Local SEO is more important than ever for Western Australian businesses, particularly those in Perth. With the state’s geographic isolation, unique local search habits, and a population that relies heavily on mobile devices, businesses must focus on local SEO to remain visible and competitive. This guide will show you exactly what works for local SEO in Perth right now.
Why Local SEO is Essential for WA Businesses
Local SEO is the process of optimising your online presence to attract more customers from local searches. For Perth businesses, this is critical because of the city’s physical distance from other major Australian hubs. Customers are more likely to use local search terms like “plumber in Joondalup” or “café in Fremantle.”
This means having a strong local SEO strategy ensures you show up when locals search for products or services you offer.
Additionally, Google’s algorithm has become smarter in 2025, placing a higher emphasis on local intent. This means that searchers looking for services in Perth will see results tailored to their location. For your business, this makes it crucial to appear prominently in these local searches.
Understanding How Google Ranks Local Businesses
Google uses three main factors to rank local businesses: proximity, relevance, and prominence.
• Proximity: How close your business is to the person searching.
• Relevance: How well your business matches the search query.
• Prominence: How well-known and established your business is online.
For Perth businesses, suburb-specific searches are incredibly common. Users might search for “SEO services in Subiaco” rather than just “SEO services.” Understanding this local search behaviour is key to achieving local SEO success.
Pro Tip: Leverage Mobile-First Behaviour
Most Perth locals search for businesses on their phones. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, with fast loading times, clear navigation, and click-to-call buttons. A mobile-friendly site not only improves user experience but also positively impacts your local search ranking.
Actionable Strategies for Local SEO Success in Perth
Now that you know why local SEO is so important, let’s take a look at some strategies that you can implement:
1. Optimise Your Google Business Profile
Start with your Google Business Profile (GBP). Make sure it is complete, accurate, and up to date. Include Perth-specific details such as your business address, operating hours, and phone number. Use local keywords in your business description, and ensure you categorise your business correctly.
An active GBP is more likely to rank higher. Regularly post updates, share photos, respond to customer reviews, and answer customer questions. These actions show Google that your business is engaged and reliable.
2. Target Suburb-Specific Keywords
In Perth, people often search for services using suburb names. Don’t just focus on “Perth” – include surrounding suburbs like Joondalup, Subiaco, and Fremantle. For even better results, create suburb-specific landing pages to capture these local searches.
For example, a plumber might have landing pages for “Emergency Plumber Joondalup” and “Blocked Drain Services Fremantle.” These pages should be optimised with unique content that speaks directly to customers in those areas.
3. Collect Local Reviews
Positive reviews are crucial for local SEO. They improve your business’s prominence and make it more attractive to potential customers. Encourage your customers to leave reviews on Google and respond to every review, whether positive or negative.
Make it easy for customers to leave reviews by providing direct review links in follow-up emails or on your website. The more positive reviews you have, the more trustworthy your business appears.
4. Build Local Backlinks
Backlinks from reputable local websites signal to Google that your business is trusted within your community. For Perth businesses, this means connecting with local directories, Perth-based blogs, news sites, and industry associations.
You can earn local backlinks by:
• Partnering with local businesses for collaborations.
• Sponsoring local events or community organisations.
• Contributing guest posts to local blogs or news sites.
• Joining Perth-specific business directories like Hotfrog, Yellow Pages, and StartLocal.
5. Maintain NAP Consistency
NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. These details must be consistent across all online platforms, including your website, Google Business Profile, social media accounts, and local directories.
Why is this important? Because Google cross-references these details to confirm the legitimacy of your business. If your NAP information is inconsistent, it can confuse Google and harm your local SEO rankings.
6. Leverage Local Schema Markup
Local schema markup is a type of structured data you can add to your website’s code to help search engines understand key details about your business, such as your address, phone number, operating hours, and even customer reviews.
Using schema markup makes it easier for Google to understand your business, which can improve your chances of appearing in local search results and the local pack (the map section in Google search results).
7. Create Location-Specific Content
Don’t just optimise your homepage – create content that directly targets your local audience. This can include:
• Blog posts about local events, guides, or news (e.g., “Top 10 Things to Do in Fremantle”).
• Service pages for each suburb you serve (e.g., “Electrical Repairs in Subiaco”).
• Local FAQs that answer specific questions Perth customers might have.
The more you create content that addresses local interests and needs, the more likely your website will be seen as a local authority by Google.
8. Monitor and Improve Your Performance
Local SEO is not a set-and-forget strategy. Regularly monitor your local SEO performance using tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and even specialised local SEO tools like BrightLocal.
Key metrics to track include:
• Your website’s local search rankings.
• Total local search traffic.
• The number of calls, messages, or website clicks from your Google Business Profile.
• Customer review growth and review response rate.
Set a regular schedule (such as once a month) to review these metrics and identify areas where you can improve.
Real-World Results: How Local SEO Can Boost Visibility
To show how effective these tactics can be, consider a Perth-based plumbing business that focused on local SEO. They created suburb-specific pages, optimised their Google Business Profile, and consistently collected customer reviews. Within six months, they saw a 300% increase in local search traffic.
Another example is a Fremantle café that improved its prominence by partnering with local influencers for backlinks. They also gathered over 200 positive reviews, which significantly boosted their map pack ranking, leading to a 150% increase in walk-in customers.
A third case involves a digital marketing agency in Joondalup that used local schema markup, consistent NAP, and suburb-specific content. This strategy resulted in a 200% increase in local search leads within three months.
Get Your Free Local SEO Audit
Want to know how your business is performing in local search? Book a Free Local SEO Audit today. This audit will show you exactly where your local SEO stands, what’s working, and where you can improve.
Local SEO is an ongoing process, but when done right, it can dramatically boost your visibility in Perth and bring more customers to your business. Don’t miss out on the local customers actively searching for your products or services.
