What Is the Difference Between Local SEO and Organic SEO?
Intro Paragraph:
If you’re trying to grow your business online, you’ve likely come across the terms local SEO and organic SEO. While they may seem similar, they serve very different purposes. Understanding the difference between local SEO and organic SEO is essential to building an effective digital strategy that attracts the right audience — whether they’re across town or across the country.
What Is Organic SEO?
Organic SEO refers to the process of optimizing your website so it appears in unpaid (organic) search results on Google and other search engines. This includes optimizing your website content, structure, metadata, internal links, and keyword targeting. Most people refer to organic SEO as on-site or on-page search engine optimization. Some people often refer to it as technical SEO, but that refers specifically to technical edits that help your search engine optimization. Just make sure you look for the word sponsored next to any listing because that will tell you that they paid money for that placement and sometimes those placements aren’t always right at the top they work them in other places also.
Key features of organic SEO include:
Ranking for national or broad search terms
Focus on high-quality content and backlinks
Long-term authority building
No physical location targeting
Example:
If someone searches for “how to fix a leaking faucet,” websites ranking for that term are likely using organic SEO strategies to appear in search results.
What Is Local SEO?
Local SEO is a branch of SEO focused on helping businesses rank higher in local search results — especially in the Google Map Pack and searches that include city or “near me” queries.
Key features of local SEO include:
Targeting geographic keywords like “photographer in Des Moines”
Optimizing Google Business Profile or GBP (formerly Google My Business)
Getting reviews and local citations
Focus on map rankings and localized results
Example:
If someone searches “web designer near me” or “SEO expert in Iowa,” Google will show businesses with optimized local SEO profiles in the Map Pack first. Local SEO results will take into consideration where you are physically located when you are searching, the distance the businesses are from your physical location, and most search engines are now personalizing your results based upon your search history, your location, and your internet activity. So when trying to audit your actual ranking you need to make sure that you are not being shown personalized search results.
Main Differences Between Local SEO and Organic SEO
| Feature | Organic SEO | Local SEO |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Rank in general organic search | Rank in local and map-based searches |
| Audience | National or global | Local customers in specific areas |
| Keywords | General search terms | Geo-targeted terms like “near me” |
| Tools Used | Website content, backlinks, metadata | Google Business Profile, citations, maps |
| Results Location | Traditional search listings | Google Map Pack + localized listings |
Which One Does Your Business Need?
If your business serves a local audience (like a salon, contractor, lawyer, or dog breeder), you absolutely need local SEO. If you’re trying to rank nationally or for broad topics (like a blog, e-commerce store, or online service), organic SEO should be your focus.
In many cases, a smart strategy uses both. For example, a local business can use local SEO to dominate the map and organic SEO to build authority and attract wider traffic.
Conclusion:
So, what is the difference between local SEO and organic SEO? In short, local SEO targets nearby customers with map-based results, while organic SEO focuses on building long-term visibility in general search rankings. Both are powerful — but knowing when and how to use each can make all the difference in your digital success.
