Most Swiss businesses have a website and a Google listing. Few have both working together to attract local customers. Local SEO is the process of making your business visible when someone in your city searches for the services you provide.
What Is Local SEO and How Does It Work?
Local SEO targets search queries with local intent — searches like "dentist Basel" or "plumber near me." Google evaluates three factors when deciding which businesses to show: relevance (does your listing match what they searched?), distance (how close is your business?), and prominence (how well-known and trusted is your business online?).
The most visible local result is the Google Map Pack — the three-business listing that appears at the top of search results with a map. Appearing here drives more calls and visits than any other position in search results.
Why Should a Swiss Business Invest in Local SEO?
Switzerland has a unique local search landscape. Searches happen in German, French, Italian, and English depending on the region. Google.ch treats local results differently than google.com. Swiss-specific directories like local.ch and search.ch carry weight that international directories do not.
For a business in Basel, Zurich, or Bern, local SEO connects you with people who are actively looking for what you sell — right now, in your city. Paid ads stop working the moment you stop paying. Local SEO builds compounding visibility over time.
Where Should a Business Start with Local SEO?
Start with your Google Business Profile. It drives 60 to 70 percent of local leads for most businesses. Make sure every field is filled out, your categories are correct, and you are posting regularly. Then move to your website — proper title tags, service pages for every offering, and schema markup that tells Google exactly what you do and where.
If you want help assessing where your business stands, Datanalytico offers a free local SEO review for businesses in Basel, Zurich, and Bern. Contact us to get started.