If you’re a business in Longview or Kelso, having a website is only part of the equation. The real magic happens when people in your area actually find you online. That’s where local SEO comes in.
Local SEO is about making sure your business shows up when nearby customers search for services you offer. Whether you’re a roofer in Kelso, a mechanic in Longview, or a design studio like us at Graticle Design, showing up in local search results can be the difference between a customer calling you or your competitor.
Below are tried-and-true local SEO tips that work specifically for businesses here in Longview and Kelso.
What Is Local SEO?
Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helps your business appear in search results when someone nearby searches for a service you offer. For example, if someone types “lawn care Longview WA” or “best plumber in Kelso,” local SEO is what helps your business show up near the top.
Unlike general SEO, local SEO focuses on:
- Reaching customers in a specific geographic area
- Optimizing your presence in Google Maps and local directories
- Getting found on searches that include phrases like “near me” or the name of a city
Why Local SEO Matters in Longview and Kelso
Longview and Kelso have tight-knit communities. Word of mouth still matters, but more and more people are turning to Google before making decisions.
If you’re not showing up:
- You’re missing out on ready-to-buy customers
- Competitors are taking your business
- Your website might as well not exist for most locals
Let’s fix that.
1) Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
This one’s huge.
Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is what shows up on Google Maps and in the “local pack” when someone searches for services in their area.
What to do:
- Claim your listing if you haven’t already.
- Use your real business name (no keyword stuffing).
- Add accurate address, phone number, and website.
- Set your business hours and keep them up to date.
- Add high-quality photos of your storefront, products, or work.
- Choose the correct business categories—be specific.
- Write a solid business description that includes your city name.
- Enable messaging so customers can contact you easily.
Pro Tip:
Add “Longview, WA” or “Kelso, WA” naturally in your description. Example: “Serving homeowners throughout Kelso and Longview with reliable HVAC services since 2008.”
2) Focus on Local Keywords
You need to speak the same language your customers use when searching.
Start by targeting:
- [your service] + Longview WA
- [your service] + Kelso WA
- [your service] near me
- best [your service] in Longview
- [industry] companies in Cowlitz County
Where to put these:
- Page titles
- Meta descriptions
- H1 headings
- Alt tags on images
- URLs (ex:
/roofing-longview-wa) - Page content naturally (no stuffing)
3) Create Location-Based Pages
If you serve more than one city (like Longview and Kelso), don’t rely on just one homepage to do all the work.
Examples of location pages:
/longview-wa-web-design/kelso-wa-print-shop/cowlitz-county-marketing-services
Each page should be:
- Unique (no copy-pasting)
- Tailored to that location
- Packed with relevant info and keywords
- Supported with photos, testimonials, or examples of work from that area
This also works great if you want to expand to areas like Castle Rock, Rainier, Woodland, or even Vancouver, WA.
4) Add Schema Markup
This one’s more technical, but it’s powerful.
Schema markup is code you add to your website to help search engines understand what your content means.
The most important for local SEO? LocalBusiness schema.
It tells Google:
- Your business name
- Phone number
- Location
- Hours
- Service area
- Social media profiles
If you’re not sure how to add it, a developer (like us) can help set it up properly.
5) Get Listed in Local Directories
Consistency is key here.
Your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) should be the same across every listing.
Start with:
- Yelp
- Bing Places
- Apple Maps
- YellowPages
- Chamber of Commerce directories
- Cowlitz Economic Development Council
- Industry-specific directories
These not only help your local SEO but can also bring in direct traffic.
6) Collect Local Reviews (Especially on Google)
Reviews do more than build trust—they help rankings.
How to ask for reviews:
- After a successful job or purchase, ask via email or text
- Add a link to your review form in your email signature
- Post reminders on social media
- Use signage at your location with a QR code
- Offer a friendly reminder after you finish a project
Respond to reviews, good or bad:
Replying shows that you care and tells Google that you’re active.
7) Build Local Backlinks
Backlinks (links from other sites to yours) are important for all SEO—but local backlinks are especially valuable.
Where to look:
- Local news articles
- Sponsorships (festivals, school events, youth sports teams)
- Guest blogs for local businesses
- Collaborations with complementary businesses
- Local business directories
Example: If you sponsor the Longview Go 4th Festival or a Kelso baseball team, make sure your name links back to your site on the event page.
8) Post Regularly to Your Google Business Profile
Did you know you can post updates to your Google profile? Think of it like a mini social media feed.
Post ideas:
- Announce new services
- Seasonal promotions
- Behind-the-scenes photos
- Community involvement
- Customer testimonials
Fresh posts keep your listing active and increase engagement.
9) Use Real Photos of Your Business and Work
Stock photos don’t cut it for local SEO.
Google loves real-world images—especially when they match your business name, location, and offerings.
Upload to:
- Your website
- Your Google profile
- Your social media pages
Photos with geotags (location data) are even better.
10) Track Your Results
You can’t improve what you don’t track.
Tools to use:
- Google Search Console: See what keywords bring traffic
- Google Analytics: Measure site visits and where they come from
- Google Business Insights: Track calls, messages, direction requests
- Rank tracking tools like BrightLocal or Whitespark (optional, but helpful)
Watch what’s working and adjust. Over time, your rankings and traffic will climb.
Bonus Tips for Businesses in Longview and Kelso
Create content tied to local events
Post blogs, videos, or social media updates about things happening around town. Think:
- Longview Squirrel Fest
- Go 4th Festival
- Highlander Festival in Kelso
- Local markets or high school sports
Mention your involvement and link back to your website.
Highlight Local Projects or Clients
Create mini case studies or project pages:
- “We helped this restaurant in downtown Kelso redesign their menu and signage.”
- “We launched a website for a landscaping company in West Longview.”
Mention the business by name (with permission) and share the link.
Use Internal Linking Wisely
On your blog or service pages, link to your location pages:
- “See our full service area including Kelso and Cowlitz County.”
- “Read more about our web design work in Longview.”
This helps search engines connect the dots.
What Local SEO Success Looks Like
For businesses in Longview and Kelso, local SEO success looks like:
- More phone calls from people in your area
- Showing up on Google Maps for your industry
- Higher Google rankings when someone searches for services near them
- More website visitors and quote requests
It takes time, but these efforts compound.
Need Help? We’re Right Here in Longview.
Local SEO isn’t about gimmicks—it’s about doing the right things consistently. And that’s exactly how we help our clients at Graticle Design.
We’ve helped contractors, shops, health clinics, pet stores, and manufacturers across Longview, Kelso, and the broader Cowlitz County area show up better online. We can help you do the same.
Want to talk about improving your local SEO?
Contact us here or call (360) 450-3711.
