Semrush Publishes Guide on Building Local SEO Backlinks

Semrush has published a new guide titled "Local SEO Backlinks: How to Build High-Quality Links," aimed at businesses and marketers working to improve visibility in local search results.

The guide addresses a specific niche of SEO practice: link building tailored to local ranking signals rather than general authority. It's an evergreen how-to resource, not a breaking announcement, so there are no confirmed dates, percentages, or engine statements attached to it.

What does the guide cover?

The material walks through methods for acquiring high-quality backlinks that support local search performance. That means links from sources relevant to a business's geography and industry, rather than bulk links from unrelated domains.

For local businesses — plumbers, dentists, restaurants, law firms — local relevance often matters more than raw link count. A handful of links from regional directories, local news outlets, and community organizations can outperform dozens of generic links.

The takeaway: quality and local relevance beat volume when it comes to links for local search.

Who is it for?

The guide targets site owners and SEOs who compete in map packs and local organic results. That includes:

• Single-location small businesses
• Multi-location brands managing local pages
• Agencies running local campaigns for clients

Semrush publishes this as educational content, distinct from its tools and data products. Nothing in the guide should be read as a confirmed search-engine policy change — it's practical advice from a tool vendor, not a statement from Google.

Why local links matter now

Local pack competition keeps intensifying across verticals. Service businesses in particular see outsized returns from strong local signals, and backlinks remain one of several factors alongside Google Business Profile data, reviews, and citations.

Semrush's decision to publish a dedicated local link-building guide signals ongoing demand for this playbooks-style content among its user base.

The takeaway: vendor education on local link building continues, and practitioners should watch for follow-up data on which local link sources actually move rankings.