Let’s be honest: getting people to visit your website is a little like trying to get folks to show up to your backyard barbecue. You can have the best food, cold drinks, and a killer playlist; but if nobody knows where you are, or worse, if they think your place is hard to find, they’re not coming. Same goes for your site. Especially in a place like St. Louis, where local flavor isn’t just a vibe; it’s a strategy.
So, how do you get more eyes on your site in the Lou? You start local. Hyper-local. Because while national SEO tactics matter, they’re not going to help you show up when someone in Soulard Googles “best web designer near me.” You need to speak the language, both digital and regional.
Let’s get into it.
Start With Local SEO or Get Lost in the Noise
If you’re not optimizing for geo-specific keywords, you’re basically whispering into a void. Phrases like “St. Louis web design” or “digital marketing agency in STL” are your bread and butter. And no, stuffing your footer with “St. Louis” 37 times doesn’t count. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs to find what people in the metro area are actually searching for; and make sure you’re not just guessing. St. Louis isn’t one-size-fits-all. Clayton folks may search differently than people in North County.
Your Google Business Profile? That’s your storefront window. Keep your name, address, and phone number accurate. Choose the right categories. Add photos that don’t look like they were taken in 2009. And encourage reviews that actually mention St. Louis. It all adds up.
Write Like You Live Here
If your blog could be written from anywhere, it probably won’t rank anywhere. Hyper-local content builds trust and relevance. Think about what people in St. Louis actually care about. Write about digital marketing trends, sure, but tie them to local events or neighborhoods. “How a Soulard Café Doubled Website Traffic” hits differently than “Generic Case Study #14.”
And don’t forget your links. Internal links keep people on your site. External links to trusted local sources, like STLtoday or Explore St. Louis, show Google you’re part of the digital neighborhood.
Source: Backlinko on Local SEO
Get Listed Where Locals Look
You wouldn’t advertise your business on a billboard in Phoenix, so why skip local directories? Sites like STLDirectory.com or the Riverfront Times listings still carry weight. They’re not just for backlinks; they help Google triangulate your location and legitimacy.
And if you’ve got a story to tell—about your growth, your weirdly successful TikTok campaign, your community work—pitch it to local media. Outlets like KSDK or St. Louis Magazine are hungry for local angles. A single feature can drive more traffic than a week of paid ads.
Source: Whitespark Local Citation Finder
Team Up With People Who Already Have the Audience
Influencers aren’t just for skincare brands. In St. Louis, there’s a whole ecosystem of micro-creators: tech podcasters, food bloggers, small business coaches—people who’ve built loyal followings. Partner with them; not because it’s trendy, but because it works.
Micro-influencers (those with 1,000 to 10,000 followers) often have better engagement than the big names. And they’re usually more open to collaboration, especially if you’re a local brand. A shoutout from someone in the Central West End can send exactly the right kind of traffic your way.
Source: Influencer Marketing Hub
Geo-Fencing: Not Just for Sci-Fi
Geo-fenced ads let you target people in specific ZIP codes or neighborhoods. Want to hit everyone near Tower Grove Park the week before the art fair? Done. Want to remind downtown office workers about your lunch specials at 11:30 a.m.? Also doable.
Use Google Ads or Meta Ads to set your radius. Then tailor your copy. Mention landmarks. Reference events. Make it feel like you’re talking to people who live here, because you are.
Source: WordStream on Geofencing
Mobile and Voice Search: The New Front Door
People aren’t just searching on laptops anymore. They’re asking Siri where to get tacos while circling the Loop. According to BrightLocal, 58% of consumers use voice search to find local info. That means your site has to be fast, mobile-friendly, and written in a way that sounds like how people talk.
Use conversational phrases. Add schema markup so Google knows what your business does and where. And for the love of all things digital, make sure your mobile site doesn’t take eight seconds to load.
Build Links That Actually Matter
Not all backlinks are created equal. A link from a local
nonprofit’s website or a St. Louis food blog carries way more weight than one from a random directory in Nebraska. Reach out to local bloggers. Sponsor a community event. Offer to guest post on a local business blog.
You’re not just building SEO value; you’re building roots in the digital community—and that’s what search engines reward.
Source: Ahrefs on Link Building
Watch the Data, Then Actually Use It
Google Analytics 4 and Search Console aren’t just for checking traffic spikes. Use them to understand how St. Louis visitors behave. Are they bouncing faster than folks from other cities? Are they converting more often from certain pages?
Segment your data by location. Test different headlines or CTAs on landing pages. If something works for your St. Louis audience, double down. If it flops, tweak it. This isn’t a “set it and forget it” situation.
The thing about St. Louis is, it’s not trying to be everywhere. It’s trying to be itself. And when your business shows up with that same energy—rooted, relevant, and a little bit bold—the right traffic follows. The kind that clicks, sticks around, and maybe even tells a friend.
That’s the view from the ground.
We’ll be back soon with more real-world insights.
Until then, keep building.
– Perfect Sites Blog