Tip · Foundations
Local SEO in 2013 — and what still works today
A lot of SEO ages badly. But the local search ideas that worked in 2013 have a surprising amount in common with what ranks in 2026.
What we did in 2013
Back then, local SEO meant a clean Google Places listing, an address in the website footer, and a steady drip of directory citations. Most of that still applies — only the names and the polish have changed.
What still holds up
- Specificity beats volume. One thoroughly built city page outranks ten thin ones.
- Real reviews from real customers. Then and now.
- Fast, mobile-friendly pages. The bar has just kept rising.
What we'd skip now
Mass directory submissions, exact-match anchor text on every backlink, and keyword-stuffed footers. They worked briefly, then quietly stopped working.
The lesson
Local SEO rewards patience and accuracy. The 2013 playbook still works because it was never about tricks — it was about being the obvious local answer to a local question.