Top 10 local SEO services for small businesses in 2023

Local SEO services firms (Search Engineering Optimization Services Companies) provide marketing and optimization services aimed at assisting websites to rank higher in local online searches.

The top local SEO services offer tools and scientifically-proven techniques that boost your rankings at a reasonable price, ultimately generating more leads and clients for your company. To assist you in choosing the best provider for your small business, we examined more than a dozen providers based on price, services, reviews, and other factors.

What is SEO services meaning?

The term “SEO services” refers to a variety of methods and tactics used to improve a website’s visibility by making it more visible to search engines.

The various techniques used to enhance a website’s traffic from search engines or make it more search engine friendly are all included in SEO services. These services include optimizing a website’s on-page and off-page content.

The primary function of SEO services is to optimize the elements of web pages so that search engine crawlers will find them relevant. This is done through web construction and internet marketing.

SEO services to optimize all elements of web pages

The most obvious parts of this are link building and page optimization. The optimization sector is split into so-called “white hat” and “black hat” strategies. White hat SEO places a strong emphasis on creating original content and pays close attention to the webmaster guidelines released by Google and other major search engines. The rules mean nothing to black hat SEO, who will disregard them and do whatever to improve their rankings.

Best local SEO services company

1. Hibu – Overall top local SEO services

Hibu provides a wide range of services for managing brand reputation in addition to listings and citations for local search optimization. A committed account manager organizes outreach to assist you in obtaining more Google reviews and replies when your company receives online reviews. It is an all-in-one search engine marketing (SEM) and local search optimization solution for your small business because it also provides social media and ad management.

Hibu – Overall top local SEO services

Hibu offers the finest services overall for small business owners who seek a comprehensive, tailored solution to create and manage an online presence, according to our study. Its dashboard is simple to use and has all the data required to evaluate and enhance local SEO. Budgeting for Hibu is challenging, though, as there are no set prices listed on the company’s website. Instead, think about WebFX for a comprehensive solution with capped monthly prices.

2. 1SEO – The most cost-effective integrated solution

You may obtain a complete, cost-effective all-in-one local SEO solution at 1SEO Digital Agency, including social media management in addition to technical on-page SEO for your small business website. Citations, listings, backlinks, and reputation management are all covered. Although there isn’t a set price, an account manager will work with your budget to develop a unique estimate that meets your requirements.

Small businesses that require assistance in appearing in local search results would benefit from 1SEO. Your small business can sample 1SEO without worrying about costly cancellation fees since there are no long-term commitments. You can also select a la carte services, such as SEO-driven content, to avoid paying for things your website or company might not require.

3. BrightLocal – The best self-managed strategy platform

The core of the BrightLocal platform is local SEO. BrightLocal offers local SEO tools and monitoring, allowing you to produce citations and manage your web listings and reviews, in contrast to the agencies on our list that will handle the work for you.

BrightLocal is simple to use and offers reporting options so you can gauge the success of your efforts. It makes sense for multi-location firms that need to handle numerous local SEO plans, as well as for agencies and digital marketers.

Although the BrightLocal platform provides tools for local business SEO, you will still need to perform the optimization procedures on your own. Small firms may maintain an optimization strategy with ease and at a low cost because it consolidates all tools and reporting features in one location. The top-tier package is also a fantastic option for marketing firms handling SEO for numerous clientele. However, take into account Hibu or WebFX if you require an all-inclusive solution that also provides execution.

4. WebFX – Best services utilizing artificial intelligence (AI)

A full-service digital marketing company, WebFX offers patented technological solutions for lead generation, review management, and search engine optimization. Customers who pay for local SEO services have access to MarketingCloudFX, a proprietary tool that combines data, machine learning for natural language processing, and artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline reporting and find methods to increase your return on investment (ROI).

The business offers you hands-on help in addition to its tech-enabled solutions, which set it apart from the competition. Every account has a dedicated agent who, in the opinions of reviewers, is knowledgeable and helpful. Additionally, you’ll get access to specialists in digital marketing for the WebFX services that you subscribe to.

WebFX – Best services utilizing artificial intelligence

For businesses looking for a tech-enabled solution with advice from on-the-ground, local SEO specialists, WebFX is a cost-effective option. Since WebFX is a full-service agency, it is simple to add PPC or e-commerce SEO services as your business expands. BrightLocal’s self-managed solution has a few additional benefits than WebFX’s self-managed citation tool, although being less priced than Hibu for citation administration.

5. Fiverr – The cheapest local SEO services

The cheapest local SEO services are available on Fiverr, but they cannot be directly compared to the managed services provided by Hibu, WebFX, or any other company on this list. For example, services for one-time citation building outsourced start at $5, but they do not include ongoing services, reporting, or coverage of other facets of local optimization like managing reviews and website SEO.

For this reason, enhancing internal efforts or bridging gaps in your strategy is the best way to employ Fiverr. Citation building and updating can take a lot of effort, therefore this is a fantastic example of a local SEO approach more suited for a freelancer from Fiverr than methods you like to self-manage, like creating content for your website that is optimized for local search.

On Fiverr, you may also locate independent contractors for link development, website optimization, reputation management, and reviews management. Any of these services can be purchased for as little as $5, and alternatives for continuous services start at about $45 per month.

Remember that each freelancer on the platform has a varied variety of services available, so it will take some time to vet each one to find the greatest fit for your company. It’s a significant bonus for startups and small enterprises on a budget who want to obtain a strong return on investment as reviews are available for each supplier and pricing is transparent.

6. SmartSites – The best for increasing organic traffic through SEO content marketing.

Citation building, content marketing, and listing maintenance are all services provided by the digital marketing company SmartSites. Due to the absence of reviews and social media monitoring, it falls short of being a full-service local SEO business. However, it’s a smart option for neighborhood businesses that merely want to bundle services a la carte and don’t want to make a long-term commitment.

When it comes to local SEO, SmartSites is a wise choice—especially if you don’t have the time to frequently update your website with new material. But unlike Hibu, it doesn’t offer the same review and social media management services. As an alternative, you may think about using a less expensive service like BrightLocal to handle listings and citations and hire a freelance SEO copywriter on Fiverr to create content for you.

7. Searchbloom – The best for technical SEO.

In the digital marketing space, Searchbloom is an SEO and pay-per-click (PPC) agency that doesn’t strive to be all things to all people. Instead, it provides incredibly detailed analyses of your website, citations, and listings before coming up with a unique plan that incorporates technical optimization and website schema.

Sadly, it doesn’t provide management services for internet reputation, reviews, or social media. Your free consultation does include a marketing strategy, though, that you can use to determine whether Searchbloom is the best choice for raising the visibility of your company in local online searches.

The specific, technical approach used by Searchbloom in its local SEO audits makes it the perfect choice for established companies looking to find out how to outperform rivals in the SERPs. Select a whole solution from Hibu if you require a more complete digital marketing solution that covers social media and reputation management.

8. NP Digital – The Best for Conversion-Driven SEO

Neil Patel, a New York Times best-selling author and one of the most powerful marketers in the world, according to The Wall Street Journal and Forbes, co-founded NP Digital in 2017.

Neil has been offering consultancy and thought leadership to the business and marketing world for more than 20 years. His passion, creativity, and insights are brought to life for clients around the world through NP Digital, an agency.

They created a group of enthusiastic professionals who are encouraged to uphold our corporate principles.

• “Think Big” puts our teams to the test in all facets of the business. For our clients, it necessitates that we go above and beyond what is anticipated of them in terms of their vision, while also pushing us to develop into a dedicated partner who offers strategic advice and quantifiable business results.
• “Own It” is crucial in promoting worker autonomy. We think that taking ownership motivates workers to develop their skill sets for their jobs, chart their career pathways, and acquire useful leadership qualities. 
• “Have Fun” refers to having fun while working together and creating a fun workplace for everyone. Our enthusiasm for what we do is evident throughout the company.

9. HigherVisibility

HigherVisibility is a company that focuses mostly on local SEO and organic search engine optimization. For small enterprises, franchises, and multi-location businesses, they excel in local SEO. More than 50% of their clients are proprietors of small, neighborhood businesses who want an increase in customers, leads, and revenue. In their online case studies, they discuss the outcomes they’ve obtained for other clients.

Prior to this, HigherVisibility was named a Top 10 SEO Agency by UpCity and awarded Agency of the Year by Search Engine Land in 2018. They have received 4.8 stars in total from reviews.

10. Instaboost Media – The most affordable SEO agency

Instaboost Media has two areas of specialization. Paid advertisements (like those on Google, Facebook, Bing, etc.) and local SEO. Local SEO was how they first got started. They are among the best SEO firms listed on Clutch.co, and their overall internet review score ranges from 4.1 to 4.8.

Instaboost Media – The most affordable SEO agency

They are a tiny group that is concentrated on generating leads for nearby companies. On their website, they provide clear pricing ranging from $299 to $499 per month. Their services are mostly concerned with bringing in visitors and leads. Instaboost is probably not the ideal option for you if your company is medium-sized or local and has several locations.

With 750+ small company clients, Instaboost Media has received excellent evaluations on sites like Google, Clutch, G2, and others.

How to choose an affordable SEO agency

The correct traits and qualities should be displayed by a fantastic local search company in their own operations. If the business you’re contemplating lacks any of these qualities, it should raise severe concerns. The following is a list of qualities to look for:

• A solid reputation: The business you’re thinking about should have one. Examples include excellent case studies, references from pleased customers, powerful testimonials on social media, and positive ratings on sites like Clutch or Google. You want to make sure that they have a reputation for being reliable, keeping their word, and putting up consistent effort.
• Indisputable morality: Your agency should concentrate on tried-and-true white hat practices and strategies. They won’t take unwarranted chances with dubious grey or black hat techniques. They conduct themselves in an ethical, frank, and straightforward manner. This implies that they will abide by the guidelines and conditions set forth by other platforms, such as Google, Yelp, Facebook, and others.
• Employees with extensive training: They should have run a number of local search campaigns and have years of experience. You shouldn’t be paying for your agency to learn the ins and outs of local search on your expense, nor should your account be handled by inexperienced interns. You’ll want to see that personnel are certified, constantly taught, and good at what they do.
• Utilizes modern methods and techniques: Local SEO is constantly evolving. Your agency ought to be aware of the changes happening in the sector. They ought to be ready to articulate the updates or modifications they’ve chosen to apply as well as their rationale. Additionally, they must to be able to provide a few sources explaining the changes they monitor.
• Reputable communicators: A good firm regularly updates customers on the performance of their campaign and pertinent industry changes that may have an impact on their business. They’ll collaborate with you to develop a timetable (weekly, monthly, etc.) and keep you informed of the project’s status. In the event that something goes wrong, they will contact you right away to explain what transpired, why it occurred, and how they plan to avoid it in the future. Additionally, if anything goes well, they’ll do this.
• Reaches consistent outcomes: An established agency attracts regional clients. They are aware of the considerable pressure facing neighborhood businesses, many of whom are fighting to remain open. Experienced firms concentrate on delivering the outcomes that will help their regional clients prosper.
• Lays out achievable promises: A seasoned local search firm won’t make the claim that they will “bring you to the top in Google.” They’ll assist you in maintaining realistic expectations and link campaign results to your company’s goals and objectives.

When a company you’re contemplating doesn’t exhibit these qualities, it’s a huge warning sign. These qualities are the prerequisites if you want to partner with a marketing firm.