Local backlinks are among the most powerful ranking factors in local SEO. If you want your business to rank in Google’s Local Pack, Maps, and organic results, you need quality local backlinks from credible and relevant sources in your geographic area.
This guide explains how to get local backlinks effectively, avoid common mistakes, and leverage community and niche opportunities for sustainable local SEO growth.
What Are Local Backlinks?
Local backlinks are inbound links to your website from other locally-relevant websites, directories, blogs, media outlets, or organizations. These links act as trust signals to search engines, telling them your business is authoritative, credible, and locally connected.
Examples of local backlink sources:
- Local business directories (like Yell, Thomson Local, Yelp UK)
- Local newspapers and news blogs
- Chamber of commerce or business associations
- Local influencers or bloggers
- Partner businesses in your area
- Local event sponsorships
Why Local Backlinks Matter for SEO
Here’s why local link building is essential for local SEO:
- Boosts Local Rankings: Backlinks from local sites signal to Google that your business is part of the community.
- Improves Trust & Authority: High-quality backlinks build domain authority and search engine trust.
- Drives Relevant Local Traffic: Visitors who click these links are likely in your service area.
- Supports Google Business Profile: Strong backlink profiles improve your presence in the Local Pack.
- Outranks Local Competitors: Many businesses ignore local backlinks—giving you a strategic edge.
How to Get Local Backlinks (Step-by-Step Strategies)
Let’s break down the most effective and sustainable strategies for building local backlinks.
1. List Your Business in Local Directories
Local citation and directory listings are foundational. Ensure NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone) and add your website URL to get a backlink.
Top UK local directories for backlinks:
- Yell.com
- Yelp.co.uk
- Thomsonlocal.com
- FreeIndex
- Scoot
- Cyclex
- Cylex UK
- 192.com
- Foursquare
- Bing Places
👉 Tip: Avoid low-quality, spammy directories. Focus on those with real local visibility.
2. Partner with Other Local Businesses
Build reciprocal relationships with local, non-competing businesses. You can:
- Exchange backlinks via “Local Partners” pages
- Publish a blog post about each other’s services
- Collaborate on events and cross-promote online
This generates geo-targeted backlinks and builds community goodwill.
3. Sponsor Local Events or Charities
Event and nonprofit sponsorships often come with backlink opportunities from:
- Event websites
- Charity blogs
- Press releases
- Local media outlets
Use anchor text like “SEO Company in Manchester” or your brand name naturally.
4. Get Featured in Local Press & Media
Reach out to:
- Local newspapers (e.g., Manchester Evening News)
- Community newsletters
- Radio station websites
- Local blogs or influencers
Offer a story idea, expert commentary, or submit a press release about an award, milestone, or launch.
This earns editorial local backlinks, which are highly trusted by Google.
5. Write Guest Posts on Local Blogs
Find blogs or micro-influencers in your city or region and pitch them unique content related to your industry.
Example guest post ideas:
- “Top SEO Tips for Manchester Startups”
- “Why Local Businesses in Leeds Must Embrace Digital Marketing”
Include a relevant backlink in your author bio or within the content if allowed.
6. Join Local Business Associations
Membership in organizations like:
- Local Chamber of Commerce
- Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
- BIDs (Business Improvement Districts)
Often includes a profile page with a high-quality backlink.
7. Leverage Local Sponsorships and Scholarships
Create or sponsor:
- A local sports team
- A school program
- A college scholarship
These organizations typically link back to sponsors on their websites, giving you .edu or .org local backlinks—which are highly valuable.
8. Engage with Local Bloggers & Influencers
Influencers in your region can give you exposure and backlinks via:
- Review articles
- Business spotlights
- Local roundups (e.g., “Top Marketing Agencies in London”)
Build authentic relationships—don’t buy backlinks.
9. Use HARO or #JournoRequest (UK)
Respond to journalist queries related to your niche through:
- Help a Reporter Out (HARO)
- Twitter hashtag #JournoRequest
If accepted, you’ll get featured in news publications or blogs with strong backlink profiles.
10. Create Local Resources & Linkable Assets
Publish content that local people or businesses will want to link to, such as:
- Local business guides
- City-specific SEO checklists
- Community event calendars
- Local industry statistics
Promote these on social and through outreach to earn natural backlinks.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Local Link Building
- ❌ Buying low-quality or spammy local backlinks
- ❌ Using irrelevant anchor text or unnatural placements
- ❌ Ignoring NAP consistency in directories
- ❌ Skipping outreach and relying only on directory links
- ❌ Duplicate content across guest posts
Effective local link building is about quality, relevance, and relationships, not shortcuts.
Tools to Help You Find Local Backlink Opportunities
- Ahrefs / SEMrush: Analyze your competitors’ backlinks by city
- BrightLocal: Scan local citations and backlink profiles
- Whitespark Citation Finder: Discover citation sources by location and industry
- Google Search Operators: e.g.,
intitle:"business directory" + your city
How to Track Local Backlink Performance
Use these tools to measure results:
| Tool | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Google Search Console | Track referring domains and anchor text |
| Ahrefs | Monitor backlinks and domain authority |
| Google Analytics | See referral traffic from local sites |
| Moz Link Explorer | Evaluate domain/page authority of local links |
Why Choose Wiserank for Local Link Building?
At Wiserank, we specialize in ethical, location-specific link building strategies that help businesses like yours:
✅ Earn high-quality local backlinks from trusted sources
✅ Boost Google Maps and Local Pack rankings
✅ Grow local authority with citation and community links
✅ Improve traffic and conversions through local visibility
✅ Avoid penalties by steering clear of spammy practices
We don’t just build backlinks—we build your reputation in the local community.
Whether you’re in Manchester, London, Leeds, Birmingham, or beyond, our local SEO experts ensure your backlink profile supports long-term search success.
Final Thoughts: Build Backlinks, Build Local Authority
Getting local backlinks is not just about SEO—it’s about building real relationships, supporting your community, and becoming a trusted brand within your area.
Focus on authenticity, relevance, and value creation. With a smart strategy and consistent effort, local link building becomes a powerful driver of organic growth.
Let Wiserank help you unlock the true power of local backlinks and dominate your local search space. Contact us today to start building your local authority.
