When someone searches "restaurant near me", "dentist Dhanmondi" or "AC repair Mirpur", Google shows a map with three businesses before any normal results. Winning that map pack is the fastest way for a local business to get customers from search. This guide walks through local SEO in Dhaka step by step, starting with your Google Business Profile.
- Your Google Business Profile is the foundation of local SEO in Dhaka.
- Keep your business name, address and phone number identical everywhere.
- Steady genuine reviews and fresh photos signal an active business.
- Area pages help you rank in neighbourhoods like Gulshan, Uttara or Banani.
How Google ranks local businesses
Google says local results depend mainly on three things: relevance (how well your profile matches the search), distance (how close you are to the searcher or the area they name) and prominence (how well known and trusted you are). You can't move your shop, but you can improve relevance and prominence.
Step 1: Set up and verify your profile
- Use your real business name. Keyword-stuffed names can get the profile suspended.
- Choose the most accurate primary category, then a few relevant secondary ones.
- Add your full address with the area name locals use, or set a service area if you visit customers.
- Add hours, including special hours for Eid and public holidays.
- Complete verification. Unverified profiles rarely rank.
Step 2: Complete every section
Add services or products with short descriptions, a clear business description that says what you do and where, and booking or WhatsApp links where available. Complete profiles give Google more signals to match you with searches.
Step 3: Keep your NAP consistent
NAP means name, address and phone number. Use exactly the same details on your website, Google profile, Facebook page and directories. Dhaka addresses are often written in different ways ("Road 27, Dhanmondi" vs "Dhanmondi 27"), so pick one format and stick to it.
Step 4: Get genuine reviews regularly
Ask happy customers for a review right after a good experience, using a direct review link or a QR code at your counter. Reply to every review politely, in the language the customer used.
Step 5: Add photos and posts
Upload real photos of your shop front, team, products and work. A recognisable shop front also helps customers find you on busy streets. Use Google posts for offers, new services and events.
Step 6: Build local pages on your website
If you serve several areas, create a genuinely useful page for each main one, such as "Plumbing service in Uttara", with areas covered, response times and local examples. Avoid copy-paste pages with only the area name changed. See our local SEO service for help.
Step 7: Earn local citations and links
List your business on trusted Bangladeshi directories and industry platforms with the same NAP. Local news, chambers of commerce and partners can provide valuable local links. Read our guide to white-hat link building in Bangladesh.
Common local SEO mistakes in Dhaka
- Several duplicate profiles for the same business
- Keyword-stuffed business names
- Ignoring negative reviews
- A website that loads slowly on mobile data
- A different phone number on every platform
Frequently asked questions
How long does local SEO take in Dhaka?
A well-optimised profile can improve within weeks. Competitive categories in busy areas may take a few months of reviews and content.
Do I need a website for local SEO?
You can rank with a profile alone, but a fast website with location pages makes you much stronger.
Can I rank in areas where I don't have an office?
Ranking is easier near your address. Service-area businesses can still appear nearby with useful area pages and reviews from customers there.
SEO specialist based in Bangladesh with more than five years of experience, including local businesses that depend on Google Maps. See his SEO work.
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