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5 Important Local SEO Tactics for Businesses in Portland, Maine

If you own a small business in Portland, Maine, Google search should be one of your top sources for acquiring new customers. 

Nearly any local company can benefit. This includes businesses of all kinds, from corporate lawyers in Old Port to cozy coffee shops on Congress Street, and fine-food specialty shops in East Deering.

The cool thing about local SEO is that it helps you attract nearby customers exactly when they’re searching for what you offer. 

However, 75% of users never scroll beyond page one of Google to find results. If you aren’t ranking on that first page for your target keywords, you’re barely in the game. And trust me, playing the game to win is way more fun.

Local SEO still matters for businesses everywhere, including right here in the Greater Portland, Maine area. 

So, you agree that local SEO matters. But how do you actually engage? What are the best local SEO tactics to use in 2025?

That is precisely what we will cover in this article. By the end, you’ll know five of the most important local SEO tactics for your Portland, Maine business. This will help you rank for the keywords that matter to you and your business most.

1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (formerly and affectionately known as “Google My Business”) is one of the most powerful tools in your local SEO toolkit. It’s often the first thing people see when they search for your business—or a service you provide—in Google Maps or Search.

However, a whopping 56% of local businesses have not claimed their Google Business Profile. This is an enormous missed opportunity for SEO improvement. Don’t let it go to waste.

Once you claim your Google Business profile, optimize it by:

  • Filling In Business Information: Fully fill out the company profile, including your business name, address, phone number, business hours, website URL, and business category
  • Uploading Photos and Videos: Upload high-quality images and videos to showcase the look and feel of your physical business
  • Responding to Q&A: Answer customer questions and post your own FAQ content
  • Post Updates: Use the post tool to share business updates or promotions
  • List Products and Services: Be sure to clearly describe your business’s various products and services where appropriate.

Pro tip: If your business serves neighborhoods like “Munjoy Hill” or “West End,” mention them in your business description for better hyperlocal visibility.

2. Ensure Consistent NAP Across the Web

Napping is one of my favorite activities. But that’s not the kind of NAP I’m referring to here. 

In local SEO, “NAP” stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. And it’s an essential local search ranking factor.

Your NAP must be consistent across the web. You want all your online listings, social media profiles, Google Business profiles, and website(s) to list exactly the same information. 

NAP consistency is key to building trust with both customers and search engines. Even minor discrepancies like using the word “Street” vs. the abbreviation “St.” in your address can cause confusion AND impact your rankings. 

Authoritative sources like Backlinko argue that NAP still matters for local search in 2025; in my experience, this is true. So get out there, and make sure you are being consistent everywhere.

Several local SEO tools can help you audit your listings for NAP consistency, such as Moz Local and BrightLocal. You can also do it manually by searching your business name and reviewing what comes up for inconsistencies.

Optimizing for NAP consistency is especially important in a midsized market like Portland. With intense competition among businesses in the same neighborhoods and categories, you’ll need every edge to compete in SEO.

3. Build and Manage Online Reviews

If you’re obsessive like me, you check Google reviews before visiting almost any business. And we aren’t alone! 

Online reviews are among the most important ways people determine what businesses to shop at. Over 81% of consumers are likely to look at Google reviews before visiting a business. That’s an overwhelming majority!

Online reviews don’t just influence potential customers—they also affect Google rankings. Positive feedback contributes to what are called review signals. Google uses these to assess your business’s relevance and credibility. 

I know you love making your customers happy, so encourage satisfied customers to leave a review on your Google Business Profile. Depending on your audience, you can also ask for reviews on Facebook, Yelp, or other relevant platforms.

Depending on where your customers are active, you can also ask for reviews on Facebook or Yelp. 

One important key is to respond to every review—good or bad. Thanking people for positive feedback builds goodwill. Kindly and professionally responding to negative feedbackeven if you disagreeshows you care.

If you’re a Portland-based business, participating in local forums or Reddit communities (like r/PortlandME) can also help amplify positive word-of-mouth and drive more local engagement.

4. Create Portland-Centered Website Content

One of the best ways to signal to Google that you’re a Portland-based business is by creating content that reflects your local identity. This means more than just adding your address to your website’s footer or contact page (though that’s important, too).

Write blog posts or service pages referencing Portland neighborhoods, local events, and topics relevant to your community. For example:

  • A local landscaper could write seasonal lawn care guides specific to Maine’s climate. (Which is absolutely perfect in the spring, summer, and fall, by the way. Yay Vacationland!)
  • A Portland retail store might write about local artists they feature or upcoming First Friday events.

Some businesses may even benefit from creating location-specific industry pages or even city guides on their websites. However, this will depend on your website’s purpose and the information your audience seeks.

Finally, adding specific structured data (schema markup) to your website can help search engines understand that you’re a local business. This is a technical step, but plugins like Rank Math or Yoast SEO for WordPress make it easier to implement.

5. Earn Local Backlinks and Citations

Backlinks from reputable websites are a strong ranking factor – and local backlinks are especially valuable for local SEO. 

That includes getting links from newspapers like the Portland Press Herald, local blogs, business associations, schools, nonprofits, or event pages.

You can earn backlinks by:

  • Hosting or sponsoring local events
  • Collaborating with other local businesses
  • Being featured in local media
  • Submitting your site to trusted directories like PortlandMaine.com

Also, make sure your business is listed in local citation sources like the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce and industry-specific directories. These citations, especially when paired with NAP consistency, help reinforce your legitimacy in the eyes of search engines.

Let Reiser Digital Help You with Local SEO

For Portland, Maine businesses, local SEO isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity if you want your business to be found online. 

By focusing on these five core tactics:

  1. Optimizing your Google Business Profile
  2. Ensuring NAP consistency 
  3. Gathering online reviews 
  4. Creating Portland-specific content
  5. Earning local backlinks

you will boost your local search visibility, attract more customers, and grow your digital presence in the community. 

If you’re ready to get serious about local SEO, Reiser Digital is one of the premier local search firms in the Portland, Maine, area –  and we’d love to work with you! Check out Reiser Digital’s contact page and send us a note. We’ll be in touch to discuss how we can best help you improve your local SEO and get more customers.

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