is fierce and it requires expert skills to succeed.

When Should You Focus on Local SEO?

Local SEO is your game if you:

• Have a physical location where you are operating (salon, restaurant, gym)
• Provide local services (like local SEO for plumbers)
• Business comes from walk-ins or neighborhood word-of-mouth

What does a local SEO specialist do?

Well, easy: Their job is to help you appear in local searches for the relevant search queries. They help your business appear on maps, on mobile, and in voice search.

Using Both SEO and Local SEO Together

Well, now we have come to the real part. Both SEO and local SEO are not competitors instead, local SEO is a part of a broader SEO strategy. We are saying, in some cases, both go hand in hand.

For example, a clothing brand operates locally but also delivers nationwide.

• Local SEO: In this case, it will optimize for “men’s clothing store in San Francisco.”

• SEO: It will optimize to get a higher rank for “best men’s clothing store in the USA”

Also, creating smart location landing pages (like “best men’s clothing store in Palo Alto,” “men’s clothing store in Oakland”) can increase your reach rapidly, both locally and nationally.

Best strategy: Create a combination of both. Develop a multi-layer SEO approach that brings businesses from both local and national markets. 

Common Mistakes People Make

We know you have understood the assignment, but hold your horses before hiring a Local SEO Agency. Consider the following landmines to avoid them:

• Ignoring your Google Business Profile — If you are a locally operated business, this will give your business a lifeline to survive in competition.

• Choosing wrong keywords — Your keyword selection helps you stand ahead, for example, “cheap shoes” vs “cheap shoes in LA” can create a massive difference.

• Skipping mobile optimization — The Worst mistake you can make is to ignore mobile optimization because, according to Google, 78% of local mobile searches lead to an offline purchase. Imagine what you will miss!

• Leaving location landing pages without a trial for multi-location domination.

• Failing to track different KPIs — Success you get from local SEO and traditional SEO looks different. Track them differently, too.

Quick Strategy Map

If your goal is…

• Brand fame: Start focusing on SEO — own broad keywords, dominate rankings.
• Packed storefronts: Start focusing on Local SEO — be an expert in the Google 3 Pack.
• Both: If you want both global recognition and local business, create a combined strategy using SEO + Local SEO strategy that captures every opportunity.

Pro tip: If you are thinking of outsourcing SEO, make sure that you ask the right questions to the potential agency to find out whether they know the difference between the two and craft a plan accordingly.

Final Take: Local SEO vs Traditional SEO Is Not Either-Or

It happens often that the debate on local SEO vs traditional SEO misses the point.

But let me clear it one more time that it is never this or that. It is always about deciding on what big you can achieve next.

Want global customers? Choose traditional SEO. Or want a customer around the corner? Choose local SEO. Want a combination of both? Layer your strategies like a boss.

Because ranking at the top of Google is not about luck, but it is more than to learn how the game is played, and since you have all the details, you are more ready than others.

Let’s go dominate.

Still Guessing Between SEO and Local SEO?

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FAQ Section

1. What is the difference between SEO and Local SEO?

SEO focuses on building a customer base around the world by optimizing websites for broad keywords, whereas local SEO targets local traffic to boost visibility in a specific geographic area by optimizing for local search queries.

2. When should I focus on Local SEO instead of traditional SEO?

Local SEO should be prioritized when you are operating a physical business like a salon, restaurant, or clinic, or offering services within a specific geographic region. It helps you get visibility in local map results, Google 3 Pack listings, and “near me” searches.

3. Can I use both Local SEO and traditional SEO for my business?

Yes! Why not? Using both strategies combined is often the right choice. Because traditional SEO focuses on building a global brand, whereas local SEO keeps bringing local foot traffic. Combining them covers every potential customer touchpoint.