Customers Prefer to Hire Local Search Engine Experts – Why?
- July 16, 2026
- Bradley Taylor
I started OlympusWeb in the early 2000’s in the beautiful State of Virginia. I had built up a solid client base over several years before deciding to move back to my home State of Florida. I was concerned that I may lose some customers in the transition. I was especially concerned about losing the customers who preferred in-person meetings. My concern turned out to be warranted.
Within a year or so of my relocation, I lost most of my Virginia clients. They just wanted someone local who they could meet with face-to-face. I get it. However, I can work on a website from anywhere in the world and am just a short phone call away. So what gives?
Here we are 20 years later, and I still notice that people prefer to do business with someone who is local. The physical distance is still a mental barrier. Even with the advent of Zoom & Microsoft Teams, people still want you close by.
It also depends on if the client is a locally focused business or is targeting more of a nationwide customer base. If they are a local business targeting local clients, then chances are that they will want a local SEO.
The bottom line is that SEO customers want someone who is in-touch with the local customer. Someone who knows the happenings and events unique to their area. Local SEO specialists live in the same area, so they intimately understand:
- The specific competitive landscape (who the real top players are).
- Local search behavior, slang, events, seasons, and customer pain points.
- Neighborhood-specific factors (e.g., suburbs vs. downtown, tourist areas vs. residential).
In 2026, I have clients from Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, & Florida. I’ve had clients from multiple other states and even a few foreign countries. The internet, video chat, and text messaging have made instant communication a reality and have removed traditional barriers to doing long-distance business.
At the end of the day, most business owners feel more comfortable hiring an SEO who lives in or around the same town. However, web design customers are less concerned about distance.
