5 Local Link Building Wins (Plus the Latest TikTok & Website News)

Ready to Win Local? Here’s How.

When it comes to boosting local SEO, many businesses focus on Google reviews, setting up a Google Business Profile, and maybe some basic keyword work.

But there’s an essential piece most people overlook—and it might be the most powerful of all:

Local link building.

Most small businesses think link building is only for national brands. Or that it’s too complicated to do yourself.

That’s wrong. 

In 2025, local link building is a fast track to page one rankings—and, more importantly, to customers who are actively searching for what you offer in your city, ZIP code, and neighborhood.

Let’s break it down.

🔗 What Is Local Link Building (And Why It’s So Effective)?

Link building is about getting other websites to link to yours.
That’s a “backlink”—and search engines treat it as a vote of trust.

When that link comes from another local site (like a nearby news outlet, blog, chamber of commerce, or business directory), it tells Google that you’re part of the community. That matters.

According to Google, searches that include “near me” have exploded 500% year-over-year.
And in local results, Google prioritizes businesses with trustworthy local signals—and that includes backlinks.

More relevant links = more visibility = more traffic = more customers.

And here's the kicker:

Most of your local competitors aren’t doing this. They’re stuck on the basics. So, every link you land puts you miles ahead.

🔥 5 Link Building Tactics Every Local Business Should Use

These aren’t theoretical; they work. I’ve used them for clients—and they’re repeatable.

1. Get Listed in Local & Niche Directories

Start with the essentials:
Google Business Profile, Yelp, Bing Places, Yellow Pages, Foursquare, Apple Maps.

Then dig into local directories—your city’s Chamber of Commerce, community resource sites, and business associations.

But don’t stop there.

Search for industry-specific directories. For example:

• A plumber in Ohio? There are directories just for that.
  

• A family-run bakery? Look for “top bakeries” lists in your area.
  

Every listing potentially gives you a relevant backlink—and builds trust with both Google and customers.

💡 Pro tip: Don’t just “list and leave.” Add detailed descriptions, hours, and photos. Treat each profile like a mini-landing page.

2. Score Links From Local “Best Of” Lists

These are the listicles you see in local blogs and publications:

• 10 Best Coffee Shops in [City]
  
  

• Top Real Estate Agents in [Region]
  
  

• Where to Eat Late at Night in [Your City]
  

These pages rank for competitive local terms—and their authors are often open to updating or expanding them.

How to get in:

• Find older lists using “site:[domain] + best + your niche + city”
  

• Send a friendly email pitching your inclusion
  

• Offer value—like a discount code, a giveaway, or updated info
  

• If it’s a blog, offer to promote the list to your audience
  

Most list owners want their content to stay fresh. You help them, they help you.

3. Reverse Engineer Competitor Links

Why start from scratch?

Use tools like Ubersuggest, Ahrefs, or Moz to spy on where your competitors are getting links. If those sites are linked to them, chances are they’ll consider linking to you.

What to look for:

• Local bloggers who reviewed your competitors
  

• Community calendars or event listings
  

• Local business spotlights
  

• Vendor or supplier websites
  

• Sponsorship mentions
  

Once you’ve got a list, reach out and introduce yourself. Offer better content, more updated info, or a stronger local story.

This one tactic alone can uncover dozens of quality link opportunities.

4. Build Links Through Partnerships

Your current vendors and partners are a goldmine for local links. You just have to ask.

Let’s say you:

• Source coffee beans from a local roaster
  

• Use a local sign maker or graphic designer
  

• Sponsor a youth sports team
  

Ask them to include you on their site with a simple line:

“Proud partner of [Your Business]” — and link it.

You boost their credibility, and they boost your SEO.

Win-win.

💡 Bonus tip: Create a “Partners” page on your site, too. This often encourages reciprocal links without even needing to ask.

5. Turn Brand Mentions Into Backlinks

If someone already mentioned your business, that’s half the work done.

Use tools like Mention.com, Google Alerts, or BrandMentions to find these shoutouts—especially ones that don’t include a link.

Then politely reach out:

“Hey [Name],
Thanks for mentioning [Your Business] in your article!
Would you mind linking to our site so your readers can check us out directly?
Let me know if I can return the favor.”

Most people are happy to oblige. They already like you. They just forgot the link.

🎯 TL;DR? Link Building Works—Especially Locally

These aren’t hacks. These are reputation-building strategies. They make your business easier to find, more credible, and more trusted.

If you need to outrank local competitors in Google, stop treating links as an afterthought.

Start with one of the five methods above—and do it this week.

Then email me and let me know how it goes.

🗞️ TikTok Ban Delayed (Again)

TikTok will stay live in the U.S. until at least September 17.

President Trump signed a third 90-day extension while talks continue around U.S. ownership.
This buys marketers like you more time—but it doesn’t eliminate the risk.

What it means for your strategy:

• Keep using TikTok for short-term growth—ads, influencers, UGC
  

• Back up your content to other platforms like Reels and Shorts
  

• Be ready to shift budgets quickly if the deal falls through
  

Support for the ban is dropping (only 1 in 3 Americans still support it).

So chances are, TikTok will stick around.

But have a Plan B just in case.

🚨 I Just Launched the New ShaneBarker.com

This has been in the works for months—and I’m excited to finally share it.

Here’s what’s new:

🧭 Services Page:
Whether you're a startup or an enterprise brand, my team now offers full-service support: SEO, influencer campaigns, CRO, and more.

📘 Learning Hub:
You’ll find free, in-depth lessons on everything from affiliate marketing to analytics, written by me from 20+ years in the trenches.

📅 Strategy Call Access:
No fluff. If you want personalized advice, you can now apply directly for a one-on-one consultation with my team.

👉 Visit the new site: https://www.shanebarker.com

Let me know what you think—I’d love your feedback.

🚀 Featured Tool of the Week:

Launch Your Amazon Product to $100K+ in Revenue—Fast!

Want to quickly scale your new Amazon product launches into listings earning over $100K annually—in less than two months? Stack Influence makes it easy by automating thousands of micro-influencer collaborations each month. Say goodbye to complicated outreach, negotiating influencer fees, and managing complex campaigns. With Stack Influence, influencers are paid only in your products, creating authentic user-generated content (UGC) that drives real engagement and boosts your organic Amazon rankings.

Leading brands like Magic Spoon, Unilever, and MaryRuth Organics already rely on Stack Influence to achieve impressive sales growth, enhance brand visibility, and build genuine connections with customers. Fully automated management means effortless campaigns, giving you complete control without lifting a finger. Boost your listings, increase external traffic, and own full rights to impactful influencer-generated images and videos.

Experience rapid, stress-free growth and proven results with micro-influencer marketing.

Get 10% OFF this month!

Looking for more in-depth strategies and exclusive content?

Check out my Gumroad page for courses, guides, and tools that can help take your digital marketing to the next level. Whether you're looking to master SEO, influencer marketing, or content strategies, I've got resources to get you there. Plus, you'll find some free content to help you get started right away!

Visit my Gumroad page and explore everything I have to offer!

1. Found the insights helpful? Forward this email to help fellow business owners or marketers.

2. Spread the word. Encourage your friends or followers to sign up.

3.  Have us test and review your marketing or business tool on ShaneBarker.com. We can write a product review, comparison, or industry listicle for you.

If you have any specific questions or topics you'd like us to cover in future newsletters, please feel free to reach out. We'd love to hear from you!

To your content marketing success,
Shane Barker