Local link building: 10 proven tactics in your town

Local link building methods

1. 1Chamber of Commerce: Join your local Chamber and ensure you get a link in their member directory
2. 2Local business associations: FSB, BNI, and trade associations all offer member directory links
3. 3Local press: Write a genuinely newsworthy press release about a local initiative, result, or charity work
4. 4Charity sponsorship: Sponsor a local charity event, they almost always add a sponsor page with links
5. 5Local sports team sponsorship: Kit sponsors typically get a link on the club website
6. 6Supplier and partner links: Ask suppliers and complementary businesses to link to each other
7. 7Local bloggers and journalists: Build relationships with local content creators
8. 8Local events listings: Submit your events to local What's On sites and council event pages
9. 9School or university connections: Guest lectures, work placements, and partnerships often earn links from .ac.uk or .edu domains
10. 10Local resource pages: Many local council and business sites have resource pages, get listed on them

Follow these steps to execute a local link building campaign

1. 1Step 1: Audit your existing local backlinks by going to Google Search Console then Links then Top Linking Sites and identifying which local websites already link to you so you know your starting point
2. 2Step 2: Search Google for your local Chamber of Commerce and apply for membership, as most Chambers provide a member directory listing with a followed backlink to your website included in the membership fee
3. 3Step 3: Identify local business associations and networking groups such as FSB, BNI, and industry-specific trade bodies in your area and join them to earn directory links from their member pages
4. 4Step 4: Find local events you can sponsor by checking your council website, local community Facebook groups, and event listing sites, then contact organisers to confirm sponsorship includes a link on their event page or sponsors page
5. 5Step 5: Approach local sports teams, youth clubs, or community groups about sponsorship opportunities as most will add your business name and a link to their club website in exchange for kit sponsorship or a small financial contribution
6. 6Step 6: Contact complementary local businesses that are not direct competitors and propose reciprocal partnerships where you recommend each other on your websites with genuine editorial links rather than simple link exchanges
7. 7Step 7: Identify local journalists and bloggers who cover business, community, or your specific industry in your area by reading your local newspaper website and searching for local content creators on social media
8. 8Step 8: Pitch a genuinely newsworthy local angle story to your local press such as a charity initiative, impressive business results, a new local hire, or expert commentary on a local issue to earn a high-authority editorial link
9. 9Step 9: Check your local council website for business resource pages, local service directories, or community partner listings and submit your business for inclusion as these .gov.uk links carry significant authority
10. 10Step 10: Look for local educational opportunities by offering guest lectures, work placements, or career talks to local schools and universities, as these often earn links from .ac.uk or .edu domains which are extremely authoritative
11. 11Step 11: Submit your business to local event listing sites such as your town's What's On page and local community calendars, especially if you host workshops, open days, or community events
12. 12Step 12: Track every local link building activity in a spreadsheet recording the target website, contact person, date of outreach, response received, and whether a link was earned so you can measure your success rate and follow up systematically