Getting people to your website can feel a bit like trying to flag down a cab in a thunderstorm; especially when you’re in a place like Virginia Beach, where the audience is split between sun-chasing tourists, military families, and lifelong locals who have strong opinions about where to get the best crab cakes. But if you know how to speak their language, and where they’re looking, you can absolutely get noticed. Let’s talk about how.
Start with local SEO, because of course you do.
If you’re not showing up when someone types “Virginia Beach [your service]” into Google, you’re missing out on traffic that’s already halfway sold. Local SEO isn’t about stuffing your site with city names like it’s 2009; it’s about showing Google that you’re a relevant, nearby, and trustworthy option.
First, claim your Google Business Profile and actually fill it out. Add photos, update your hours, and respond to reviews like a real human. Then, make sure your website includes specific keywords like “Virginia Beach dentist” or “Oceanfront surf shop.” These phrases help you show up when people search with local intent.
Also, don’t sleep on citations. Add your business to directories like Yelp, YellowPages, and your local chamber of commerce. And if you want to get fancy, use schema markup to help Google understand that you’re a local business worth showing off.
Talk to the locals like you live here.
Virginia Beach isn’t just a dot on a map; it’s neighborhoods like Kempsville, Hilltop, and Pungo. It’s the Neptune Festival and the boardwalk in July. That’s your content strategy right there.
Create blog posts or videos that speak to what people are actually doing and caring about in the area. A post like “Best Coffee Shops in Virginia Beach for Remote Work” will do more for your traffic than another generic listicle. You’re not writing for search engines; you’re building trust with real people.
Use tools like Google Trends or AnswerThePublic to find what people are searching for in your area, then build content around that. If everyone’s suddenly obsessed with beach yoga or ghost tours, you should probably write about it.
Paid ads, but make them local.
If you’re running ads without geographic targeting, you’re basically throwing darts with the lights off. Focus your Google Ads on zip codes that matter, like 23451 near the Oceanfront or 23464 in Kempsville. You don’t need to cover the whole state when your customers are mostly within 10 miles.
Facebook Ads let you get even more granular. Target people based on interests like “military families” or “beach vacations,” and test creatives that reference local events or landmarks. A photo of Mount Trashmore or a nod to the Neptune Festival can go a long way in making your ad feel relevant.
And yes, A/B test everything: headlines, images, calls to action. What works in Norfolk might flop in Virginia Beach.
Influencers who actually live here.
Here’s the thing about influencer marketing: it only works if the audience believes it. So skip the big-name creators in LA and focus on micro-influencers who live in the 757. These are the people who post about their favorite brunch spots or hidden beach trails, and their followers actually care.
Use platforms like Upfluence or Heepsy to find creators with 1,000 to 10,000 followers who are active in Virginia Beach. You’ll get better engagement, and it won’t cost you a small fortune. Plus, it feels more like a recommendation and less like a billboard.
Mobile and voice search: not optional.
Most people aren’t sitting at a desktop when they’re looking for a place to eat or book a service. They’re on their phones, probably standing in line somewhere, and they want answers fast. Your site needs to load in under three seconds and look good on a screen that fits in someone’s hand.
Voice search adds another layer. People are asking questions like “Where’s the best seafood near me?” or “Is there a dog-friendly beach in Virginia Beach?” Make sure your site includes natural,
conversational phrases that match those queries.
Google PageSpeed Insights can help you spot what’s slowing your site down. Fix it. People won’t wait.
Tourists and military families: two big audiences, very different needs.
Virginia Beach pulls in millions of tourists every year, and it’s home to major military bases like NAS Oceana. If you’re not tailoring your content to these groups, you’re leaving traffic on the table.
For military families, offer discounts, mention base proximity, and list your business on military directories. For tourists, focus on seasonal content; things to do in summer, where to eat near the boardwalk, rainy day activities. These searches spike at specific times, so plan your content calendar accordingly.
Local backlinks: the underrated traffic boost.
Backlinks still matter, especially from local sources. Reach out to The Virginian-Pilot or community blogs to pitch stories or offer expert quotes. Partner with local universities for guest posts or event sponsorships. These links tell Google that you’re part of the local ecosystem, not just some random site fishing for clicks.
Use a tool like Ahrefs to see where your competitors are getting their links. If they’re featured in a local newsletter or event calendar, you should be too.
Track what’s working, and what’s just noise.
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Use Google Analytics 4 and Search Console to see where your traffic’s coming from, which pages are working, and how Virginia Beach visitors behave compared to everyone else.
Set up goals that actually matter; calls, form fills, newsletter signups—and track them by location. That way, you’ll know if your local SEO is doing its job or just taking up space.
So yes, getting traffic in Virginia Beach takes effort. But it’s not mysterious. It’s about being specific, being relevant, and showing up where your audience already is. You don’t need to outspend the big guys. You just need to out-local them.
That’s the view from the ground.
We’ll be back soon with more real-world insights.
Until then, keep building.
– Perfect Sites Blog