Trying to drive website traffic in Los Angeles is a little like trying to get noticed at a Hollywood casting call when everyone else also brought their headshots, their agents, and a small entourage. It’s loud, it’s crowded, and everyone thinks they’re the main character. So how do you, humble business owner or marketer, stand out in a city where even your dog groomer has a TikTok following? You get specific, you get local, and you get smart about how Angelenos actually behave online.
Let’s get into it.
Start small, think hyper-local
Los Angeles isn’t one city; it’s a patchwork of neighborhoods with totally different vibes, search habits, and even slang. Someone in Venice looking for a yoga class isn’t typing the same thing into Google as someone in Koreatown. So don’t just target “Los Angeles.” Break it down. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner and Semrush to find out what people are actually searching for in places like Echo Park or Westwood.
Then build landing pages that speak directly to those searches. Add schema markup to help Google make sense of your content and show it in local results. Think of it like giving your site a digital name tag that says, “Hi, I’m a vegan bakery in Echo Park.”
Backlinks, but make them local
Backlinks still matter—a lot. But in LA, a link from a national blog isn’t nearly as valuable as one from a local publication with real authority. Pitch stories or guest posts to places like LA Weekly or the Los Angeles Times. Get listed in local directories like Discover Los Angeles. These aren’t just backlinks; they’re credibility badges.
And don’t forget local influencers and bloggers. Collaborate with them to earn contextual backlinks that actually drive traffic. Tools like Ahrefs let you spy on your competitors’ backlink profiles, so you can see who’s linking to them and then go after the same sources, just with a better pitch.
Geo-target or get ignored
With over 13 million people in the LA metro area, casting a wide net is a great way to waste money. Use Google Ads to target by zip code, neighborhood, or even specific landmarks. Want to reach tourists and locals hanging around The Grove or Santa Monica Pier? You can.
Responsive Search Ads let you plug in local keywords and dynamic extensions like location or callouts. That way, your ad says something like “Fresh poke bowls in Silver Lake,” instead of “We serve Los Angeles.” One sounds like lunch; the other sounds like spam.
Mobile first, or mobile forgotten
Over 70 percent of LA’s web traffic comes from mobile devices. That’s not a trend; that’s the norm. Your site needs to load fast, look good, and be easy to tap with one thumb while holding a boba in the other.
Run your site through Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test. Then use Lighthouse to fine-tune your Core Web Vitals. Pay special attention to Largest Contentful Paint and Cumulative Layout Shift. If your site jumps around while loading, people bounce. And in LA traffic, nobody’s got time for that.
(Source: Statista)
Make content that feels like LA
This city runs on culture. Think entertainment, lifestyle, sustainability, diversity. Use Google Trends to see what’s bubbling up locally. During awards season, for example, searches spike for stuff like “Oscars viewing party LA” or “best red carpet looks downtown.”
Build content clusters around those moments. Not just one blog post, but a few related pieces that link together. Then share them in places where locals hang out online—Nextdoor, Reddit’s r/LosAngeles, maybe even a neighborhood Facebook group if you’re feeling brave.
Influencer collabs that actually work
Micro-influencers in LA—those with 10K to 50K followers—often have better engagement than the big names. They’re also more affordable and more likely to answer your DMs. Use platforms like Upfluence or Heepsy to find ones who align with your niche.
But don’t just ask for a shoutout. Co-create something. Maybe a Reel where they visit your shop on Melrose, or a TikTok from the Griffith Observatory. That kind of content feels real, not forced. And it drives traffic that actually sticks.
Google Business Profile: not optional
If you’re a local business and your Google Business Profile is a ghost town, you’re basically invisible. Make sure your name, address, and phone number are consistent everywhere. Upload fresh photos. Ask happy customers to leave reviews, and respond to all of them—even the weird ones.
Businesses with high ratings and recent activity are more likely to show up in the Google 3-Pack. That’s the little map box at the top of local search results. You want to be in that box.
Email, but make it local
Email isn’t dead. It just needs to be smarter. Segment your list by zip code or neighborhood and tailor your messages to what’s happening locally. If there’s a heatwave in Culver City, send a “Cool off in our AC” campaign to your fitness studio members there.
Use Mailchimp or Klaviyo to test subject lines and send times. LA audiences behave differently than, say, Chicago. Pay attention to when they open emails and what they click.
Don’t let visitors disappear
People visit your site, poke around, and leave. That’s normal. What’s not normal is letting them vanish without a trace. Use Meta Pixel and Google Ads Remarketing to keep your brand in front of them.
Customize your retargeting ads with LA-specific language and visuals. “Free delivery in West Hollywood” works better than “Free delivery nationwide.” And if someone looked at your pricing page but didn’t check out, that’s your cue for a nudge.
Track what actually works
Google Analytics 4 lets you see which neighborhoods are sending traffic and which ones are just window shopping. Set up custom dashboards to track bounce rate, session time, and conversions by zip code.
Then test. Change up your landing pages. Tweak your CTAs. Rotate your ad creatives. What gets clicks in Santa Monica might flop in East LA. That’s fine; just adjust.
Driving traffic in LA isn’t about shouting louder. It’s about knowing who you’re talking to, where they are, and what matters to them. Get that right, and you’re not just putting numbers on a dashboard. You’re building momentum that actually means something.
That’s the view from the ground.
We’ll be back soon with more real-world insights.
Until then, keep building.
– Perfect Sites Blog