Ranking on Google Maps is one of the biggest advantages a local business can have. When your business shows up in the top three map results, you don’t just get visibility, you get calls, visits, and customers who are ready to act.
But here’s the truth most people don’t talk about enough: local SEO link building plays a much bigger role in Google Maps rankings than many businesses realize. It’s not just about reviews or proximity. It’s about trust, relevance, and authority, and links help Google measure all three.
This guide breaks down proven link-building tactics that actually move the needle for Google Maps ranking. No shortcuts. No spam. Just methods that work for real local businesses.
Why Link Building Matters for Local SEO
Google Maps rankings are influenced by three main factors: relevance, distance, and prominence. Distance is out of your control. Relevance comes from your categories, services, and content. But prominence, that’s where links come in.
Prominence is Google’s way of asking, “How well-known and trusted is this business?” One of the strongest signals of prominence is local backlink authority.
Links tell Google that other websites recognize your business. When those links come from local, relevant sources, they send even stronger signals. That’s why local SEO link building is different from traditional SEO link building.
You’re not trying to rank a blog post nationwide. You’re trying to dominate a specific area.
How Local Link Building Is Different From Traditional Link Building
Traditional SEO often focuses on high-authority websites, big publications, and broad relevance. Local SEO is more grounded.
For local rankings, Google cares more about:
- Geographic relevance
- Local context
- Community connections
- Business legitimacy
A reference from a nearby newspaper, urban blog, commerce chamber, or community group may count more for Google Maps ranking than a hyperlink from an unconnected but powerful DA site.
Hence, your local backlink strategy should be purposeful and location-oriented.
