Local SEO Tips for Summer Tourists and Foot Traffic

By Robert Whited Small Business Financing May 12, 2025
Local SEO Tips for Summer Tourists and Foot Traffic

As the temperatures rise and travelers hit the road for summer adventures, small businesses have a golden opportunity to attract tourists and boost foot traffic—if they’re visible online. Local Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial during the summer months, especially in areas with seasonal tourism. Optimizing your online presence can mean the difference between a busy summer season or a missed opportunity. Today we’re going to cover practical, actionable local SEO tips to help your small business stand out to summer tourists and increase in-store visits.

Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is often the first thing tourists see when they search for nearby places. To ensure success, make certain your profile is:

  • Fully completed with accurate business hours (including seasonal changes), address, phone number, and business category
  • Rich with photos showcasing your storefront, interior, products, and happy customers
  • Updated with posts announcing summer promotions, events, or special offerings

According to Google Business Profile Help, businesses that regularly update their profile and respond to reviews tend to rank higher in local search results. Don’t be afraid to encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews, and reply to each one to build trust with out-of-town visitors.

Use Local Keywords That Tourists Search For

Incorporate geo-specific and tourist-friendly keywords into your website, blog posts, and social media. This is a fun exercise because it requires you to think like a traveler! For instance:

  • “Best coffee shop near [landmark or beach name]”
  • “Things to do in [your city] this summer”
  • “Souvenir stores downtown [city name]”

Tools like the Moz Local SEO Guide suggest using these keywords in your title tags, meta descriptions, and headers to improve your visibility in local searches.

Create a Dedicated Page for Summer Visitors

Add a summer-themed landing page or blog post that speaks directly to tourists. Incorporate things like directions from popular hotels or attractions, a mini travel guide (“Top 5 Things to Do in [Your City] This Summer”), seasonal offers or first-time visitor discounts, and testimonials from tourists who’ve visited your business. This type of content is not only useful but also boosts SEO when optimized with relevant local keywords.

Get Listed on Local Directories and Tourism Sites

Make sure your business is featured on high-traffic directories and local tourism websites, such as TripAdvisor, Yelp, your local Chamber of Commerce, tourism board websites, or local travel blogs. According to BrightLocal, consistent and accurate listings across platforms help search engines trust your business, which can lead to better rankings and increased foot traffic.

 

Use Location Tags and Hashtags on Social Media

Many tourists turn to Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for local recommendations. Use geo-tags and location-based hashtags like:

  • #Visit[YourCity]
  • #[YourCity]Eats or #[YourCity]Shops
  • #SummerIn[YourCity]

Tag your business location in every post, and create a branded hashtag to encourage user-generated content from tourists.

Optimize for Mobile and Voice Search

Travelers frequently use smartphones or voice assistants to search while on-the-go. Make sure your website loads quickly and is mobile-responsive, uses conversational keywords like “near me” and “open now, and offers click-to-call functionality and map integration. BrightLocal research also shows that “near me” mobile searches have significantly increased, especially during peak travel times.

Partner with Other Local Businesses

Collaborate with nearby hotels, attractions, or restaurants. Create cross-promotions or get featured on their “local recommendations” pages. According to Moz’s local SEO best practices, backlinks from local, relevant websites are strong indicators of trust and can improve your rankings.

Summer tourism can bring a wave of new customers, but only if your business can be found online. By using these local SEO strategies, your small business can rise to the top of search results, attract more customers, and help you make the most of the summer travel season. Don’t forget to keep a pulse on all things small business by visiting The Financial Pantry every week. We have scores of content covering everything from marketing tips, hiring how-tos, and financial advice for business owners like you. And be sure to keep us in mind when you’re in the market for a small business loan. With a new season upon us, it’s a great time to dive into those projects you’ve been hoping to tackle—and a line of credit may just be the ticket to getting them done!

Your privacy is important to us. ARF Financial will never sell or rent your information to any third party. Click here for more information about our privacy policy. Image by marymarkevich on Freepik