Welcome to my post on local link building strategies that will boost your local SEO on a cost-effective budget.
If you're a local service business, chances are you're not trying to compete with Amazon or Forbes—but you are competing with the plumber down the road or the HVAC guy in the next town over.
And in that battle, local backlinks could be your secret weapon.
Most small businesses overlook link building altogether or assume it's something only big brands can do. The truth? Local link building strategies can be simple, affordable, and extremely effective—if you know where to look.
In this guide, you'll discover real-world tactics for earning quality backlinks that improve your visibility in local search results (Google Maps + organic).
If you would like to visit see all of my Local SEO Strategies Visit This Page
While Google's algorithm has evolved to focus more on entities and relevance, backlinks still:
Signal trust and authority
Help validate your business location and niche
Improve both Map Pack and organic local rankings
Local links don’t have to come from massive media outlets. A link from your town’s Chamber of Commerce or a local newspaper can be way more valuable than a generic blog link from across the country.
Google’s John Mueller said "Links are really important for us to find content initially. So it’s like if nobody links to your website ever then we’re going to have a hard time recognizing that it even exists.” Linkbuilding.com
10 Places You Can Get Backlinks For Free Or Very Low Cost
1. Local Business Directories (Structured Citations)
These are the foundational links for any local business. They tell Google where you are, what you do, and help build NAP consistency.
Start with:
- Google Business Profile
- Yelp
- Bing Places
- Apple Maps
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Local Chamber of Commerce
- Industry-specific directories (e.g., Angi, HomeAdvisor for contractors)
Tip: Use a tool like BrightLocal or Whitespark to audit and build citations efficiently.
2. Sponsor Local Events or Nonprofits
Small charities and community events often have donor or sponsor pages where they link to supporters. These pages can be powerful because:
- They’re hyper-local
- Often have decent authority
- Send trust signals to Google
Examples:
- Sponsor a Little League team
- Donate to a food drive
- Support a local 5K or town fair
- Reach out with this message:
“We’d love to support [Event]. Do you have a sponsor page or website where you acknowledge community partners?”
3. Get Featured on Local News Sites or Blogs
Pitch your story to:
- Local newspapers
- Regional blogs
- Patch.com
- Local influencers or content creators
- What stories work?
- New service launches
- Milestone anniversaries
- Community involvement
- Interesting customer stories
Offer quotes, photos, and a “local angle.” These types of editorial backlinks carry major trust weight.
4. Partner With Other Local Businesses
You’re not in this alone. Many local business owners serve the same customers but don’t directly compete.
Example partnerships:
- A roofing company linking to a gutter installer
- A wedding venue linking to a local caterer or florist
- A therapist linking to a nearby yoga studio
- Ask for:
- Resource page mentions
- Blog post shout-outs
- Co-hosted events or webinars
Each partner gains relevance, visibility, and a backlink.
5. Publish Local Resource Pages
Create content that naturally earns links. Example:
“Top 10 Places to Host a Birthday Party in Milford CT”
“Best Pet-Friendly Parks in New Haven County”
“Contractor’s Guide to Building Permits in [City]”
You’ll get attention from:
- Other businesses you mention (who may link back)
- Local directories
- Residents sharing with friends
These “ego bait” posts work wonders when you tag and notify the people featured.
6. Get Listed on Local Awards & Rankings Pages
Search Google for:
“Top [your service] in [city]”
“Best [industry] Milford CT”
“Best of 2024 [city] winners”
Find local publications, awards, or roundup posts and request inclusion. If there’s an application, fill it out.
Bonus: If you're voted into a “Best Of” contest, you get both a link and authority from social proof.
- Blog post shout-outs
- Co-hosted events or webinars
Each partner gains relevance, visibility, and a backlink.
7. Create a Scholarship or Contest
Example:
“MilfordCTMarketing.com Small Business Scholarship — $500 to Local High School Entrepreneurs”
Promote it to:
- Local high schools
- Community colleges
- Local press
- Social media
You’ll get:
- Links from .edu sites (schools, teachers)
- Local mentions
- Brand awareness
Just make sure it's relevant to your brand and not spammy.
8. Use HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
HARO (www.helpareporter.com) connects journalists with sources.
Sign up and respond to queries relevant to:
- Marketing
- Small business
- Your specific trade (plumbing, HVAC, legal, etc.)
If selected, you’ll get:
A backlink
National exposure (sometimes local, too)
Be fast, relevant, and brief in your pitches.
9. Offer Testimonials for Local Vendors
Do you:
- Use a local print shop?
- Work with a bookkeeping service?
- Buy supplies from a regional wholesaler?
Write them a testimonial. Many businesses post testimonials on their websites—with a backlink to the source (you).
10. Leverage Your Google Business Profile Website Link
While not a “backlink” in the traditional sense, many local business owners overlook optimizing the website field in GBP.
Make sure it:
- Links to a location or service page (not just homepage)
- Uses UTM tracking
- Matches your citation NAP info
This gives Google more confidence in your business location, which boosts rankings.
Final Tips for Local Link Building Success
Start local first—don’t chase high DA links from unrelated sites.
Be consistent and ethical—don’t pay for links.
Set a monthly goal (e.g., 2 new quality links per month)
Use tracking tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Google Search Console to monitor new links and referrals.
Link building is a long game—but in local SEO, a few good links can go a long way.
Ready to Turn Visibility Into Real Leads?
Don't leave your rankings to chance. Start showing up where it matters most—right in front of your ideal local customers. Get my High-Impact Google Business Profile Blueprint course and follow the exact steps I use to rank my clients in Maps and search results.
