How to Build Local Links That Actually Help Your Business

Getting links from the right local sources can strengthen your search visibility, improve credibility, and bring in customers. But too many businesses either ignore local link building or focus on the wrong types of links.

A handful of relevant, high-quality local links will always outperform hundreds of random directory listings. The goal is not just to get links, but to get the right links. Decent links that reinforce your business’s place in the local market and help search engines understand its relevance.

What Makes a Good Local Link?

Not all links carry the same weight. For local SEO, the best links tend to come from sources that are:

• Relevant to your industry or location
• Trusted by search engines and real users
• Naturally linked within content, rather than buried on a spammy directory page
• Connected to organisations, businesses, or media outlets that actually matter in your area

If a website has little traffic, no local presence, or exists purely to sell links, it is not going to help.

Where to Find Local Link Opportunities

Good local links come from relationships and real-world connections. Some of the best places to look include:

• Local business associations – Chambers of commerce, trade bodies, and networking groups often link to their members.
• Community websites and news outlets – Getting mentioned on a respected local news site carries more weight than most directories ever will.
• Sponsorships and partnerships – Supporting a local charity, event, or sports team often comes with a legitimate link on their website.
• Industry connections – Suppliers, local service providers, and business partners may already have a section on their site where they highlight who they work with.
• Locally relevant content – Creating useful content that is valuable to people in your area can naturally attract backlinks from other local sites.

How to Approach Local Link Building

Local link building is not about chasing numbers. It is about reinforcing your business’s presence in the community and making sure search engines can see those connections.

• Prioritise quality over quantity
• Look for real business connections that already exist
• Avoid spammy directories and link-building services that promise quick wins
• Keep track of where your links are placed so they can be updated if needed

Local link building is worth doing properly, but it does take time. If it is not something you can focus on, it is worth having someone handle it for you.