Key Takeaways
- Local SEO helps New Zealand businesses reach nearby customers and stand out in search results.
- You can improve local SEO by optimising your Google Business Profile, using location-based keywords, creating locally focused content, and maintaining consistent business details across all listings.
- Somar Digital’s tailored, data-driven SEO strategies deliver measurable improvements in visibility, traffic, and engagement – with proven results from projects like Star Group and Plan My Walk that demonstrate how effective optimisation drives long-term growth.
Why is Local SEO Important for NZ Businesses?
New Zealand’s digital market presents unique opportunities and challenges, making it important for businesses to adopt a targeted SEO strategy. Unlike larger markets, NZ has a more concentrated audience base, meaning that local search optimisation can significantly impact your online presence.
Local SEO(external link) focuses on reaching nearby customers who are searching for products or services in their area, helping you stand out in local search results. This approach is particularly important for businesses aiming to capture a local market share, such as restaurants, retail stores, or service providers.
How Do You Improve Local SEO?
Improving local SEO starts with understanding how people in your area search for businesses like yours. In New Zealand, users often include location-based terms, such as “near me” or specific cities or suburbs like "Karori" or "Petone", when looking for products or services. The goal is to make sure your business appears when and where they’re searching.
Here are some practical steps to strengthen your local SEO:
Optimise your Google Business Profile
Keep your profile accurate and up to date with your address, opening hours, website, and contact details. Add high-quality photos and encourage reviews to build trust with local customers.
Use location-based keywords
Include your city, region, or suburb within your website copy, headings, and metadata to signal local relevance to search engines.
Build local backlinks
Collaborate with nearby businesses, directories, and community organisations to earn credible links that reinforce your local presence.
Create locally focused content
Write blog posts or case studies about your work in specific regions or with local partners. This not only boosts visibility but helps connect with audiences in a meaningful way.
Keep NAP details consistent
Make sure your Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP)(external link) are identical across your website, social profiles, and business listings. Inconsistent details can confuse both users and search engines.
Monitor and respond to reviews
Engage with customer feedback (both positive and negative!) to show that your business values its community and maintains an active online presence.
At Somar Digital, our local SEO strategies combine these best practices with in-depth data analysis and technical optimisation to help New Zealand businesses stand out in their region and attract the right audience.
Somar Digital’s Approach to Local SEO in New Zealand
Somar Digital is a leading provider of SEO services in New Zealand, known for its in-depth understanding of the local market. Our team takes a client-centric approach, working closely with businesses to understand their goals and deliver customised SEO solutions.
We prioritise comprehensive SEO audits, detailed data analysis, and strategic planning to ensure each client's website achieves optimal search engine performance. Whether you are looking to improve rankings, boost traffic, or increase conversions, Somar Digital’s tailored approach to SEO ensures measurable results.
Key SEO Services Offered by Somar Digital
SEO Audits and Strategy Development
An SEO audit is the foundation of any successful optimisation strategy. It identifies areas of opportunity, such as technical issues, content gaps, and keyword optimisation. Somar Digital is highly skilled in conducting thorough SEO audits, providing a clear roadmap for improving search performance.
For example, in our work with Star Group(external link), we successfully navigated the challenges of merging two major hospitality brands while preserving their existing search engine equity. By developing a strategic 301 redirect plan, we ensured that the new brand maintained its visibility and rankings throughout the transition.
Technical SEO and Website Optimisation
Technical SEO(external link) is essential to make your website accessible to search engines and user-friendly for visitors. Somar Digital’s expertise in technical SEO includes optimising site speed, ensuring mobile-friendliness, and implementing structured data. These factors directly impact your site's performance in search results and user experience.
For the Plan My Walk(external link) project, we focused on improving the website's technical foundation, resulting in faster load times and enhanced user engagement. These improvements contributed to higher rankings and increased organic traffic, showcasing the impact of technical SEO on overall website success.
Content Strategy and Keyword Research
Content is a cornerstone of SEO, and creating content that resonates with your audience requires strategic keyword research. Somar Digital helps clients develop content strategies that align with their business goals and target the right search terms. By focusing on locally relevant keywords, we ensure that businesses in New Zealand reach users who are actively searching for their services.
Our approach involves identifying high-traffic keywords, optimising on-page elements, and creating valuable content that drives engagement. This approach helps clients establish themselves as authorities in their industry and improves their search engine rankings.
Local SEO Expertise
Somar Digital’s local SEO services include optimising Google Business Profile (previously known as Google My Business listings), managing online reviews, and ensuring consistency across directories.
We have a proven track record of helping clients achieve top positions in local search queries, increasing their visibility to potential customers in their area. By focusing on local optimisation, we help businesses become more visible to users searching for products or services nearby, giving them a competitive edge in the NZ market.
SEO Case Studies: Proven Results with Somar Digital
Star Group: SEO Migration Success
When Star Group, one of New Zealand’s leading hospitality groups, needed to merge two brands, they turned to Somar Digital to preserve their SEO equity. Our team conducted a detailed SEO audit, identified key areas for optimisation, and developed a robust migration plan.
We implemented a strategic 301 redirect process to ensure a smooth transition without losing rankings or traffic. The result was a seamless merger with improved search visibility and an enhanced online presence for Star Group.
Some of the key results included:
- Achieving 701 keywords in the top 10 rankings
- Star Group’s Domain Authority(external link) score reaching 41, which indicated high authority
- Following SEO best practices ensuring the site consistently meets the evolving needs of its audience and search engine algorithms
Plan My Walk: Enhancing SEO for Greater Visibility
For the Plan My Walk website, Somar Digital focused on optimising technical SEO and refining on-page elements. We addressed issues like site speed, mobile responsiveness, and metadata optimisation, which led to a significant increase in organic traffic.
With our targeted SEO efforts, Plan My Walk achieved better visibility in search results, making it easier for users to access their valuable resources. This project demonstrates the impact of a comprehensive SEO strategy on improving user experience and search engine rankings.
Some of the key results included:
- A 170% increase in organic traffic
- A 220% increase in keywords in the top 3 search results
- Went from 0 to 103 SERP features(external link)
Next Steps: Strengthen Your Local Presence
Local SEO is one of the most effective ways for New Zealand businesses to connect with nearby customers and stand out in local search results.
At Somar Digital, we use data-driven insights and proven strategies to help you improve visibility, attract the right audience, and grow your business sustainably.
Get in touch with Somar Digital to take the next step in your Local SEO journey and make it easier for customers to find you online.
