Tariffs Are Rising—Here’s How Local SEO Can Help Your Business Win

If you run a local business, you’ve probably heard that some imported products could get ridiculously expensive (thanks, Americah).

But here’s the good news—this could be a golden opportunity for you to attract more customers who are now actively looking for local alternatives.

And guess what? SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the cheat code to making that happen!

With the right SEO strategies, your business can show up on Google when people search for alternatives to pricey imported goods.

Whether you own a boutique, a coffee shop, or a furniture store, SEO can bring customers straight to your website (and through your doors)—without spending a fortune on ads.

Here’s what I’m gonna cover (in layman’s terms, minimal tech jargon! I promise)

WTF a tariff war is (and why it matters to YOU)

How SEO can make your business the go-to local alternative

Super easy, beginner-friendly SEO strategies

Common SEO mistakes (ain’t no body got time for that)

An SEO checklist to get started TODAY

Ok it’s time to turn global chaos into a local business boom? Mmmmk?

What’s a Tariff War, and Why Should You Care?

Let me try to break it down without a boring economics lecture:

A tariff war happens when countries slap extra taxes (a.k.a tariffs) on each other’s imports. What does that mean? Imported goods get crazy expensive.

Big corporations relying on cheap imports? They’re sweating.
Shoppers looking for affordable alternatives? They’re turning to local businesses.
You, as a local business owner? This is YOUR TIME

More people are searching for “Canadian Made” and “local alternatives”—and SEO helps you show up in those searches. 🎯

SEO 101: Why You Need To Love It (Even If You Hate Tech)

SEO is just a fancy term for helping your business get found on Google.

Think about it—when you need something, you Google it (over 90% of searches happen on Google)

Your customers do the same damn thing.

If your business isn’t optimized for search, you are LITERALLY handing customers over to your competitors (don’t do that).

This is how you can tell you’ve SEO’d right:

✔️ Your business shows up when people search for your products/services.
✔️ More website visitors = more sales, calls, and foot traffic.
✔️ You spend less on ads because organic traffic is FREE.

Makes sense? Fantastic, let’s get into the easy steps to make SEO work for you.

Step 1: Claim & Optimize Your Google My Business (GMB) Listing

This is 100% THE most important thing you can do for local SEO.

This is THE FIRST thing I tell my clients to do.

It’s crazy too, cuz only 44% of businesses have a Google My Business profile.

If you don’t have a Google My Business listing, you’re literally invisible on Google Maps.

If you haven’t claimed yours please stop what you’re doing and do it right now (Takes 10 Minutes!):

Go to Google My Business and claim your listing.
Fill out EVERYTHING—business name, address, phone, website, hours, services, etc.
Upload high-quality photos of your store, products, or team.
Encourage happy customers to leave reviews. (More reviews = higher rankings.)
Use local keywords in your business description.

MY 2 cents: Post updates, promos, and events on your GMB profile, OH and update MONTHLY. Google finds fresh updated content sexy.

Step 2: Use Local Keywords (People Are Already Searching for You!)

SEO is all about showing up for the right searches. Instead of just using generic terms like “coffee shop,” localize it so customers nearby can find you!

Examples of Optimized Local Keywords:

✅ “Handmade wooden furniture in Vancouver”
✅ “Locally roasted coffee near me”
✅ “Best alternative to imported furniture in Nanaimo”

Where to Use Keywords:

✔️ Homepage & service pages
✔️ Blog posts
✔️ Product descriptions
✔️ Google My Business listing

My 2 cents: Not sure what people are searching for? Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find popular search terms in your area.

Step 3: Write Blog Posts That Rank (and Bring You Customers While You Sleep!)

Starting a blog on your website might sound like extra work and very 2001 but it’s one of the BEST ways to rank higher on Google.

So, get bloggin’ my friends

Some Blog Post Ideas That Will Work If You Have A Local Business

“Why Buying Local Saves You Money (Especially During Tariff Increases)”
“Top 10 Locally Made Products to Replace Imported Goods”
“How Our Business Supports Local Farmers & Suppliers”

My 2 Cents: Keep it simple, engaging, and helpful. Write like you are just having a convo with your audience! Use keywords naturally, and link to your own product pages! <—like I just did hehe

Step 4: Get Backlinks (AKA, “SEO Street Cred” 🚀)

A backlink is when another website links to yours. The more backlinks you have, the more Google trusts your site (which means higher rankings). It’s actually one of the most important ranking factors.

Don’t get it twisted, backlinks REALLY matter.

Easy Ways to Get Backlinks:

Get featured in local news (Pitch a story about your business!)
Partner with local influencers (Have them review your product.)
List your business in directories (Yelp, TripAdvisor, Chamber of Commerce, etc.)
Steal Your Competitors’ Broken Backlinks (AKA the “Backlink Hijack” Method)

My 2 Cents: Use Ahrefs Backlink Checker to spy on competitors’ backlinks and see where they’re getting mentioned.

K, guys - these SEO Mistakes Hurt Your Rankings 🚫

❌ Ignoring mobile optimization – Most searches happen on phones. If your site loads slow or looks bad, people WILL leave.
❌ Keyword stuffing – Don’t overuse keywords; it sounds spammy. Write for your fellow humans first, Google second. And believe me, Google knows.
❌ Forgetting about Google My Business – This is FREE visibility—don’t ignore it!
❌ Not using local keywords – If you’re a local business, make sure Google knows it!

Your Quick Local SEO Success Checklist

✅ Claim & optimize your Google My Business listing
✅ Use local keywords on your website & blog
✅ Write helpful, keyword-rich blog posts
✅ Get backlinks from local sources
✅ Make your website mobile-friendly & fast
✅ Run Google or Facebook Ads for quick wins

If you only have time to do one thing on this list, please claim and optimize your Google My Business listing. It’s FREE. It’s SO EASY TO DO.

Final Thoughts: SEO Is The BEST Growth Hack for Local Businesses

The tariff war might start making imports more expensive, but that’s GREAT news for local businesses.

More people are looking for local alternatives anyways and all the SEO tips included in this article will help you show up first.

The best part? Most of these SEO strategies are FREE.

All you need to do is put in a little effort or hire an SEO expert (aheeem) and Google will reward you with more traffic, customers, and sales.

So, why are you still reading this? Get crackalackin’ and start optimizing that rad biz of yours RIGHT NOW to grow your local business!

Got questions? Drop them in the comments—I’m here to help! 😊